Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-26

swallowing something like loaf o
in my throat. YOU says my Daisy
and did You sec my father? 1 hav:
been in many tight box, young fel
low, but that was the hardest'deal
ever had. NO, little lady, says I
'bnt are you happy hcre?' Yes
SIR says she, 'as can be till I get to
Heaven aud see my father. DO you
think he's waiting for me thcre3' Il
hope so, darling; at any rate he will
b". Won't you kiss me just oncc?'
The little thing looked at me straight
with her sliiuev eyes. your little
girl may kiss somebody from Califor-
MIA some day Are you going back
tlcrc? Yes, little lady, l shall 60 to-
morrow wait there then minute ,
And she darted away over to her
housc and disappeared in The Eaidcn.
In second she was back, and IN her
chubby hands were beautiful flowers
--violets, pinks and Inornin' glorics.
VIII you take these with you and
put them on nv fathers grave if you
gar find il? lie may be lonely there.
'0ts, lassie,' says I, almost broken,
III take them with me Us you wish.
And I couldn't help catchin' her in
my arms and kissin' her hard and
IA t. And then without another
word | left her standing there
with Il world o. wonder in her eyes,
and got my dunnagc from the hotel
aud back came again. Excuse me,
inu-t turn them sheep. Here,
Biucc!"
The poor old man could hardly
speak, and 1 waited till he came up to
ne again.
"Do you see ,lIis?'
He took from his rough shirt lit
tie pocket fastened round his neck
by cord. He unwranped this and
there lay bunch Of faded flowers.
II told the little lady Id put them
on her fathers grave, and I've worn
them on my heart ever siuce."
could not keep the tears from
swelling up into my eyes, and OH pre-.
tencc oftillins my pipe, slipped away
until l could command my voice.
But what have you been doing
since you came back!''
Most anything. | was a fireman,
in the city for years. 1t was cxcitin
like and they was a good set of boys,
was the Knickerbockcrs, and we had
a little lady i'll our company which
always Sc; me IL thinking of my Mag
gle, though III looks she wasn't. But
just the same ways aud actions, and
L believe every man in the company
would have died for her. got to be
foreman cucc, and our life seemed TO
be rs good as any. Rattling to fires,
pul!in' up ladders, fightin' fire and
smoke, going to funcrals---take it all,
We enjoyed life, and tho't as how
should die in that business, and that
the boys would string along with the
band arter my bones some day; but il
wasn't TO be. There amt no pa.
rades, nor nothing, and the city is
too dull for ne since they disbandcti
us and put out fire by machinery.
Homeopathic nonsense, says (. put
ting out fire with fire, and never did
believe i'll these new-famgled notions.
Dye see this '5' Oh my hand? That
led ME to join that company. 1t has
puzzled many a fellow, but it's only
what we did at school. There was
five of US that used to go for apples
and melons and such, and we was
all numbered. You've had my story,
young fellow, and | am glad to sec
you. The aan is coming through the
clouds, and if you want to reach Bear
creek tonight, you must be starting.
Ii you ever come up here again, see
me. Goodbye"
We shook hands. and left him fol-
lowing his sheep. Our horses were
soor ready, and bidding adicu to our
/, kiud hos;s, we cantered southwest,
and my old friend Five waved his
hand as n last farewell.