Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-30
Sims Little Girl.
ui MARY uARrwrLL


pany.
Now I've got you by the arm, boy, |
want to tell YOU Something. Then If you
want to 60 back into that saloon, you
may.
don't often moddc in other folks
business, do |? When a tough old fellow
like me sets ont to warn q body. you may
know its because he sees sore need Of it.
I've had an eye on you ever since the com.
pany promoted you to an engine, and !
want you to make a fair trip Of your life.
You're a fne. bright youncsier ! don't
never say things to compliment.
just takin' drinks for good fellowship
Yes, I know an bout that. Been there
myself Sit down on the edge Of the plat
form here
"Or all men in the world, ! take it, en-
ginccrs ought to be the last to touch the
bottle We have life and property trusted
TO our hands uncommon. Ours is a grand
business. don't think folks looks at it as
they ought to. Remember when ! was a
young fellow like you, just set up with an
engine, used to feel like a strong angel
or somethin rushin' over the country,
maxim that iron beast do just as | wanted
him 10. The power sort Of made me think
fast. square up and feel much Of q man.
q" was dom well when married aud
did well long afterwards. We had nice
home, the little woman and nc; our hearts
was set on each other. and she was little
proud Of her engineer She used to say so,
anyhow. She was sort Of mild and tender
with her tongue Not one Of your lold
ones. And pretty, too. But you know
what It is TO love a woman, Geo. Burks. |
saw You walkin' with blue eyed little thing
last Sunday.
And after awhile, we had the little girl.
How felt when came home and they put
her into my arms the first time | looked
sort of silly aud sort Of glad My wife,
she just laughed out loud, to see me handle
that little thing so orkardly
." never liked little children much, but
| took to that IN powerful Everybody
took to her.
George, boy did you ever take time to
60 and peep at young ferns in the spring ?
You see EN- all doubled together, like a
teenty fist. That's what size was at first
all fist and squirm beauty curcd up tight.
Then they unfold AMI spread out, and come
up bright and delicate, and iner'n you can
put into words That's Just the way she
did Every night | came home, found
her growed and pumponed out more. Used
to toss her up, and she'd squeal Ikea SPUR
rel, aud come down on my face in fits Of
laughter.
"Oh, | daresn't think about her cunning
ness But the very first word she learned
TO say, was Papa
=" We talked good deal about what we
should call her, my wife and |. We went
clean through the Bible, and set down all
the fine story names we heard Of. But
nothin' seemed to suit. used to puzzle
the whole length of my route to find out a
name for that little girl. My wife wanted
to call her Eudora Isabel. But that sound
cd like folderol. Then we had up Rebecca,
aud Maud, and Amanda Ann, and what not.
Finally, whenever ! looked at her, | SEEM
ed TO see " Katie" She looked Katie,
took to calm her Katie and she learned
it. So Katie she was
81 tell you, George, that was child to
be noticed. She was rounder and preitier
made in wax fgger her eyes was big
ger and blacker'n any grown woman's you
ever saw, set like stars under her forehead
and her hair was that light kind that all
runs to eurls and glitter.
"Soon's she could todde she used 10
come dancin to meet me. I've soled
many of her white pinafores buryin my
face in them before ! was washed, and sort
Of prayin' soft like under the roof Of my
heart, " God bless my baby God bless my
little lamb"
"As she grew older, used to talk to
to her about engin' even took her into my
cab, and showed her the 'tachmcnts Of the
engine and learned her signals and such
things She tuck such an interest, and was
the smartest little thing Seemed as if she
had always knowed EN-. She loved the
road. Remember once hearing her say to
playmate, " There's my papa. He's an
engineer. Don't you wish he was your
papa?
my home was close by the track OF.
ten and often the little girl stood in our
green yard, waving her mite Of hand to
me as we rushed by
Well, sir, them was happy years. 1t
most kills me to look over em now.
was doin' too we'll Had an idea | was a
man made to prosper. felt good to all
the world, aud that nd been we'll if I'd
showed my good fellowship some other way.
But men are fools. was so easy ! could
not refuse a social glass, aud | was always
free toasting others. Many stbe time we've
stood, three or four fools of us, clinkin'
our glasses and drinkin' to brotherhood
drinkin' the very thing that made US fit for
anything but brothers. 1t pleased me
most to have them pledge my little girl.
And the more they'd toast her, the deeper
I'd drink And | was drinkin' death to
her and damnatiou to me-
"l'll cut it off short. Didn't mean to
say but a few words to you, but got to
thinking so. Can't spin it out much long.
er, or there'll be no man left me.
"Well one day started on my home
trip, full Of that good. fellowship you was
imbibi'n awhile ago. Made the engine wiz
We was awful jolly, the fireman and me.
Never was drunk when got on my engine
before, or the Company would have ship
ped me. Wasn't no such time never made
on that road before nor since. | had Just
sense enough left to know what was about,
but not enough to handle an emergency.
We fairly roared down on the trestle that
stood at the entrance Of our town.
81 had tipsy eye out, aud George as
We was hyin through the suburbs, | see
my little girl on the track ahead, wayin' a
red flag and standin' stock still
"The air seemed full Of Katics could
have stopped the engine, if I'd only had
sense enough to know what TO take kold Of
to reverse her But | was too drunk
And that grand little angel stood up to it,
trying to warn US in time, aud we Just swept
right ahead into pile Of ties some wretch
had laid on the track !-Oh my baby Go
away George
There And do you want me to tell
you how the sight Of that mangled little
mass killed her mother And do you want
me to tell you to walk alive to-day the muir.
derer Of my own child, who stood up "a
save me2 And do you want me to tell
you the good fellowship you were drinkin
awhile ago brought all this on me?
You'll let this pass, by makin'up your
mind to be moderate Hope you will.
was n moderate mn