What Came to Dilly's House.

White Ribbon, Volume 8, Issue 90, 1 November 1902, Page 1

What Came to Dilly's House.

By Kate W. Hamilton

Dilly was perched on a fence post, her light hair Hying about her face, as usual, and her little red hands clasped behind her back. The three or tour small toes that peeped out through her ragged shoes were red, also, for the autumn day was cold ; but Dilly was used to such trifles. Toddles, the baby, who could not climb the fence, contented himself with looking through. He was bundled up—in an <xld fashion of Dilly’s own inventing—in an old shawl; and, if the round face that peered lietween the fence rails was roughened by the chill wind, he, like Dilly, had grown accustomed to such discomforts. It occurred to Freddy Burr, in the next yard, however, that their situation was scarcely agreeable. He looked up from the stick he was trying to split with his new hatchet, and asked : 44 What makes you sit up there such a day as this ? Why don't you go into the house and keep warm ? ” 44 ’Cause I'd rather stay here and watch you,** said Dilly, serenely. 4|, Tain’t no fun in the house.” 44 Well, I wouldn’t think i: any fun out here, I can tell you, if I didn't have a warm coat and scarf and these

thick boots,” remarked Freddy, displaying the pair of redtops, that were his pride. Dilly looked at them, and an old, vague wonder awoke as she did so, and

grew more distinct, until, presently, it took shape in words. 44 Why don t I have such things, too, Freddy Burr—shoes, and new clothes, and something to w'ear on my head ? ” 44 ’Cause your father drinks ’em up,”

answered F'reddy, promptly, and without the slightest hesitation in disclosing the truth. Dilly pondered a moment, and as promptly denied. 44 No, he don’t, either. Folks can’t drink such things. Where do you get AM yours r 44 My father buys ’em for me; and the reason why yours don’t get any for you is 'cause they all gointo old Barney's rum-barrels, down at thecorner. That's the way of it, true as you live, Dilly Keene; and it’s awful mean, too!’ declared Freddy, growing indignant, as he explained. Then a voice from the pretty house l>eyond called F'reddy ; and he ran in, while Dilly and Toddles, with their amusement of watching ended, turned slowly away. Dilly surveyed th»* b«by and herself thoughtfully, and sat down upon an old log to meditate. If what Freddy Burr had told her was true, something ought to l»e done alxmt it; and the longer she pondered the more fully she l»ecame convinced that she had heard the truth. 44 'Cause other folks has things and we don’t, and it must tie ours go somewhere else,’ she reasoned. 44 They can’t l>e any good there either. I’m just sure they can’t. Mebby I’ve got a hood—mebby it would l>e a nice red one, pretty and warm. Wish I had it now. Wish Poddies had " She stopped, as a brilliant plan

flashed suddenly through her brain* Wouldn’t her mother he surprised, if she could do that —poor mother, who was out washing, and who would he so tired when she came home at night. “ Toddles, let's do it!” she said, springing up excitedly. “ Let’s go and see if we can get some of ’em." “ Yeth," answered Toddles, contentedly, and, taking his hand, Dilly opened the creaking gate and led the way down the street. There w r ere a number of men in the store at the corner—a queer store, with a curtain across the lower half of its front w’indow. Dilly saw them when the door opened; but she was a determined little body, when once she had decided upon the proper thing to do. So she only clasped Toddles’ hand closer, and walked in and up to the counter, making an extra effort to speak distinctly, because her heart beat so fast. “ Please, sir, have you got anything of ours a-soak here ? " There was an instant’s silence, and then a shout of laughter from the men. “ Well, now, that’s a neat way of putting it. Hey, Keene, these youngsters of youts want to know if Barney has you in soak here ? ” An old slouched hat behind the stove was raised a little, but there was no other sign that the man heard. Dilly shrank back abashed. “ Oh, I didn’t mean him.” “ What did you mean, then ? ” asked a coarse, red-faced man, advancing from t>ehmd the bar, and speaking in tones not at all gentle or amiable. “ Shot*s and coats and such things," faltered Dilly. M Hoods—l’m afraid it’s spoiled with whisky; but mebby ma could wash it out. Wouldn’t you take some of ’em out of your barrel, Mr Barney ? We need ’em awful bad." “ I should think as much," muttered one of the bystanders, surveying the two dilapidated figures; but Mr Barney's wrath was rising. 44 What barrel ? Who sent you here ? ’’ he demanded, angrily. 44 Your rum barrel,’’ answered Dilly, standing her ground desperately, though with a little catch in her breath, that was just ready to break into a sob. “ Ma works hard all the time, and she looks so sorry ; and we don't have any nice dinners at our house, like Freddy Bun’s ; and no new

shoes, nor caps, nor anything. 1 asked Freddy where our good things went to, ’cause they don’t come to our house ; and he said you had ’em down here in your barrels. Please do take some of ’em out, Mr Barney. I’m sure it can’t make anybody’s drink taste any better to have a poor little boy’s and girl's new shoes and dresses and everything in the barrel." 44 You're right there, sissy. It’s nigh about spoiled the taste of mine,” said one of the group at the counter, putting dow n his glass, with a queer, perplexed look. But there was no perplexity in the bar-keeper's look ; that was wrathful. 44 We’ve had enough of this nonsense. Now, you leave, you young ragamuffins, as fast as your feet will carry you, and never let me see you inside these doors again ’’ He stepped towards them, as if to drive them out; but the man behind the stove suddenly arose. 44 Take care, Barney! You’ve knocked me about often enough, but you let them alone.” There was a fire in the eyes under the old slouched hat, before which Mr Barney drew back Both children were crying by that time; but the father took a hand of each. 44 Come, Dilly : come, Baby,” and, without a word or a look to his companions, he passed out into the street. It was a very silent walk. Toddles’ tears were dried as soon as the stranger, whose loud voice had awakened his baby terror, was out of sight; but poor little Dilly s heart was sore with disappointment and fear. She had tailed in the scheme which she had thought promised so fairly. No hood nor shoes hail she se»n, afier all her bravery in venturing into that dreadtul store; and wdio could tell how angry her father might be ? She stole sly glances up under the old hat; but she only saw a sober, downcast face, and he said nothing, not even when they reached home. He hunted up some fuel, and made a better fire, and then sat down before it, with his liena lietween his hands, and left thechiHren to their own devices. But two weeks later Dilly completed the story, confidently, to Freddy Burr. 44 See here ! ” she said, pushing the toes of a pair of stout new shoes through the fence. 44 Where did )ou get ’em ? ’ asked Freddy.

44 And >ee here,’’ con inued Dilly, bobbing up for an instant to show the hood that covered her yellow hair, and touching it significantly with her finger. 44 Where did you get ’em ? ” repeated Fred. “ My Pa worked and bought ’em, and brought ’em home ; and they didn’t get into nobody s barrel, ” explained Dilly, with great pride, and little regard for grammar. Then she press d her small face close to the fence for a prolonged interview. 44 You see, the billennium has come to our house.” 44 The what ? ” questioned the bewildered Freddy. 44 The billennium. It's a pretty 1 ng word,” said Dilly, complacently, 44 but it means good times. Anyhow, that’s what ma called it, and 1 guess she knows. Itv.asjust this way, Freddy Burr. When you told me Mr Barney had all our nice things down to his store, in a barrel, I just went right down there, and asked him for ’em—me and Toddles ’’ 44 You didn’t ! exclaimed horrified Freddy. 44 Did too ! ” declared Dilly, with an emphatic nod. 44 W ell, he wouldn’t give one of ’em, and he was just as cross as anything. So, then, my pa got up from the stove and walked home with us. He didn’t scold a bit ; but he just sat down before the fire, this way, and thinked, and thinked, and thinked. At last he put his hand in one pocket, but there -/asn’t anything there; and then he put it in the other, and found ten cents, and he went out and liought some meat for supper. Then, when ma came home he talked to her, and they both cried—l don’t know' what for, ’less it was cause we couldn’t get the tilings out of that old barrel, and ma hugged and kissed me most to death that night, she did. Well, my pa got some work the next day and brought home some money, and now he has found a place to work every day. He Ixwght all these things, and he says his little l>oy and girl shall have things like other folks. So now’ you’ll know’ what the billennium means, Freddy Burr, when anylnidy asks you, and you can tell ’em Dilly Keene splained it to you.’’— American Vaper.