Year: 1869

take you there. 1t is no place for
little boys and seizing his hat
hurried from the room, murmuring
to himself, as he paced the way to
the brilliant bar room, "and no
place for men, either. Would to
God ! had never gone"


For a long time Willie stood just
where his father had left him: then
turning to the few embers that
family glowed upon the hearth, he
sat down in his little chair, and
resting his head upon his mothers
lap, said earnestly:


Mamma why isn't that pretty
store good place for little boys !?
Papa loves to go there"


1t was a trying question to the
poor, heart-broken woman. She
had so far kept from her son the
knowledge of his fathers sim She
could not bear that he should look
with shame upon him or that his
pure and gentle heart should thus
commune with so intense a grief.
Kindly she toyed with his long ring
lets for while: then said endear-
ingly: "Papa knows better than
you what is best for his little boy.
When you grow older you will learn
why he does not wish to take you"


Then rising she carefully put
down her babe upon its little bed,
and tied on her hood and cloak


"Mind the cradle, now, Willie
I'll come back soon, and then you
shall have some supper, and nice
fire to sit by, too,' and taking a
large basket of ironed clothes she
went out. A wealthy mother would
have been frightened at the thought
only of leaving 50 young boy at
night-f fall all alone with an infant to
care for, and an open fire to sit be-
side. But poor Mrs. NJ. knew well
she could trust Willie with his SIS
ter, and as for burning up. there
were not Goals enough to thaw his
frs gers. No, she did not fear to
leave him, for he had thus been left
many time, and always carefully
obeyed her.


And he meant to now; but poor
little fellow his thoughts would wan
der to that brilliant corner store,
whittier he knew his father always
went at evening, and his brain was
busy with eager wanderings. He
knew his father loved to go, and
there must be something that he
liked, for he never came home again
till long after Willie was asleep.
What lay behind those scarlet cur
tains was mystery he sought in
vain to uRravel.


At length he whispered eagerly,
as if to encourage longing wish,
Papa used to tell me if wanted to
know anything very bad to perse-
we're and 1 would find out. Now
do want to know what makes him
love to go there sol know there
must be pretty things behind those
windows. 1 shouldn't wonder
and his cheeks we're glowing-'if it
was like a fairy house. Why can't
I go?'


Poor Willie! Temptation to
know was too strong to be resisted !;
so he hunted through the closet for
a candle, for he was thoughtful
little fellow, and would not leave
his little sister to the only danger
that could menace her. He found
a bit Of tallow dip, and lighting it,
drew the stand close to her, that the
flame might scare away the rats and
mice should they sally out ere his
return.


I won't stay long, pretty dear,
said he, pressing tender kiss on
her sleeping lids, and drawing the
blanket close over her fair arms
No I'll come back soon, but [ do
want to take one peep Swiftly his
little feet bore him over the pave
. ment, and in trice he stood beside
the curtained window.


How light it is, and how they
laugh and talk. 1t must be funny
in there


A cold, November blast swept
ronnd the corner as he spoke, pene-
trating his thin summer clothes, and
causing his flesh to quiver, and his
teeth to chatter. -....-


1 don't believe they'd hurt me, if
I should go in a while, I'm such a
little boy, and I am so cold out
here he said as he pushed the door
carefully from him slipping in and
closing it without breath of noise.
For a moment he was bewildered
by the light and clatter, but finding
that no one seemed to notice him,
he stole toward the glowing CRATE,
and spread out his purple palms be-
fore the blaze. The group of men
that encircled the bar were drinking
when he entered Soon however,
they sat down their glasses and dis
persed about the room.


'Halloo,' said one in loud tone
as going to the fire he spied little
Willie, What are you doing here,
my little fellowy Who are you,
and what do you want ? -


4 don't want anything only to
see what you do here. My name
is Willie M. My papa loves to
come here, and it looked so pleasant
through the window l thought I'd
come too. But must not stay long
for I've left the baby alone


The mans tones were softened as
he spoke again to him.


And where is your mother, boy ?
1a 20, she's gone to take home the
wash, sir. Papa don't get as much
work as he used to once and we're
very poor now, and she has to help
him now'