Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-08-14
Little Miss Simmons.

sides at west side police station. The
officer turned and beheld a child, little
girl of about nine years of age, standing
on tiptoe so as to rest her chin upon the
railing, the better to get at him. She
was very neatly dressed, but in sort of
old-womanish way that struck one as odd,
though not at all outlandish. Her hat
strings were tied with quiet and Quaker
like precision under her chin, and there
was a dignifed look to her face strangely
in contrast with her years.
"Well," said the officer, "what do
you wantl"
care you the person in charged" said
the child.
eyes"
"I am Miss Simmons" she replied,
very seriously.
The officer smiled slightly, but again
asked what she desired.
"You see," said Miss Simmons, with
great gravity, "these boys are giving me
lots of trouble. have stood it about as
long as 1 cam
What boys r. said the officer.
The boys in the neighborhood, " said
Miss Simmons, giving her place of resi-
dence. "Some of them big ones, too,
that ought to know better"
Why do they trouble you?" asked
the officer.
"It's in 'em," said Miss Simmons.
CT guess it's in most all boys"
"What do they do?" queried the
officer again.
They throw torpedoes against the
windows, and then they come the Dutch
doll trick, " she replied.
"What is that 2"
" It's making a ghost out of pillow
and sheet and broomstick, and then
they stick it inside the door or up
against the windows and groan, she re-
turned.
"And does this brighten you 2" said
he.
" No, sir, amt afraid of their tricks;
but when I amt there they come, you
know, and scare Nathan, you see."
"Who is Nathan ?" said the officer.
" He is my pappy, sir, who lives with
me, cause he has no home of his own"
ooh !! he lives with you, does he %
said the official; "and he's your father. -
eyes, sir"
"And why don't he go out and drive
the boys away ~
"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 ?"
eyes, and sometimes when am home
and the boys come round shooting Their
torpedoes and groaning he bothers me
so, hanging on to me, that I can't
work."
"What do you do, Miss Simmons p
said the officer, leaning forward and get
ting interested.
"I'm a dressmaker," returned the
child, "and sometimes I make work
shirts and overalls."
"And do you get plenty to do ?"
"Pretty plenty, though these are
rather hard times, don't you Think" sale
she, with a great air of business.
eyes, they are, truly" returned the
officer. Miss Simmons, I'll call dow
to see you, and I promise the boys shall
STOP"
The child thanked him, and turning
round walked quietly out. 1t was pain
full as well as amusing to see her. There
was no CLEAN of childishness in her blut
eyes, no skipping along the Sidewalk
with the exuberant step of youth. L
she had ever known a child's life sh,
gave no evidence of it then, but seemed
one on whom years of sad experience
had been laid while yet she was al
most in her cradle. And the office
visited her house and found it as sh
had said. The father had lost the us
of his limbs in a great measure, an,
from one cause or another was imbecil
and helpless. He watched her as a bah
watches its mother, ready to smile whel
she petted him, but as ready to whin
piteously when she denied him attention
It was in the morning when the office
] visited the house, but he found the tw
, little rooms as neat as wax, and as
fresh from the hands of an experience
housekeeper. When Miss Simmons &c
ready to leave for her work she turned t
J.. the little old man as if he were baby
and, putting marbles and blocks an
: wooden soldiers on the floor beside hin
told him to be good.
"I'll be back soon, Nathan" she sal
cheerily, as she rumpled up his hair an
patted his head. "I'm going to &c
nickels and dimes and quarters for YOU
Then we'll have fun" And she wei
out while he sat gazing after her with
r half-conscious smile on his withere
| face, but look of perfect trust and COZ
8 fidence in her. 1t was strange sigh
{ that infancy leading age, the birdlin
\ guarding the nest, and yet only strang
0 because preternaturally exhibited. FL
q the days come quickly when childhoc
q glides into stately age and age into d
b pendent childishness, and the space
so brief between them that we hard
note the change.