Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-09

lie look IL from ner ana lne0 grew as
excited as she was. why, it's gold,
tone; then he put it between his teeth
and bit hard, and said: Strike me, if
don't believe as it's good 'un! Where
did Yer find il, Sally?'
rhe girl took him and showed him a
small puddle in the street, out of which
she had picked ii.
Weren't nobody about Sally, when
yer seed it?'
No" said the child. Il was comm to
look for you, Tom. as [ was tired o bein'
by myself, and 1 seed it in the mud.
IF IT is a good 'un, it'll be the best bit
o luck as ever 'appened to yer Sally,
I think Wen go up an asst ole Parkins;
'e's a good sort, and straight. l think, "
They went to the bakers shop and
waited till no customer was in it. Then
Tom put down the coin on the counter.
rs 1t a good 'un, mister?" he asked
the baker The latter looked at the coin
and then at the children, and then asked
where they obtained it.
tits a bit of Sally's luck" said Tom.
"She found it,; and he told how.
1t was a genuine half-sovereign; and
the children We're just wild with Sally's
luck
But what about mother?'' said the
girl suddenly, all the mirth dying away
at the thought; shell want it," And
then the baker, knowing the mothers
character, offered to keep the money
and let the children have what they
wanted of it from time to time.
This was agreed to by Tom, but Sally
begged SO much to have some of it in
her own possession for time, that the
brother yielded; and when they went
home at night, after better meal than
they had ever had in their lives, Sally
had two or three shillings in her
pocket.
IV,-WHAT CAME OF THE LUCK.
Come in, yer young impl' cried the
mother. as soon as she caught sight of
Tom, and she dragged him into the
room and struck him two or three
heavy, cruel blows. Where's yer
money!"
The boy uttered no cry of complaint,
as he saw that his mother had had
more drink than usual and a great fear
was on him that If he resisted, she
would be violent with the girl He gave
her fourpence, and as she snatched it
from him with an oath, she struck him
blow on the head that made him reel
across the room.
Don't it Tom, mother" pleaded SAL
ly; and then, thinking to appease her,
she took one of her shillings and held il
out towards her mother 'See wot I've
got" she said.
"Wot's that, yer little baggage? Is
that all you ave? Dyer meanter say
as yer've only 'ad one coin give yer all
day; or are yer lynn, Yer deceivin' little
'usseyr'
The child didn't answer, but went and
stood by her brothers side, and put her
hand in his by way of silent sympathy.
They both hoped their mother would
go out as soon as she had the money;
and as soon as she was gone the two
little waits lay down ON their rag bed
and cuddled up close together for com
fort.
Did she 'urt yer much, Tom?" asked
the girl
mo, Sally not very much; but 'er
and is precious 'eayy," said the boy
YEARLY. And then they lay and talked
in whispers of Sally's luck, and what
they could buy with it.
After about an hour the mother came
back, carrying heavy pewter full OF
beer.
"Are you young devils asleep?" she
cried. tom, Tom, git up; git up, say
when l call YER
"Wot is it, mother?" said the lad.
Come over ere; and, Sally, you come
too"
They were 100 frightened to disobey
'Ere-drink some o this" said the
mother, holding out the pewter pot tc
the girl. But the child hung back an6
would not drink The boy took hel
hand in his and placed himself between
his mother and the girl.
oyer ear wot ! say? Drink wher
tell yer!''
81 amt thirsty, mother" murmured
the girl
"Wot do l care about that! If | tell
yer ter drink, l mean yer ter do wot ]
say" She took a long draught of the
beer herself, and nearly emptied the
pewter. eff it's good enough fur me
it's good enough fur you, so just drink
or it'll be the worse for yer"
sally don't want it, mother" said
Tom, stoutly.
Lord bless the boyr' cried the wo-
man, aiming blow at him which he
avoided by ducking his head; yer think
Sally, take a swig at this else I'll wal
lop yer till we're black and blue. Dyer
Don't drink it, Sally said Tom,
brayely, tits poison"
"Tll poison yer yer young devil"'
cried the woman, Infatuated by the
drink and the opposition; and she
caught the boy in her powerful grasp
and beat him numerically and then
threw him on to the children's bed.
Now then, Sally" she cried taking
her by the arm and shaking her, ''if yer
don't want servin' worse than Tom,
yer'll do as l tell yer"
The child still refused. Tom had told
her not to drink, and no power on earth
should make her, was her thought.
Yer obstinate young mink cried the
mother, Selling her and shaking heI
with violence
Toms blood boiled in his veins, and
though his body was sore and his head
ached with his mothes violence he
sprang up.
"She shant drink itp' he cried brave
ly; and he kicked over the pewter
which stood on the floor and upset al
the beer.
20 TomF cried Sally, in frightened
voice.
beast! It's all your fault; and now
there's no beer and no more money tel
git any: so you shall jest pay for itr
and then she pushed and shook the child
so violently that the morey in hei
pocket-part of her "luck"--chinked
and the mother heard it.
''Wot moneys that?' she cried GIVE
it ere" and she made as if TO tear the
child's dress off her back III her eager
ness to get the money. Her hold loosened
for an instant, however, and the girl
skunk away frightened across the room
In a moment Tom stood in front OF
her again. and faced his mother brave
ly in the girls defense.
You amt goin to 1T Sally MOTHER
not unless you kill me fust, he said.
Come out o the way yer little ramp
in deviln' cried his mother, cor I'll
make yer repent turnin agen me in
+, this way
The boy did not finch.
81 amt afeard, Tom whispered the
child, coming to his side trembling, de-