The National tribune., 1899-01-05

had man wild gun ober dem. Fob Gawd'
sake, boss, jist glib me a half cupful TO
him"
There's no man in the world I'd rather
help than Capt. McGillicuddy," said the
Deacon. He's bin mighty good friend t.
my son. know THAT ST and Shorty'd divide
their last crumb with him. Look here
i Sambo, if l give you a cupful O. the broth
and piece O the meat, will you git down on
your knees and swear you'll take every BIZ
straight to him, and not take even smidjin
of it for YOURSELF"
''De Lawd be praised an magnifed for
cher, but will, said the negro, dropping on
his knees and holding up his hand. "Swar
me on pile o. Bibles big as haystack. I'd
RAIDER go to hell on my knees backward dan
fetch de fust drap oh dat. rs too anxious to
Fhab Cappen McGillicuddy git well. so is.
Whatd become OBJ dis pore niggeh if he
should die? No. indeedy. Hope I'll drap
dead in my tracks if 1 taste de least wee
mossel'
''I'm goin' to trust you," said the Deacon,
stirring up the savory mess, ladling out a
generous cupful, adding drumstiek, and
covering the cup with piece of paper.
Z Now. carry it carefully. Every drops
worth its weight in gold"
The Deacon looked little regretful at the
shrinking of the contents of the kettle, made
by taking out the cupful, and said:
''Mebbe i oughtn't've done it. The boys
need every spoonful But if it'd bin them
selves, | know they'd given their Captain
giveth, and probably they'll git more some
how on account o. what I've given away.
But | mustn't give no more"
isSou Misfar - cold yary foahIa x-o;oo -
his elbow, ''can't you give me cupful o.
that? 1t smells so good. 1t smells like
home. l smelled it away over there in the
tent, and it seemed to me that if could get
some of it I'd certainly get well, though they
all say they think there's no hope for me. 1
crawled out of the tent and come while the
nurse was asleep and wasn't watching They
won't let me get up on my feet when they're
watching me, but l fooled them this time"
AS he spoke, he sank down from sheer
exhaustion, but still held out his cup i'm
ploringly, while an intense longing filled his
great, blue eyes,
The Deacon looked pityingly at him. His
wan face was fair and delicate as a girls,
and even before disease had wasted him he
had been very tall and slender. Now his
uniform Tapped around his shrunken body
and limbs.
The Deacon could not stand the appeal of
those great, plaintive eyes and that wasted
form.
1.-THE Lord blesses the giver," he said,
taking the cup from the thin hand, and pro-
ceeding to fill it from the kettle sit may
be that my own son will have the more from
what give this poor sick boy. 1t may be
bread cast upon the waters. At any rate,
Pm goin' to take the chances. There's still
enough left for one meal for ST and Shorty,
and Pve four chickens left. After that the
Lordll provide. I'll do this in His name,
and I'll trust Him. There, my boy, let the
cup set on the ground till it cools, and then
drink it, and here's piece o. breast to go
with it."
The boy could scarcely wait for the cool
ing, and his swimming eyes expressed
gratitude that no words could convey
Here, pardner, I'll take cupful o. that |
ere, too, - said frazzed and frowsy teamster, |
up through the half-light of the
lawn. 81 smelled it, and follered my |
nose till it brung me here. My, but it |
smells good. Jest fill my cup, and I'll do |
IS much for you some time when you're |
" Go away, Groundhog," said the Deacon,
him. Ive only got little
lere for ST and Shorty. 1 haint spoonful
eft for myself, and none to give away. Go
md git your own chickens, and bile 'em
Can't have any, eh ?" said Grounding,
up. "We'll see about that, old
nan. l watched you givin' away to that
bigger, and this little dead-beat here, but
'on haint none to give me, who is doing
lard work for the army, and helpin keep
EN- from starvin'. Ii you we got enough