The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-04-02
TIE Old STORY.
SIMS LITTLE GIRL.

Como out here, George Burks. Put
that glass down-can't wait q minute.
Business acknowledgements the com
pany.
Now I've got you by the arm, boy, I
want to tell you something. Then if
you want to go back into that saloon,
you may.
/ don't often meddle in other folks
business, do I? When tough old fel-
low like me sets out to warn q body,
you may know it's 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 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 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 grand business; don't think folks
look at it as they ought to. Remem-
Der when I was young fellow like you,
just set up with an engine, / used to
feel like strong angel or sOmethin',
rushin' over the country, maxim that
iron beast do Just as 1 wanted him to.
The power sort of IN de me think fast,
square up and feel much of a man.
/ was doin' we'll when married, and
I didswell long afterwards. We had a
nice home, the little woman and me !:
our hearts were set on each other, and
abe was little proud of her engineer.
She used to say SO anyhow. She was
sort of mild and tender with her tongue.
Not one ef your loud ones. And pretty
too. But you know what it is to lsve a
woman, George Burks; saw you walk
ing with q blue-eyed little thing last
Sunday.
And after awhile we had the little
girl. How I 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.
I never liked little children much,
but 1 took to that 'un powerful. Every
body liked her.
George, my boy, did you ever take
time to go and peep at yeung 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 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, ] found
her growed 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. 80
On, I darsn't think about her cum
ningness ! But tho very first word she
learned to say was "Papa ]"
We talked q good deal about what we
should call her, MY wife and 1. 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, aud
Amanda Ann and what not. Finally,
whenever I looked at her, / seemed to
see " Katie" She looked Katie. ]
took to callin' her Katie, and she learn
ed it, SO Katie she was.
/ tell You, George, that was child to
be- noticed. She was Rounder and pret-
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 that
light kind, that all runs to curls and
glitter.
Soon's she could toddle, she used to
comedauein'tomeetm me. I've soiled many
of her white pinafores, hnryin' my face
in them before was washed, and sort
of pravin' soft like under the roof OF
INV heart. Eefod bless my baby t-GOd
bless my little lamb y
As she grew. older, i used 30 talk &c
| her about engin'-even took hOr into.my
| cab. and showed the 'tachmeats 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 knoweo
'em. She loved the road. Remember
once hearing her say to a playmate
"There's my papa, He's al eng tneer
| Don't ycu wish he was your papa
NV home was close by the track
Often and ofteH the little girl stood II
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
I was doin' so we'll. Had an idea wa
emen made to prosper. 1 felt good Z
aIl the world, aud that 'ud been well
If I'd showed my good fellowship som,
other way. But men are fools, and
WAS so easy I couldn't refuse socia
class. and I was always free toastlnl
| others. Many's the time we've stood
three or four fools of us, clinkin' on
Glasses and drinkin' TO brotherhood
| drinkin' the very thing that made n
at for ANYTHING but brothers Itpleasel
me most to have them pledge my littl
girl. And the more they'd toast hel
the deeper I'd drink. And wa
drinkin' death to her and damna1o
to me. -.
m cut it of short. Didn't mean {
say but few words to you, but got {
thfnkin' so. Can't spin It out puc
longer or thereIl be no man left
me.
Well, one day started on my HON
trip, full Of that good fellowship 70
was imbibin' awhile ago. Made the eI
CINE whizzl We was awful jolly, th
fireman and me. Never was, drum
when I got on my engine before, or tn
company would have shipped me
Warn't no such time made on that roa
before nor since. / had Just sens
enough to know what / was about. br
not enough to handle an emergency
We fairly roared down on the tre'
tie that stood at the entrance of GU
town.
/ had sipsy eye out. and, Georg'
as we wns fyin' through the suburbs
1 see my little girl on the track ahead
wavin' rel flag and standin' stoe
still !