The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-08

eral planks were loose on the sides
and some shingles seemed to have
leaped from the roof. It was inhabited.
though, for through the window Capt.
Pruitt caught the sound of a chi!G's
voice. Ii was rot a pleasant sound,
either, for Il was a vail. The captain
moved mp a pace or two and, finding
a hole in the window where a piece OF
paper had been placed in lieu Of glass.
and had yielded to the wind. he peered
into the room. What he saw moved
the cookies of his punch-warmed heart.
The room was almost bare OF furniture
and before an empty stove a woman sat
budding to herself two small. shiy-
ering children. wrapped In old pieces
of carpet.
Mamma walled the smallest child.
I'm so hungry
My dear said the woman, despair
ingly, there's not a thing in the house
and nobodyH give us anything"
by gum!" said the captain. to him
self. by gum!" and wheeling he walk
ed back into Bent's lane. Feeling In
his left trousers pocket he nodded to
himself.
I've got enough" he muttered, and
then. unmindful OF the blast, he re-
traced his steps back to the highroad
Entering a country store by the roadside
he demanded of the proprietor II he
sold coal. To an affirmative reply came
the request that he Immediately seno
a half ton to the. last house on the left
hand side Of Bent's lane.
It'll be sent" said the man languid-
ly. when it's paid for"
"Ill pay for it, you swab," snapped
the captain.
"All right, I'll send it right away. ]
knows those people for no good
THAT isn't all | want to go" called
the captain. Here take down this
here cargo of eating things: Sugar,
coffee, -four, beans, potatoes, apples
pork, ginger cakes and molasses.'
The dealer put down the articles In
the required quantities and assured the
captain the order would be sent Out
forthwith. The captain settled the bill.
and then paused az he started for the
door.
Here" he called. did / order any
reezins?"
mo, you didn't" replied the dealer
They'll want plum duff for Sunday
sure, muttered the captain, put dowr
two pound o. reezins."
That night as Capt, Pruitt lay in hi
snug bunk and heard the nor'west wint
whistling in the rigging. he felt tn
grateful consciousness Of having mad
some n happy.
Six months later Capt, Pruitt wa
killing time one night at a port som
80 miles from the town where he hal
his wrestle with the law. His atten
ton was attracted by singing. Glanc
ing around he noted a sign over a hal
giving notice that the Soldiers of Tenn
perance were holding meeting nightly
"Tll 70 in and hear some hymns,
said the captain, Il like good singin'.
But the singing ceased as he entere,
and a man announced that Brothe
Cuff would make an address.
Cuff" muttered the captain, ar
there two Cuffs, | wonder?" The iden
tical Cuff. victim OF the captains dires
hate, neatly dressed In a black suit
, walked briskly on the platform.
"Bretherin! and sisterin!" he begar
Il was saved from the demon drink b
a merrikle. | was a drunkard and
was awful saucy to the good temper
! ance folk who tried to saw me. WheI
: they asked me to sign the pledge +
say | wanted bread for my family an,
: they couldn't eat paper. One man tell
; me that satin had his grip on me and
: recolecks tellin' him that mebbe b
had but as | had no fire in my hous
! he didn't grip long, but knocked o.
and went home to warm up, oh, wa
: saucy to those good people. One nigh
there wasn't a feed for a house In tn
house and not a spark o. fire, and 1t a
! cold as ice. wal a layin' on the foo
: upstairs, weak from a spree. when u
/, comes a wagon and dumps a lot o Goa
! and groceries at the door. My wifi
asks who sent ct and the driver say
he didn't know, but they was to com
here and was all paid for. He didn'
know the man what paid for ZEN
Bretheren, 1t wasn't a man at all.
was the Lord and from that day
haven't tasted drink and | never wi
again"
by gum muttered Capt. Pruit
Cuffs house. and he ate the plur
duff. by gum"