The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-10-21
selrftto sturu.
AN ENGLISH STORY.


''wbirr, hirrl' and the sparks flew of
the gsindstone from the scissors held
against it. The man who was grindipr
stopped miaute, felt the edge of the scis-
sors with his thumb, tightened the riyet
and handed to the servant who stood
waiting tor it. -s----
''Threepence, miss; thank you;"1 and be
prepared to move on. ''Will you get in;
Kittv2"
- mo, grandpa; me not tired, +" said long.
haired. blus-eEed childrof about five years
4. old, who toddled alongside. She was poor
ly dressed, but perfectly clean; her hair
was smooth and glossy, aud her face had
a look ofcontentment aud trust; not very
pretty child at FIRST sight, but evidently a
Z bright docile Iittlecreature
''Any knives or. scis sors TO grind? any
pots, pans or kettles To mend2" shouted
the man as he. pushed his little machine
with grindstone and emerywheel, and a
smoking pan of charcoal dangling from it
before him. The barrow was like other
barrows of the sort, the only difference be-
ing that underneath. inst above the treadle,
was sort of fat box, vita rug laid in it
"a very cosy little nest indeed, T.,
child y = : -
'Jump in then, Kitty" and the child
eurled herself ND in the fat tray, and was
presently fast asleep.
All day the man wheeled his erindstone
Z from street to street, with the child some
times awake, troiting alongside and pratt
Ting gayly, sometimes sitting or lying in
her little cradle.
When darkness came on, he turned from
the crowded streets and ceased his mono
fOnnuc Ia 1
homeward. Westward he went, I'D Oxford
street and along the Edgeware road, and
through side street to- small arch way.
Up this be drovs. his griading machine
into small yard; there, under cover of a
shed, he slowed away his barrow, and Int
8 ing the sleeping child out of the roughe hers-
die, he carried her tenderly up stairs to q
room at the top Of the house; then laying
her on the bed, he proceeded to strike a
light. Leaving the candle burning he
went down stairs again and into the crowd
ed road. There he bought some hot pota-
toes from an iiinersut vender, sons bread
and some butter, and pint of tea at cof-
fee shop. This last he put into a tin he
had brought With him and then went back
again to his room. He arranged his pur
chase to the b4st effect upon the little ta-
BILE. and then. proceeded to wake up the
child.
"Wake up, Kitty, you Ittlssleeps-headl
Tea is ready; all ho5epotatees' and every
thirG
The child sat up. rubbed her ewes, and
then scrambled of the bed and clambered
up on her grandfather's knee. T
'Ms sleep 50, 80, 50 long, =" holding out
her arms to the. fullest extent:
'sYes, Kitty, and you would have slept
oIl I-.f,rb4 SftI r-r,-II -
Good grandpa good nice supperI7 the
child said as she tried to eat hot potato.
= AYES, isn't it FIRST rate, Kitty? You get il
for nothing. Miss Tucker, you know, had
to sing-f hersupper.H s,st
aE.'Hot Miss Tucker. grandpa Tommy
Tucker. Tommy. must have been a boy.
you know. ~ -i,sf s
: -ss,sYes, of course, Kitty. Well. you know,
he had TO sing for his supper -,-,--..-.. :
s'I VIII sing, grandpa. and she slipped
off his knee and stood with her hands fold
ed reYerently. and sang the Doxology. at
the end OF the evening hymn 1t was not,
perhaps, much like the air; but she sang
the words clearly and distinctly in her
child-voice. - 80
The old man had ceased eating as she
began, and clasped -his hands before him
teo. A tear stood in his eye as she finish
ed. zF
avery nice Kitty, there's dear You
have earned your supper; the potatoes are
not too hot to eat now" szz =
Kitty climbed upsngein on her grandfa-
Tiers knee, and atezh her supper content
elly, prattling meantime about a Thousand
things. q srgszsaasF
''Now, grandpa. tall me story .s-
''What shall it be, pussy? Jack the
q T.
the Bsanstalk, or what?"
ssrhe Fair One with the Golden Locks,
grandpa 1 like that best" #&.
The old man gravely began his story; but
he had not gone far before the eyelids closed
over the blas eyes, and tbelittle head sank
on his shoulder.
There. Kitty" hesaid, shafts enough
for tonight. Wake up, dear; say your
prayers, and 90 otto bed
The child reused up a little. undressed
herself-for she was HANDY little woman
and then came back IL her white night
fa%n- climbed mp again on to her grand
tasher's Knee, and. folding her hands. re-
lsated litHe prayer, Then she said,
Il have not filed your pipe, grandpa and
going into corner, she fetched long
pipe, aud filed it with tobacco from a
pouch the old man handed her, watched
until he had lit it, aud then held up her
faee to be kissed.
snow you are cumfie, she said, '' Kitty
viii 20 TO bed and watch you" @
Il was not long she watched. In few
minutes the long fringe droooed over the
eyes, and the child was asleep.
Either the pipe did not draw well, or the
smoker was more thoughtful than usual ;
for several times he reiighted It, each time
in a mechanical way. as if he were think
ing deeply. gs .i2 =
He was NJ an Of perhaps fifty-fve years
old; bis hair was very gray, but he had an
upright car riage. and something of the, air
Ian old soldier. His eye vas bright and
eiear-akind and honest, scd yeta shrewd
eye.
ut is time8o try, he said st last to him.
sell, Il have putt Of, long enough. She
can never be more winning than she is
now. IL he does not take to her nov. he
never will Poor little pet -poor little
petl shall miss her sadly" And his
feniy eRt Zip guivered at the thouebt.
'.Yes. vii START to-morrow," he said al
last. elf Il IL to be done, st led better be
dors ct once"
The next moTIling little bundle was
suspended under tae barro !, and With this
slight preparation, the pair OF friends