Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-03-10

"Of course, everywhere" he ex
claimed brOkenly. "Why, dear child
Tony Devon interrupted him swift
ly. "Ten me how to manage it." sh,
pleaded. How can l wheedle you
God to the Dirty Mary2"
ITO the what?" was the question
the boy asked in shocked swiftness.
THE Dirty Mary" repeated Tony
My mummy and me live on a cana
boat. Once she were just called
Mary But she's so ID nasty, EIDE
calls her the Dirty Mary. She's a
nice boat just the same as long as my
mummy's there. But can't see how q
clean God could come on 'er. :.
guess you're foolin' me, mister"
Philip swallowed hard. Then slowly
and gently he talked to her, trying to
make her understand as best he could
what he meant by God, Spirit.
And you can help your mother, lit
tle-what's your manner?
Tony, just Tonnibel," she mumbled.
Then her voice rose and she uttered
oAdl plyB NoW bSlI LAIc hOW " uclp MS
mother"
Philip went to the altar and sorted
out small card.
This" he said, coming back to her,
"has happy, loving thoughts written on
it. If you think these things all the
ttme-oh, how they will help both you
and your mother"
Wonderingly she took it In her
fingers. The first thing that met her
eyes was a beautiful uplifted face of a
man and in his arms was q little lamb.
Underneath the picture was printed,
Feed my Sheep" and directly under
that were the words, "Stand still and
see the salvation of the Lord" Once
more her eyes sought the face above,
face wherein lay all the pity and
love in the world
Tony Devon caught glimpse Of the
lesson he was trying to teach, and
when she went out of the Salvation
army hall she held within the depths
of her 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 ten
when the girl slipped down the steps
of the cabin.
You been gone long time, Tony"
Mrs. Devon. did you see
anything of your daddy?"
Nope, and squinted in every teer
hole in Ithaca" Tony replied, "but-
but-but l found out something for
you. Listen There's somebody on this
boat besides me, and you-and Gus
sie."'
"Who?" came sharply from the
She shivered, fearing that the law
ay in wait for her absent husband.
"Who, brat?" she repeated implor-
ngly.
Tonnibel bent over and looked
traight into the sad, wan face.
God, just plain lovin' God" she
eplied, her countenance expressing
exaItation. "Sit a minute
While the teas maxim good, and I'll
ell you"
Side by side they sat together on the
INK while with lowered reverent
dice the girl told the story of the
hepherd who had said long ago with
lfinite pity, Feed my sheep"
"And mummy" the girl continued,
gaming her head against her mothers
rm, Darling mummy, that beautiful
ian said, Loved make crooked
lings straight and-and it's So"
A look of unbelief came over Edith
evon's face. /
Fiddle" she said in a disguised
oice. '"Tony, you amt brain In
our beam"
II don't need any brains as long as ,
IT this, Edie," the girl replied, lift ,
& the card she held. "Come on, let's S
~ these things over. Here's one I
at'll keep-well, It'll help keep {
Idly from beatin' you" Q
Mrs. Devon grasped the girls arm +
sudden frenzy. 7
"You told some one Uriah leafs
n?' she demanded sharply.
"Mebbe l did, and mebbe I didn't"
swered Tony, slyly, 'but these here
,rds about standin' still and watch
: Salvation slam good all about will
ep pappy's tists up his sleeves. Say q
Edie," she ended.
II won't" said Edith, getting up
fifty. "If there's anything in 1t,
ny, you can show me by gettin' your
ddy back home. Mebbe he's In JAIL
Even If he was" retorted the girl,
tn wise shake of her head, 'lovin'
I'd could make the coop-doors fly
lie open, and daddy'd flop out like
fish fiops into the lake. I'm goin
find out more some of these days
then I'll tell you all about 1t. Huh,
mmy?"
Yes" muttered Edith, but I'm get.
g a guess out of the days I spent
this boat that God, or whoever
ire talkin' about, amt botherin' his
ID over the Dirty Mary. nor us
err"
-----------