Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1920-12-16

~ ASA mC INV W ududSS IL, Suc
pleaded. "How can l wheedle your
God to the Dirty Mary?"
ITO the what?" was the question
the boy asked in shocked swiftness.
1.-THE Dirty Mary" repeated Tony.
MY mummy all me live on a canal
boat. Once s:,e were Just called
Mary But she's so id nasty, EIDE
calls her the Dirty Mary. She's q
nice boat just tie same as long as my
mummy's there. But can't see how a
clean God cou.d come on 'er. .,. l
guess you're 10olin' me. mister"
Philip swallowed hard. Then slowly
and gently he ealked to her, trying to
make her understand as best he could
what he meant by God, Spirit.
"And you can help your mother, lit
ltle-what's your name?"
'Tony, just Tonnibel," she mumbled.
Then her voice rose and she uttered
sharply, "N9w tell me how to help my
mother"
Philip wsnt to the altar and sorted
out small card.
"This," se said, coming back to her,
"has happy, loving thoughts written on
it. If YOU think these things all the
time-ols, how they will help both you
and yous mother"
Wonderingly she took it in her
fingers. The first thing that met her
eyes was a beautiful uplifted face Of a
man ard in his arms was little lamb.
UnderrGath the picture was printed,
Feed my Sheep" and directly under
that We're the words, "Stand still and
see the salvation Of the Lord" Once
more her eyes sought the face above,
fece wherein lay oil the pity and
love In the world.
1eny Devon caught glimpse Of the
lessen he was trying to teach, and
when she went out Of the Salvation
armg hall she held within the depths
Of her a wonderfully new and utterly
strange emotion.
She was painting for breath when
she ran up the gangplank Of the canal
boat.
A woman was busy brewing tea
when the girl slipped down the steps
OK the cabin.
sYou been gone long time, Tony"
pumbled Mrs. Devon. did you see
anything of your daddy?"'
Nope, and I squinted in every beer
hole in Ithaca" Tony replied, "but-
out--but found out something for
pou. Listen There's somebody on this
boat besides me, and you-and Gus
'Sie."
"Who" came sharply from the
woman.
She shivered, fearing that the law
lay in wait for her absent husband.
"Who. brat?" she repeated imploc-
ingly.
Tcnnibel bent over and looked
straight into the sad, wan face. "
i "God, just plain lovin' God!" she
replied, her countenance expressin!
unusual exaltation. "Sit minute
while the teas maxim good, and I'll
tell you"
Side by side they sat together on the
bunk while with lowered reverent
voice the girl told the story of the
Shepherd who had said long ago witt,
infinite pity, Feed my Sheep"
"And- mummy" the girl continued.
leaning her head against her mothers
arm, Darling mummy, that beautiful
n1kn said, Loved make crooked
things straight and-and it's So"
A look Of .unbelief came over Edith
Devon's face.
'Fiddle," she said in disguised
voice. '"Tony, you amt a brain in
your BEAM
II don't need any brains as long as
| got this. Edie," the girl replied, lift
ing the card she held. "Come on, let's
say these things over. Here's one
that'l keep--well, It'll help keep
daddy from beatin' you.'
Mrs. Devon grasped the girls arm
in sudden frenzy.
"You told some one Uriah beats
mel" she demanded sharply.
"Mebbe did, and mebbe I.didn't,"
answered Tony, slyly, ''but these here
words about standin' still and watch
ing Salvation slam good all about will
keep pappy's fists up his sleeves. Say
It, Edie," she ended.
II won't" said Edith, getting up
swiftly. "If there's anything in It,
Tony, you can show me by gettin' your
daddy back home. Mebbe he's in 1ail.' y
Even If he was" retorted the girl,
with wise shake of her head, ''lovin'
hard could make the coop-doors dy
wide open. and daddy'd Mop out like a
| {dOrflsh fOns int0 the lake I'm Ons,,,
to hnd out more some Of these days.
and then III tell you all about 1t. Huh,
mummy"
EYES," muttered Edith, "but I'm svs
ting guess out Of the days I spent
on this boat that God, or whoever
you're talkin' about, amt botherin' hi,
head over the Dirty Mary. nor VI
.'Uriah, II yeu 60 on With /
l. Al - = q y