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

q
The day was warm as Simon Tan
ner Aslouched on the shady side OF the
street on his way to the public house
to have a "half-pint' for the fourth
time that morning, and the hand OF
the church clock had yet recorded the
hour of eleven. In appearance Simon
was a compound of the broken-doWn
petty tradesman, a carpenter long out
of employment, and man, who would
not work at all; but, as matter OF
fact, he was a jobbing carpenter, who
worked little when he was obliged,
and idled whenever he felt he could
do so without the fear of being de-
prived of the drink that was dearer
to his heart than anything else on
earth.
He had a home and wife and chill
dren, all in sad harmony with a drunk
ards life the one bare Of furniture,
and the other half starved, detected
and utterly miserable.
II want pint of beer, Mr.. Bouncer,
and I'll pay you this afternoon, if you
don't mind" said Simon to the publi-
can.
mo CO." said Mr.. Bouncer, drawing
a glass for himself and drinking be-
fore the very eyes of the thirsty Sim
on. thereby inficting upon him unnec-
essary pain. ''Ypu cart have the beer,
because you won't pay. And besides,
better watch you amt put on this ERE
Black List"
Hoping that somebody of a more
amiable turn of mind than the land
lord might come in and "stand him a
drink" Simon ruefully took a seat on
tub at the back of the bar, and
sought, with Indifferent success, to
ward off his thirst by reading the po-
lice reports.
The bar was empty at that time,
but in few minutes others came in
three men in the holland suits worn
by painters and house-decorators. Sim
on was deep in case of wife-beating
arising from drink-in which he had
a sort of sympathetic feeling, having
occasionally given few blows to Mrs.
Tanner instead of bread when she
asked for it--when roar of laughter
from the men caused him to look up
to find what had given rise to the
merriment.
1t was little child, boy with a
wan face that spoke volumes, stand
ing just within the door. The few rags
he had upon his poor, little, pinched
frame were not worthy of the name
of clothes, and his little feet were
thrust into pair Of battered, dingy
boots big enough for a man. 1t was
the boots the painters were laughing
at, and at first sight the appearance
of the child was undoubtedly ludi-
crous.
But their laughter soon ceased. The
boots might be absurd, but the little
limbs almost lost in the huge proper
lions of the battered coverings to his
feet were touching to look upon, and
when the men lifted their eyes to the
sad face they became silent. The child
was mute too. He simply stood there
with his eyes asking for bread.
The man nearest to him, a big.
fellow with kind
face, broke the silence. "Halloo, lit
tile jack" he said; what do you
want?"
my name isn't Jack, it's Jim," re-
piled the child; and l want bit Of
bread"
"Poor little fellow!" said the man.
''Here, master, give us a biscuit for
the boy. What a shame for man to
send his child about in his old boots!"
mot old boots!" said the boy, with
"a shrewd fathers best Sunday
boots"
This drew out another roar of
laughter, and one of the men, hoist
ing the child up, cried out, Look,
mates! here's pair of best Sunday
boots for you. What a nice, respect
able father he must be if the rest of
his clothes are only like them!' they
all laughed again.
Father never gives me anything"