The Hickman courier., 1874-03-28
SIMS LITTLE GIRL.


Come out here, George Burks. Put
that glass down-can't wait n minute.
Business particular-concerns the COM
pany.
Now I've got you by the arm, boy,
wlfht to tell you something. Then if
you want to go back into that saloon,
You may.
I don't often meddle in other folks
business, do I? When a tough old fell
low like me sets out to warn a BODY,
you may know it's because he sees sore
need of it. I've had an eve 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, / know all bout that
Been there myself. Sit down on the
edge of the platform here.
OF all the men in the world, I 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; I don't think folks
look at it as they ought to. Remem-
ber when 1 was young fellow like you,
just set up with an engine, [ used to
feel like a strong angel or somethin',
rushin' ovsE the country, maxim that
iron beast 20 just as l wanted him to.
The power sort of m do me think fast,
square up and feel much of man.
1 was doin' well when L married, AMI
l did we'll long afterwards. We had
nice home, the little Syoman 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; saw you walk |
ing with a blue-eyed little thing last |
Sunday.
And after awhile we had the little |
girl. How I felt when came home /
anss<tleey put her. into my arms sesr sl'., I
ed oat Iona. { 70 lssSallSed sors Of silly and !
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
time to go and peep at young ferns in
spring? You see 'em all doubled to- |
gether, like a teenty fist. That's what
she was at first; all fist and squirm (;
beauty curled up tigFs. 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, found
her groWNd and pumped out more.
Used to toss her up, and she'd squeal
like a squirrel, and come down on my
face in fits of laughter.
Oh, I darsn't think about her cum
ningness But the very first word she
learRed to say was Papa -
We talked 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. / used
to puzzle the whole length of my route
to find 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 / looked at her, l seemed to
see "Katie." She looked Katie.
took to callin' her Katie, and she learn
ed il, so Katie she was.
I tell you, George, that was child to
be noticed. She was rounder and pref
tier MAIDEN a 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 thai
| light kind, that all runs to curls and
glitter.
Soon's she could toddle, she used to
conedaacin' to meet rue. I've soiled 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 Sod
bless my little lamb y :
As she grew older, used to talk to
her about engin'-even took her into.my
| cab, and showed the 'tachments 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
! 'em. She loved the road. Remember
once hearing her say to a playmate,
| s'Theres my papa. He's an engineer.
Don't ycu wish he was your papa ?'
NY home was close by the track.
Often and often the little girl stood in
our green yard, waving her mite Of
hand as we rushed by.
| Well, sir, them was happy years.
| It most kills me TO look over 'em now.
| L was doin' so we'll Had an idea was
| a man made to prosper. / felt good to
all the world, aud that 'ud been well,
| if I'd showed my good fellowship some
other way. But men are fools, and
was so easy I couldn't refuse social
glass, and was always free toastlng
others. Many's the 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 Itpleased
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 damnation
to me.
I'll cut it off short Didn't mean to
say. but few words to you, but got TO
thinkin' so. Can't spin it out much
longer or there1l be no man left OF
me.
Well, one day I started on my home
trip, full of that good fellowship you
was imbibin' awhile ago. Made the en-
CINE whizzl We was awful jolly, the
fireman and me. Never was drunk
when got Oh my engine before, or the
company would have shipped me;
Warn't DO such time made on that road
before nor since. I had just sense
enoughAo know what 1 was about. but
not enough to handle an emergency
We fairly roared down on the tres
tie that stood at the entrance OF our
town.
I had a tipsy eyS out, and, George,
as we was fyin' through the suburbs
| L see my little girl on the track ahea9'
wavin' a red flag and standin stock
still