Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-03-11
SIM'S LITTLE GIRL.
MARY HARTWELL.

Come ont here, George Burks.
Put that glass down-can't wait min
ute. Business particular-concern the
Company.
Now I've got you by the arm, boy,
| want to tell you something. Then if
want to go back into that saloon, you
may.
[ don't often NEEDLE in other folks
business, do I? When tough old fell
low like me sets out to warn body,
you may know it's because he sees sore
need of it. I've had an eye Oh you ever
since the Company promoted you to an
engine, and I 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, I know all bout that.
Been there myself. Sit down ou 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 grand business, [ don't think folks
looks at it as they ought to. Remem-
Der when I 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 to.
The power, sort of made me think fast,
square up and feel much of man.
[ was dom we'll when [ married, and
/ did well long afterwards. We had
nice home, the little woman and me
our hearts was set on each other, and
she was a 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
woman, George Burks, I saw you walk
ing with 3 blue-eyed little thing last
Sunday
And after awhile we had the little
girl How 7 felt when I came home
and they put her into my arms for the
first time! I looked sort of silly and
sort Of glad My wife, she just laugh
ed out loud, TO see me handle that little
thing so orkardly
[ never liked little children much,
but [ took to that 'un powerful. Every
body liked her.
George, my boy, did you ever take
spring? You see 'em all doubled to-
gether, like teenly fist. That's what
she was at first all fist and souirm ::
beauty curled up tight. Then they I'M
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, I found
her growed and pumped out more.
Used to toss her up, and she'd squeel
like a squirrel, and come down on my
face in fits of laughter.
Oh, [ darsn't think about her cum
ningness But the very first word she
learned to say was "Papa p
We talked a good deal abont what we
should call her, my wife and I. We
went clean through the Bible, and set
down all the fine story names we heard
OF. But notIin' seemed to suit. I used
TO puzzle the whole length of my route
to find name for that little girl. My
wife wanted to call her Endorg Isabel.
But that sounded like folderrol. Then
we had up Rebeccar. and Maud, and
Amanda Ann and what not. Finally,
whenever / looked at her, [ seemed to
see "Katie." She looked Katie. I
took to calm her Katie. and She learn
ed it, 50 Katie she was.
tell you George, that was child to
be noticed. She was rounder and pref
tier made n wax fgger, 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