The Saint Paul globe., 1905-03-26

dropped heavily owe rhis unseeing eyes.
his head rooled loosely from side to
side, and he bagn to slip. silently and
unconsciously to the floor
Teacher, in wild alarm, bore him to
an open window and sent Patrick
Brennan in flying search of the prin-
cipal.
what is it," she asked, miserably.
when the door was closed. What is
the matter with that baby?"
Well said the principal kindly. IF
you were more experienced you would
be less shocked than 1 fear you are go
ing to be. The child is simply and
most abominably drunk"
Drunk" gasped Miss Bailey.
"Drunki and not seven years old"
Drunk echoed the principal. Poor
little chapi Did Miss Blake tell you
the history?-the mother dead, the ia
ther away all day, no Woman's care.
OF course, the end will be the reforma-
tory. but 1 wonder If we can do any
thing before that end is reached?"
"Oh. it can't be quite hopeless." cried
Miss Bailey. Please give him to me.
But / want to see that father"
SO you SHALL" the principal assured
her.. Il shall send for him tomorrow
TO explain this. But he will be entire
ly at sea. i have him here every two
or three weeks about one or other of
upper grades-and the poor devil never
can explain. However shall let you
know when he is here"
The morrow proved the principals
surmise to have been correct. Mr..
Lazarus Diamantstein stood in helpless
and hopeless misery before a court OF
inquiry comprising the principal, Miss
Bailey, the physician of the board Of
health, representative of the Gerry
society. the truant officer, the indignant
janitor and a policeman who had come
to the school in reference to the fiorid
language of his own small son, and. for
scenic effect, was pressed into service.
Mr.. Diamantstein turned from one TO
another of these stern faced officials
and to each in turn he made his un-
altered plea:
Mine leetle lizzie was a goot leetle
boy He don't never make like you
says. Achl never, never."
Again. for effect. scenic or moral, the
principal indicated one of the hostile
said he. belongs to a society which
will take charge of your son. Have
you ever, Mr.. Diamantstein, heard of
the Gerry society?"
Poor Mr.. Diamantstein covered. In
all the terrifying world in which he
groped so darkly, the two forces against
which he had been most often warned
at any time and without notice wash
out ones house and confiscate ones
provisions; and the Gerry society, which
washed ones children with soap made
from the grease of pigs. and fed them
With all sorts of "traef' and unblessed
meat.
"Ach. no." he implored. "Gott. noi
You should not take and made so nit
mine leetle boy. He amt a bad boy.
He sure ANTI"
Really, don't think he is.' Miss
Bailey's cool and quiet voice inter-
posed, and in a moment the harassed
father was at her side, pleading. ex-
tenuating, fawning.
THAT young lady, said the princi-
pal, lis your only hope. If Miss Bal
ley" Mr.. Diamantstein interpreted
this as an introduction and bowed
most wonderfully-"'if Miss Bailey will
keep Isidore in her class he may stay
in the school. II not this gentleman
by the way. Miss Bailey, is he at
school today?"
"Oh, yes. and behaved beautifully.
Perhaps his father would care to see
him. VIII you come with me, Mr.. Dia-
mantstein?"
Warnings to see the cause of all this
trouble and sorrow were not very
strong in the paternal bosom, but Mr..
Diamantstein welcomed the opportu-
nifty to escape from officialdom and in
Jury.