The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-11-09

| ting on the door steps. Bessie mao
laid her head against my arm and be
gan to cry. I'm so hungry, Willie;
mother stays so late to night
q" Don't cry, baby. Mother will
soon be home
"'Of course she will exclaimed
George Anderson. He lived a mile be-
yond us, and as he spoke he tossed a
bunch of bluebells into Bessie's lap.
ooh, how pretty she exclaimed,
while the tears dropped from her
sweet blue eyes on the pretty blue
bells.
"'Come, Bessie said, let me fasten
them among your curls.' She stood
on the door step, with her face toward
the house. stood behind her and tied
the bluebells in her golden curls.
had just fastened the last one when
some one jerked me off the steps. 1t
was father. He was almost crazy
with drink. He caught Bessie and
said:
"'You have been crying. What did
Willie do to you" She was so white
and scared l thought she would faint.
Willie didn't do anything she
gasped out. Father let her go and
grasped me. He began to shake me
awful.
"'You rascal what did you do to
Bessie. Tell me- or I'll shake the
breath out of YOU He shook me SO
I could not answer. Then little Bessie
caught him by the arm and said,
Please, father, don't hurt Willie. 1
was so hungry it made me cry"
"He looked at the table and saw the
bread and molasses. You little white
faced liar You are not hungry.
Look at the table. There is plenty to
eat, and good enough for such a 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
IF 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 to drink, he said, when he
reached the edge of the water, and
followed, scarcely knowing what l was
doing | was SO frightened. He waded
in about knee deep, then took Bessie
and put her little curly head down UNI
der the water She threw up her little
hands and cried out.
Oh Willie, take the baby!'
waded around father and tried Wild
all my strength to raise her little head
out of the water, but father held it
down. begged father to take her
out, but he would not listen. She
threw up her hands wildly; there was
gurgling sound then all was STILL 1t
seemed hours to me, but father at last
lifted up Bessies white, dripping face.
] called her name wildly, but her blue
lips didn't move She was dead. Faith
er carried her and laid her down on the
grass 1 guess she won't get hungry
for a while, he said. | was so
| never moved nor spoke, I'M |
til | saw the bluebells that | had |
al In, hot he
water. could not bear to see them |
drift away, so | waded out after them. |
The water was deep, and on | went |
1t was up to my armpits, now over my |
shoulders, and still the bluebells were |
just beyond my reach, but | must have |
them. The water touched my chin,
another step and | caught them. and
just as did heard mother call.
willie! Oh, Williel Where are
your
Il looked for father. He was seated
on the ground by Bessie.
Willie, Oh, Willie!' came mothers
voice again.
II was now out of the water, but so
weak could scarcely stand.
Bessie! oh, Bessie!'
Here, mother! Here, mother at the
pond. Father gave one mad leap into
he water He plunged in face down.
was so terrified / did not know what
o do. / heard mother coming.
rembled so l could not walk, So l
,rawled up to Bessie and took fathers
straw hat and put it over Bessies dead
ace to keep mother from seeing it.
n a moment she came in sight She
Jaw ] was dripping with water.
Willie, Willie, what Is the natter
could not speak, and lifted the hat
rom Bessie's dead face. She stood
or a moment as If turned to stone
Tell me how it happened, Willie. tell
ne quick.
Then | found voice and told her
She heard me through
Without word, but when had fin