Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-08-04

81 am Miss Simmons" she repli.
ed very seriously.
The officer smiled slightly, buI
again asked what she desired.
"You see," said Miss Simmons
with great gravity, "these boys are
giving me lots of trouble. l have
stood it about as long as can"
"What boys 2" said the officer.
"The boys in the neighborhood,
said Miss Simmons, giving her
place of residence. "Some of thtm
big ones, too, ought to know bet
ter"
"Why do they trouble you e.
asked the officer.
ats in EN-" said Miss Simmons.
81 guess it's in most all boys"
"What do they do 2" queried the
officer again.
"They throw torpedoes against
the windows, and then they come
the Dutch-doll trick" she replied.
"What is thatr
"Its making a ghost out of o
pillow and a sheet and broom-stick,
and then they stick it inside the
doors or up against the windows,
and groan," she returned.
"And does this frighten you 2"
said he.
"No, sir; l amt afraid of their
tricks, but when i amt there they
come you know, and scare Nathan
you see."
"Who is Nathan 2" said the
officer.
"He is my pappy, sir, who lives
with me, cause he has no home of
his own"
G "Oh ! he lives with you does he !"
said the official, and he's your faith
err"
ayes, sir"
"And why don't he go out and
drive the boys away 2"
"Bless you," said Miss Simmons,
smiling at the officers innocence,
"he wouldn't drive away anybody.
He's as weak as a kitten"
$50 when you're not there he
Is afraid is he :"
ayes, and sometimes when I am
home, and the boys come around
shooting their torpedoes and groan-
ing, he bothers me so, hanging on
to me, that / can't work"
"What do you do Miss Simmons 2"
said the officer, leaning forward
and getting interested.
"I'm dressmaker," returned the
child, "and sometimes make work
shirts and overalls."
"And do you get plenty to dor
"Plenty, plenty, though these are
rather hard times, don't you think"
said she, with great air of bust
ness.
ayes, they are, truly returned
the officer. "Miss Simmons, I'll call
down and see you, and III promise
the boys shall STOP"
The child thanked him, and turn
ing round, walked quietly out. 1t
was painful as well as amusing,
to see her. There was no CLEAN
Of childish joyousness in her blue
eyes, no skipping along the side
walk with the exuberaDt step of
youth. If she had ever known a
,hilds life, see gave no evidence
II il then, but seemed one on
whom years Of sad experience had
,een laid while yet she was al
most in her cradle. And the Off
er visited her house and found it
Is she had said. The father had
ost the use of his limbs, in q great
MEASURE, and from one cause or
another was imbecile and helpless.
He watched her as babe watches
It's mother, ready to smile when
she petted him, but as ready to
whine piteously when she denied
him attention. TWAS in the morn
Ing when the officer visited the I
house, but he found the two little
rooms as neat ~ wax, and as IL ,
'resh from the hands of an exper-
enced houskeeper. WhenMiss Sim
mons got ready to leave for her
york, she turned to the little old man +,
Is IL he were q baby, and putting
and blocks and wooden
oldiers on the floor beside him,
old him 70 be good. an be back
oon. Nstban,r she said cheerily,
80 runpIsd up his hair and
,Attsd Ne head. Tin going to
vat ufc1r1e~ No. ana oua~fern for