The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-11-09
W. c. 7. U. DEPARTMENT.
LlquOr'S Deadly WOrk.

ton was called to q little, pale, thin
bOotblacK who had bunch Of bluebelli
In his buttonhole. The gentleman lei
the boy black his boots, then placing q
quarter in his fingers said, Here IL
ten cents for the shine and fifteen cents
for the flowers" pointing TO the blue
bells.
mo, sir; can't sell them. If was
starving wouldn't sell bluebell."
"And why not. little mani"
The lad looked at Mr.. Morrill, 50 pit
eOusly that he was almost sorry he had
asked him. He put his hand on the
boys head and said, Excuse me for
asking. You need not tell me unless
you wish, and you can keep the quarter
II like you, and I'll tell you. Just a
year ago this month--and II has been
such long year, thought the blue
bells never would come"--and then he
stopped and put his hands over his eyes
g. II TO shut out some hOrTid sight.
Presently he took down his hand and
said abruptly:
"My father was q drunkard. We
once owned some property, ! have
was born. We got 20 poor mother
"
Bessie and me. We lived IN q log
house, q quarter Of q mile from town.
One Friday morning there was only q
plate Of meal and about two Spoonsful
Of Inolasses. Mother baked the meal
into bread and told me 10 feed baby
wh0n she woke, and TO keep q sharp
lookout for father while she was away
washing She kissed me at the door,
and said: -
BE q good boy, Willie, and take
care Of little sister Bessie slept
long time, and passed the time sitting
by her and going to the door TO watch
for father. When she woke up she
said, Baby Is 80 hungry, Willie. Get
something to eat.
Get up, Bessie, and let me dress
you, and then we will have some break
fast. had not eaten a mouthful, nor
had mother before leaving home that
morning, and was dreadfully hungry.
Bessie got up and dressed, washed
and cOmbed her, and when we sat
down 70 the table she dropped her curly
head on the table and sobbed, 'Oh,
Willie, I'm 10 tired of corn bread and
molaeses can't eat. want some
bread and butter
Don't cry baby, ! said, stroking
her curls. Mother will bring home
something tonight.
But II Ia so long TO wait
Try 70 eat, said, and | put a
spoonful Of molasses on her plate, and
she did try, but she only swallowed a
few mOuthfuls and then left the table.
] ate . small piece of dry bread.
thought she would eat the molasses, 30
! did not touch II. All day she kept
saying that she was 30 hungry, but she
us both.
Father had not come home. and Il
was nearly dark We were both sit
ting on the doorstep Bessie had laid
her head against my arm and began TO
cry; I'm 30 hungry, Willie; mother
stays 20 late tonight
Don't cry, baby. Mother will soon
be home.
"'0f course she will, exclaimed
George Anderson. He lived q mile be-
yOnd us, and as he spoke he tossed a
bunch Of bluebells into Bessie's lap.
oh, how pretty, she exclaimed,
while tears dropped from her sweet
blue eyes on the pretty bluebells.
Come. Bessie, I said, let me
faSten them among your curls. She
stood on the doorstep, with her face
toward the house | stood behind her
and tied the bluebells In her golden
eurls ! had just fastened the last one
when some one jerkOd me of the steps.
IL was father He was almost crazy
with drink. He caught Bessie and
said:
" You have been crying. What did
Willie do TO your She was so white
and scared | thought she would faint.
willie didn't do anything she
gasped out. Father let her 20 and
grasped me. He began to shake me
awful.
You rascal, what did you do TO
BessieI Tell me, or I'll shake the
breath out Of you. He shook me 80
could not answer. Then little Bessie
caught him by the arm and said: Please,
father, don't hurt Willie. | was so
hungry II made me cry,
HE looked at the table and saw the
bread and molasses.
you little white-faced liar. You re
not hungry Look at the table. There
10 plenty 10 eat, and good enough for
such brat as you, and he shook her
roughly. She began TO cry, and tried
to put my arms around her, but father
pushed me away,
II you can't eat anything can
give you something TO drink, and he
started down the path that led TO the
pond. Bessie hushed crying, and looked
awful scared I'll give you something
70 drink, he said, when he reached the
edge Of the water, and l followed,