Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-03-28
SIMS LITTLE GIRL.

Come out here, George Burks. Put
that glass down-can't wait d minute.
Business particular-oonceras the com
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 NEEDLE in other folks
business, do I? When a tough old fel-
low like me sets ont to warn a body,
you may know lis because he sees sore
need of it. I've had an eye on you ever
since the company promoted you to an
engine, and | want YOU to make a fair
trip of your life. You're fine, bright
youngster; don't never say things to
compliment.
Just takin' drinks for good fellow
ship? Yes, l know all bout that
Been there myself. Sit down on the
edge of the platform here
OF all the men in the world. take it,
engineers 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
look at it as they ought to. Eemem-
Der when was a young fellow like you,
Just set up with an engine, [ used to
feel like strong angel or son ethin',
rushin' over the country, maxim that
iron beast do Just as l wanted HIM to.
square up and feel mucn OF man.
was doin' we'll when I married, an |
l did well long afterwards. We had a
nice home, the little woman and me
our hearts were set on each other, aud
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 loud ones. And pretty
too But you know what it is to love a
woman, George Burks; I saw you walk
ing with a blue-eyed little thing last
Sunday.
And after awhile we had the little
girl. How / felt when l came home
and they put her into my arms FOR the
first time l looked sort of silly and
sort of glad Ny wife, she just laugh
ed out loud, to see me handle that little
thing SO orkardly.
Inever liked little children much,
but I took to that 'un powerful. Every
body liked her.
George, my boy, did you ever take
time to go and peep at young ferns in
spring? You see 'em all doubled to-
gether, like teenty fist. That's what |
she was at first; all fist and squirm
beauty curled up tight. Then they un-
fold and spread out, and come up bright
and delicate, and fner'n you can put
into words. That's Just the way she
did. Every night came home, l found
her growed and pumped out more.
Used to toss her up, and she'd squeal
like squirrel, and come down on my
face in fits of laughter.
Oh, l darsn't think about her Gun,
ninguess But the very first word she
learned to say was "Papa !"
We talked a good deal about what We
should call her, my wife and l. We
went clean through the Bible, and set
down all the fine story names we heard
of. But nothin' seemed to suit. l used
to puzzle the whole length of my route
to find a name for that little girl. My
wife wanted to call her Eudora Isabel.
But that sounded like folderol. Then
we had up Rebeccar, and Maud, and
Amanda Ann and what not. Finally,
whenever l looked at her, l seemed to
see "Katie." She looked Katie.
took to calm her Katie, and she learn
ed it, so Katie she was.
tell you, George, that was a child to
be noticed. She was rounder and pret-
tier MAIDEN wax figger; her eyes was
bigger and blacker'n any grown wo-
mans you ever saw, set like stars under
her forehead ; and her hair was that
light kind, that all runs to curls and
glitter.
Soon's she could toddle, she used to
comeda0cin' to meet me. Tvesoiled many
of her white pinafores, buryin' my face
in them before I 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
her about engin'-even took her into'my
cab, and showed the 'tachments of the I
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 a playmate, I
&C There's my papa. He's an engineer. {
Don't you wish he was your papa ?"
My home was close by the track.
Often and often the little girl stood in l
our green yara, waving her mite of a {
hand as We rushed by. q
Well, sir, them was happy years. a
It most kills me to look over 'em now. i
| was doin' so we'll. Had an idea I was s
| man made to prosper. 1 felt good to 4
Ill the world, aud that 'ud been /
+ I'd showed my good fellowship some L
'ther way. But men are fools, and I '
vas so easy I couldn't refuse social 4
glass, and l was always free toasting S
,thers. Mays the time we've stood, P
hree or four fools of us, clinkin' our b
classes and drinkin' to brotherhood r
lrinkin' the very thing that made us S
1t for anything but brothers Itpleased
ne most to have them pledge my little
,irl. Aud the more they'd toast her, r.
he deeper I'd drink. And l was g
Irinlin' death to her and damnat;on n
o me.
I'll cut it off short. Didn't mean to Ii
ay but few words to you, but got to 81
hinkin' SO. Can't spin it ont much "
III l..