Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-10-22

naturally warm hearted man, MI.
@. knew that he loved liquor better
than anything else in the world, and
that most of his earnings found their
way to the saloon keepers pocket.
So in the faint hope Of arousing him
to some sense Of his duty towards his
family, he stopped to speak to him.
Mr.. Flanagan. do you know you
have one of the brightest and most
promising boys in town? You mast do
well by him, keep him in school, give
him every possible chance for an edu-
cation, and in years to come he will
repay it all "
Indeed, now, bat / mean to do
that same thing, Mr.. G., am going
to have that boy graduate at Bowdoin
college, sure as live. He shall nave
a better education than his poor old
father had. Thank you for your good
words about him, sir. "
Saying this, he turned the next
corner and went into the first beer
saloon.
-Four hours later Timmy was work
ing at home helping to care for the
little Flannigans, Of whom there
were five besides himself, when he
suddenly heard heavy footsteps stumb-
ling up the stairs. His mother called
out to him in anxious tones which
he knew only too well:
80, Tim, your fathers bad again
Keep out of his way, for when he is
like this there's no knowing what he
will do. "
Trembling with fear, Tim hastened
to escape, but the motherly warning
had come too late Even as she spoke
Mr. Flannigan caught sight Of the
boy at the head of the stairs, and,
imagining in his drunkenness that he
was in his way, ho lifted his heavy
boot, gave one kick, and dear, bright,
helpful Timmy lay crippled mass
upon the floor below.
His mother gave one terrified scream
and tainted; the father staggered
stupidity along into the bedroom,
where he fell in drunken sleep upon
the floor Kind neighbors gathered in
haste, lifted the poor lad in their
arms and carried him to his bed.
Two doctors soon arrived. "Concus-
sion Of the brain" was all they said ;
then they went carefully to work to
see what could be done for the little
sufferer.
While they were setting the broken
arm and leg, attending to the scalp
wound, and binding up the little
hand upon which two fingers were
broken, the father, who had promised
to do so much for his boy, was sleep
ing drunken sleep, unconscious of
the terrible crime he had committed.
Many reproaches were hurled at the
senseless form, but nothing could be
done to avert the consequences of his
act
Weeks passed, and Timmy was at
last able to get about the town on
crutches But it was not the same
Timmy who had received his diploma
with such joy OILY few short we ks
before. All the brightness was gone
from his eyes and all look of intelli-
gence from his face That cruel kick
had stolen his brain
The fall term had commenced, and
one morning, as | sat in my school
room, heard the sound of crutches
in the entry. | went to the door, and
there stood Timmy. In response to
my smile he muttered "Tim-school
-boys-Tim. " "Yes," l said, 1--WE
all want you, Tim, come in" lie
stumbled in ms best he could, fell in.
to chair, and gazed vtcantly about
went ON with the lessons as usual,
but 1t was all mystery to poor little
Tim. When he tried to talk, the re-
suit was only fow disconnected
words; it was impossible for him to
frame u sentence,
Day after day he visited my school,
making no trouble in any way, bat
you can imagine what temperance
lesson, what u lesson of love, of kind
ly sympathy, of continued thoughtful
ness and generosity, his daily visits
werel They were an object lesson, in
deed The scholars Wed with each
other in doing for him. Every day
some gift was brought to him, pair
of shoes one day, a pretty necktio the
next, and toys, fruit and flowers in
abundance. could tell you of many
sacrifices made by these little children
for poor, helpless Tim.
At last we missed his accustomed
visits, and upon inquiry l found he
was sick with typhoid fever, from
which his mother had just died,
The other children of the family
were being cared for by strangers, the
wretchcd father was in Jail, and
there was no place for Timmy but tn,
Town farm. He was tenderly caroC
for there My little scolArs kept hin
supplied with fruit and flowers, an,
whenever they went to see him h,
would say, "Tim m-hoys-rim.
As the weeks passed, lac grow weak
or and weaker. ono day an old wom
an who had lived at the farm man,
years, was holding him in hcr arm
Grooming to him in a quiycring voice
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child,
Those who stood near said
look almost Of intelligence passo,
over his face. He smiled he wa
not suffering and If he was thinking
his thoughts were happy; no clouds
| ,h.,,,r,I b,s ,,st,n nf tho h.a N-,,n D,