Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-07-25

IL was late. Inc lamps vi the car burn ed
dimly. la one seat were happy couple
rejoicing IN carpet bag, two band boxes, an
umbrella, basket, brown paper parcel,
and sleeping cherub.' Suddenly, cherub,
girl of some three years experience in this
strange world, awoke from one of those
long, undisturbed slumbers that are among
the inalienable prerogatives Of blame lie IS
childhood, and climbed up SO as to stand and
look over the back Of the seat. Two cure
worn travellers, weary and half-awakened
men, sat directly in front Of the innocent
little creature. They looked as il they had
been on board Of railroad cars for month,
and had journeyed from the regions about
sunset. The great curious eyes Of the child
fell upon them. She scanned carefully the
faces of each, and one would have deemed
her to be an infantile physiognemist. Pres
emily one Of them looked at her. II was
evident that she rather liked him Of the two,
and had about made up her mind to speak
to him for instantly her little voice was
heard, as she piped out the query:
Does you love little girls 2
The man looked at her moment gruiIly,
and then replied: No | don't
A shade OF unutterabie disappointment
and surprise was instantly daguerreotyped
upon the sweet and blooming countenance
of the child, but passed a~ ay when she re-
Piled:
Yes, you do
The man raised himself and took another
look. He was evidently both puzzled and
interested; and he said:
How do you know =
And she replied:
Cause you looked as it you did,
This thawed him out some, and he said !:
j have got little girl at home
The little questioner now evidently felt
that she was on the right track and after
look that showed that this intelligence
presented anew and unexpected view Of the
affair, renewed the conversation earnestly,
and the following colloquy ensued
Does you love your little girlp
Yes
Is she 4 real good little girl /!
Sometimes she is :.
Is she naughty sometimes!'
Yes
Does she 90 down in the kitchen when
she hadn't ought to 9
Is, sometimes
Do YOU whip your little girl when she il
naughty g.
Sometimes
Does she cry when you talk to her and
tell her she is naughty =
Yes
Then do you whip her p
Sometimes
When she says she is sorry do you whip
her then
No never
FEa dan nd nj
Killed. at this, and drawing conclusions, md
no doubt from her own experience she ex-
claimed
'l's real glad, is =
Then looking at the other man who had
refused u answer the questions she had put
to him, she said TO her newly nude friend
with a look Of wonder
That man won't speak TO me Does he
love little girls =
The man had heart somewhere, and
he thawed out. Rousrg himself, he ex-
tended his brnwny hand and said:
How do you DO, sissy
And the little creature, not altogether at
her ease, replied:
rs pretty well-how is you =
By this time all within hearing of the col
loquy were mo ed to tears--,he eyes of the
parents OF the little prattler were full to
OVERLOOKING those who were nearest
heard one of the men she had questioned
say 10 the other:
Shes little witch
And 50 she was /, Her blooming beauty
and her infuntiie artlessness were powerful
enough 10 break through the roughness, the
WEAKNESS, the reserve, and the indifference
to the travel worn men of the world. and to
melt them to tears.