The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-20
Haven't got a mother"

He yielded to a sudden impulse said. Suppose you had no friends, no one who cared for you; suppose you found the world a dirty sort of 1 place, and found no pleasure in liv- | ing, what would you do?"
 "Do. I shud git somebody that ded care for me-
 | I've tried, but failed" | "Ain't Zee got a sweetheart, then? ?" "Not one.''
 "Is there no one that you do like ?" 1 "Yes," he said, "but she's thrown me overboard.''
 "Gived 'ee the sack, you de main ?" | Exactly
 | 'fWhy then, zur, ,maakin' so bould ?" He was in a reckless mood, and in way he could not understand, the buxom kind-hearted woman led him to speak.
 | Because I'm bad 'un." | Nonsense"
 1 Fact, assure you. A right down bad 'un.''
 1 And es she very good?" [, Terribly goot, terribly proud, and terribly unforgiving.'' | And ded she give 'ee the sack 'cause you wos so bad?" l More because I hurt her pride, I think
 | "Ah, I zee." l Come now, under these circum- stances. what would you do?'
 'Pd begin by bein' a good man. | and laive the rest to God" | "God," and Leicester laughed.
 "why, doan't Zee believe in God?"
 ''I think believe in the devil, if that's any good" | Then, zur, I'd kill the devil"
 Can't; love him too much"
 What, love the devil?" | 'I hug him to my heart. He served me a nasty trick the other day, but stick to him all the same. l Yes, he's my friend. He's nearly al- ways with me. When I'm friendly l with him, he helps me to forget. All Now, then, what would you do?''
 ''The devil is allays our enemy, zur. allays. You must kill Zee or you're | done for.''
 The conversation was out of her depth, but she felt sure she was say l ing what was right.
 I'm inclined to think you are right said Leicester, with bitter laugh. ''And yet don't know. What do you think he's been persuading me to do this afternoon?" 'Summin' bad. you may depend zur." i big pool up among the moors. It | has kind of fascination for me, and the devil always meets me there. He | is always telling me that it is very peaceful and quiet at the bottom of the pool"
 l What, you'd main Crazzick Pool? It ain't got no bottom to ct. Et's the devils pool, that's wot 'tes.'' Exactly. We'll, he tempts me to walk into it. and sink, and sink, and find rest and peace" | You doan't git no peace except in Christ, zur," said Mrs. Pethick, who was a class-leader among the Bible Christians.
 Leicester looked at the dame's kindly face and wondered. Had this simple, homely, kindly-faced woman learned any secret unknown to him :? To say the least, the question inter- ested him.
 Look here," he said, ''you don't mind speaking to a. poor devil like I I am quite honestly, do you? In fact, it's no use speaking to me at all, unl%s you do speak quite hon estly, for I can detect lie in a min ute. Do you really believe that | Christ does help you?' DO believe ct? Pm zure, zur Why, when I'm tempted to do wrong, to think of Christ do 'elp me- When | ever I d. ave had, wicked thoughts, I d. jist think of Him, and they do go, zur. For zure they do.'' And He gives you peace, does He?" said Leicester half mockingly, half seriously. l "Is, zur, He do fer zure. I wud- | den gay 20 ef I wasn't zackly zure. A paice which I can't git no other way. Why, when I be comin' home from class-mittens' by myself, I git fearid zumtimes, when tes dark, for | the way es loanly. But I'd talk weth Jesus cal the way, and then-well, zur, the loanly road ez vull of light. l"
 The mocking laugh leftLeicester's s lips as she spoke; it was impossible to doubt what she said.
 "But there," went on Mrs. Pethick, with all woman's tact, "you be could and wisht, you be. I'll git a cup ov tay for 'ee, and gum bread | and craim. You c'n jist raid the paaper while I be gone.'' | Ho doup eIoSa hvy