The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-11

lads voice sounded so. He talked
like one shut out of life. I made a
place for myself in the grass and sat
down beside him.
81 was attracted by your Bird" I
said, 'J thought he had nest here,
and 50 followed him. I trust I am
not iptruding."
s.Not at al, sir; am glad to have
some one to speak to. As for BoH he
hasa nest here, but it's in my heart.
He is the only thing on Garth that
loves me-"
"You take too sad view of life.
my friend. Your calamity is great,
no doubt, but STILL
'Ah, sir! it's all we'll enough to talk
so when you have limbs, and health,
and freedom. When you can work
and go out into life and tread the
earth with the full consciousness of
being. But when, ever since you can
remember, you have been but the
molety of man, utterly helpless, ut
terly dependent, an infant without an
infants happy unconsciousness! But
what's the use of my talking to you in
this way? Here, Bob, show the gen
tleman your tricks -
Bob, on this summons, left his post
by the lads cheek, where he had re-
manned perfectly still, taking an in
ventory of my person with his round
bright eyes, and apparently measuring
me for suit of clothes, and suddenly
flew into the air, where he summer
saulted and pirouctted, and affected to
lose the use of his wings and tumble
from an appalling height, invariably
recovering himself before he reached
the ground, after which he gravely ALT
upon his masters breast and thrust
his little bill affcctionately between his
lips.
"Iou have tanned your bird Won
derfully," / said to the boy.
cit has been my amusement during
many solitary hours" he answered,
with feeble smile.
How is it that you have been left
so solitary" [ asked. "You live in
the neighborhood?"
I'm that house up yonder, Just
peeping from behind that clump of
naples" and he pointed, as he spoke,
toward respectable farm house.
"And you have friends-a family?"
''Ah, sir! they are kind enough to
me; but they must be very tired of
me by this time
Come said I, cncouragingly, lay
ing my hand on his shoulder, "come,
tell me all about yourself, I'm a good
listener; besides, I am interested in
you: Bob here looks as if lie was
anxious for story. This is charm
ing nook that we are in, so I'll Just
Light a cigar, and do you talk
The free and easy manner assumed
seemed to surprise him. He glanced
shyly at me out of his large blue eyes,
as if suspicious of my sincerity; then
he heaved little sigh, stroked Bob's
feathers, as if to assure himself of the
presence of at least one friend, and
saying, GAS you please" commenced:
II am eighteen" he said; "you
would not think it, for I know I look
younger than lam. Confinement and
suffering have made my complexion
pale and transparent, and the snn and
the winds that harden other mems
skins and age their featuaes, have had
but little to do with me. Ever since I
can remember, I have been paralysed
in the lower limbs. For years, l lay
upon an inclined plane of board, look
ing up at the ceiling with mind verv
nearly us blank as the white plaster T
gazed at. My father. died when I was
mere infant, and there was no one
left in the house but mother and Cou-
sin Alice"
cousin Alice" I said; ''who is
she?"
His eyes wandered timidly toward
the house behind the naples, as if he
expected some apparition to start from
thence on the very instant.
Cousin Alice" he repeated vague
~; "well, she's-Cousin Alice
"Excessively explanatory, said,
"My age"