The Snowflake herald., 1921-05-13

Clulmcu VIOkculys NAyS uCOA ~HAN
Tony Devon interrupted him swift
ly. "Tell me how to manage it." she
pleaded. "How can / wheedle your
God to the Dirty Mary?'
''To the whatY' was the question
the boy asked in shocked swiftness.
''The Dirty Mary" repeated Tony.
my mummy and me live on a canal
boat. Once she were just called
Mary But she's so id nasty, Ede
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
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 name?"
"Tcny, just Tonnibel," she .mumbled.
Then her voice rose and she uttered
sharply, "Now tell me how to help my
mother"
Philip went to the altar and sorted
out a small card.
'"This," he said, coming back to her,
"has happy, loving thoughts written on
it. If you think these things all the
time-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
man and in his arms was 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,
a 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 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
of the cabin.
"You been gone long time, Tony"
mumbled Mrs. Devon. did you see
anything Of your daddy?"
"Nope, and / sQuinted in every beer
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
woman.
She shivered, fearing that the law
lay in wait for her absent husband.
"WhO, brat?" she repeated implOr-
ingly.
Tonnibel bent over and looked
straight into the sad, wan face.
God, just plain lovin' God!" she
replied, her countenance expressing
unusual exaltation. "Sit a 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 with
infinite pity, Feed my sheep"
"And mummy" the girl continued,
leaning her head against her mothers
arm, Darling mummy, that beautiful
man 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 disgusted
voice. stony, you amt brain in
your bean"
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'll 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
me7" 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 pappys fists up his sleeves. Say
1t, Edie,Y she ended.
Il won't" said Edith, getting up
swiftly. ''Tf there's anything in II,
Tony, you can show me by gettin' your |
daddy back home. Mebbe he's In jail"
'Even II he was," retOrted the girl.
with wise shake of her head, 'Iovin' |
hard could make the coop-doors fly |
wide open, and daddy'd flop out like |
dogfish flops into the lake. I'm goin'
to find out more some of these days, |
and then I'll tell you all about it. Huh,
mummy"
EYES," muttered Edith, "but I'm get
ting guess ont Of the days I spent
on this boat that God, or whoever
you're talkin' about, amt botherin' his
head over the Dirty Mary, nor us
uther."