The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-05-08

said Jim, quickly, cept knock bout
my head. Stones in the hard road cut
my feet, so | put his boots on"
well, little chap said the man
who had Jim in his arms, putting
him upon his feet, 4 see you've got
hard lines of it. Go home and tell
your father to knock off his drink
for a week, and get you proper pair
Of boots"
The child laughed now in his turn,
but he did not explain why he did so,
nor did anybody ask him why. They
understood that laugh, for it was with
out merriment, and they knew as we'll
as the child how improbable it was
that man given to drink would list
en- to any appeal but that of his awful
craving Little Jim, with the remains
of one biscuit in his hand and the
other Rugged to his breast, went out
of the public house, with his big boots
slouching and swinging about his ten
der little feet, and the men went back
to their beer.
And who is this that has listened
with bitter shame to all that passed,
! covering behind the newspaper to
hide his burning cheeks? Simon Tan
ner, the idle, dissolute drunkard, the
father of little jim
Yes, it was his own child who, I'M
conscious of the full depth of the in
| EQUITY Of the story he was telling,
had laid bare his shame to strangers.
The child, even with closed lips, was
a silent witness against him; his
tongue had given such confirmation
that none coulddoubt, Even Mr. Bour-
Ger, who was, Of course, a sturdy de-
fender of the theory of strong drinks
being beneficial, was compelled to adj
nit that in this case it would be bet
ter if the father, whoever he was, took
a little less.
"All can say is" said the man who
had paid for the first biscuit, "that
l would not stand in that mans shoes
for mint Of money"
"And how do you know you won't
one day." cried Simon Tanner, spring
ing to his feet and glazing at him
with sudden fury do you think was
always drunkard? l was once as good
man as you, if not better, and it's
the drink that's brought me down"
so you are the father of that boy"
said the man. nice fellow you must
| be-
Yes, l am" replied Simon; "and
don't you go calling me hard names,
for your turn may come, and the turn
Of all of you, and if the drink does
get hold Of you, then you will under
stand why that poor little chap was
driven to do what he did. That land
lord there knows me, and he knows
| spend every penny | earn in this
house; and yet this morning when
wanted him to trust me one pint,
he said No He even jeered at me
and warned me not to get put on the
Black List. My word, TIL take his adj
vice in way he won't like"
"You always had beer for your
money" Mr.. Bouncer interrupted,
"and there's. no reason why 1 should
give it to you for nothing"
Il suppose not" replied Simon;
you've got the law and prejudice on
your side, and there's everything
against me; but I'm not going
to be beaten. MY child las
put new spirit into me to,
day, and I'll tell you what I'm going
to do, and that is, by Gods help I'll
never touch drink again. Do you hear?
Never touch it again. And when I'm
decent man I'll come again here.
and stand outside and tell the people
my story"
If you come here and make dis
turbance," said Mr.. Bouncer, loftily,
III have you locked up"
Il shan't make any Disturbance
returned Simon, as he moved towards
the door; "therell be no need to do
that The very look Of drunken Sim
on, as I'm called, in good clothes
will be enough to set people thinking,
and Il any of them chose to ask me a