The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-04-19

benefit oh ole Tommy Dexter. You'll
all on yer strike in with 'Alieyioojah'
and Mother. Dear Mother"
After Which prelude he delivered
himself Of the following extraordinary
composition. with great spirit:
Put him IN his little bed,
Mother. dear mother.
St;rgy Tommy Dexter's dead. 800,
AlieyIoojah!
| Well nebber. nebber see him more,
(.And don't want tol
Mother. dear mother.
No more, 40 more, nebber no more,
Mother. dear mother.
Then Dot-aId-carry-one rose from his
seat and executed a savage aud exui-
tant dance over the imaginary grave
with such surprising v.scr that 1t
brought down the house: and the
it delighted most was Saranae.
Thank yer whispered Thomas
Dexter to the cobbler, Il thiEk I've
had enough"
|. And he crept ont of the cellar and mp
the riclety stairs. and out of Paradise
Buildings with q sickerins feeling III
his heart, unconsciously murnurlRs the
lines:
-AIleyloojah!
Well nebber, nebber see him more,
Mother. dear mother.
No more. no more, nebber no mere,
Mother, dear mother.
Arriving at his dwelling place, an
| other adventure befell him
He saw a woman looking at the
shutters, and he confronted her.
1t was his wife, Polly. They gaZed
at each other in silence for a little
while. Polly first broke the silence.
Il came to see,' she said. Il heard
YOU was dead, but you're pretty lively
for a dead I'm: Don't be scared-l alu [
going to worry yer. 1t worn't for my
own sake 1 come, but for"-she broke
off suddenly and burst into a loud laugh
well. what do it matter whose for'
eh? 1 say, old man, I've heerd you'd
got lots O. tin"
I'm not in want he said. shortly.
Gould spare a matter of five pound
if I was to arsk you for it!'
Il could if l dared to"
"Will yer?"
"No.'.
"You. old skinfint," she said, "do you
| think 1 want it for myself:'
IF it's not for you, who do yer want
the money for?" asked Thomas Dexter.
IF 1 was to tell yer" she answered,
tapping him roughly on the breast
verdi know as much as l know,
wouldn't yer? If I'm alive when yer
| a-laying on yer deathbed, send for me,
old man. and III tell yer something as
will make yer sorry you didn't fork out
the flyer I asked yer for. Goodnight,
Tommy"
He made no effort to stop her, n
he saw, as he looked after her. what
he had half suspected, that she had
been drinking.
He attached no significance to what
she had said, and, strangely enough,
startling and unexpected as was her
| appearance, he 500 forgot her.
1t was the scene he had Just wit
messed in the cellar of Paradise Build
irgs which occupied and weighed upon
his mind.
He stood at the shop door for a long
time thinking of it, and then, urged ny
an impulse, the reason of which he
could not have explained, he directed
his steps in the direction Of Paradise
Buildings.
When he reached it be walked
straight to the part of the cellar inhab-
tied by Little Make-Be!ieve and her Sis
ter.
They were alone; the rousher chill
dren were gone.
Saranne was asleep and Little Make
Believe was sitting on the floor beside
her sister, nursing her knees.
She looked up at his entrance and
would have risen, but he kept her in
her position by laying his hand light
~ on her shoulder.
1t was q kindly toucn Il any alarln
Little Make-Believe may have felt was
dispelled.
He knelt and looked al the fair head
| pillowed in sleep on the hard boards.
He had seen such a face IL idealized
| pictures of children and angels, but
never. until now, in real life.
WAS it for her you took the pie?'
he asked.
Yes, sir"
Did you have no money!"
"Not a "copper"
Have you any now"
NO, sir"
He took three bright shillinss from
his pocket, one after another, and put
them in Little Make-Beliere's hand.
All the muscles Of her face twitcned
convulsively.
Some little birds sent them to you"
said Thomas Dexter, and l am their
messenger"
When be was in the cold streets
again his hands were wet with tears
which had welled from her grateful
heart.
To be continued.