The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-23
Lille Miss Simmons.

4
These we're the words that Saluted the ear
Of a distinguished officer who prtsides at a
Yves, Side police station. The officer turned
and beheJd child, little girl OF about nine
years Of age, Standing On tip-.oe 50 as to rest
her chin on the ralilng, the better to get at
him. She was very neatly dressed. but in a
sort of old.womanlSh way that struck one a.
odd, though not at oil outlaDdiSh. Her hat
strings were tied with quiet and Quaker.Iike
precision under her chm, and there was Il
djepti d look 70 her face strangely in con-
tra>t with her years.
"Wcll," said the officer, hwhat do you
want ?"
Are you the person in CHARGE said the
child.
"Yes."
IL am Miss Simmons she replied very
seriously.
The officer smiled slightly. but again asked
what she desired.
You >ee," SAID Miss Simmons, with great
gravity, "the boys are giving me lots OF
trouble. | have stood it about as long as
caD."
what boys:" said the Off "er.,
"Tbe bows in the ncighDorhoOd." said
Miss Simmons, giving her place OF residence.
Some Of them big ones, too, that ought u
know better"
"Why do they bother you :" asked the
Off .er.
"lrs IN 'em." said Miss Simmons. 81
! guess it's in most all bows
"Wbat do they do - quericd the officer
! again.
1" They throw torpedoes against the win
dows, and they come the Dutcl doll trick,'
! she replied.
| hat is that :"
! It's making ghost ont of pillow and
a sheet on Il broom>tlck, and then they sick
! il inside the door, or up against the window
and croan.' She returned.
"And does this frignten you :" said be.
"No, sir: amt atraid of their tricks
but when amt there they come, you know
! and scare Nathan, you see."
/ "Who is Naihan:" said the officer.
! II" He is my pappy, SIR, who lives with me,
cause he has TO home OF bis own.'
+ "On, he lives with you, does he:" sale
/ the Official, "aud he's your father"
! "Ie>, sir"
! Aud why don't he get out and drive the
/ boys away"
! HBlrss vou," said Miss Simmons, smiln.
at the eff ,er's innocence, ''he wnuIdn'
! drive An, body. He's as weak is a kiten."
/ $50 when you're not there be Is afraid, i
he?"
Yes, and sometimes when / am at home
and the boys come around shooting then
Iorpcdoes aud grooming. nr bOthers NE 20
hanging on TO nae, that | cau'i work"
wv hat do you do, Miss SimmUnS:" Slit
the officer, leaning forward and getting il
lercslcd.
I'm dress-maker," returned The child
I l., L
overalls."
"And do you get plenty to do"
! "Pretty plenty, though these are rather
hard times. don't you Think" said she with
great air OF business.
Ger. Miss Simmons, PIl call down aud
STE, and promise The soyS shall stop"
The chlid thanked him, and, turning
round, walked quietly out. 1t was painful,
/ as we'll as amusing, to see her. There was
! no gleam of childish joyousneSs in her blue
eyes. no skipping along the sidewalk with
the exuberant step of youth. If she had
! ever known chid's life she gave no evi
! deDce of it then. but seemed one on whom
wears of sad experience had been laid while
set she Was almost in her cradle. Aud the
officer visited her house and found it as She
bad said. The father had lost the use Of hi.
lmbs in Il great measure, and from one
cause or another was imbecile aud helpless
He watcher her as j babe watches lis mo-
! ther, ready TO smile when She pctted him. buI
Us ready to whine piteous!y when she denied
him attention. 1t was in the morning When
the officer visited the house, but be founL
/ the two little rooms as neat As wax, ard Il:
! fresh AS if from the hands OF an experienced
! housekeeDar When Miss Simmons roi
! ready TO leave her work she turned TO th(
/ li.lle old man a. II he were baby, and nut.
ting marbles. and blocks, and wooden sol
dlers beside Gim on the floor. told him 10 be
good. "I'll be buck soon, Maj han, "she said
chcerIy, AS she Iumpled up his hair and
patted bis head. Ppm going 10 get
Dickels, and dimes, and quarters for you.
Then we'll haze fun" aud she went out,
while be sat gazing after her with half.
CONSCIOUS smile on his witAered face, but
look of perfect trust aud confidence in her.
1t was strange sight that, infancy leading
aye, the birding guarding the nest, and yet
only strange because preternatura!ly eXhlbi.
ted. For the days COM quickly when child
hood giaes inlo stately age, and aye into
dependent chlldisbness, and The space is SO
brief between that we hardly note the
change.
The boys do not trouble Miss Simmons
now, tor the kind officer has warned them
not TO annoy her, and besides, her lite has
become known through the officers story,
and INSTEAD OF throwing torpedoes At her,
the bigger boys stand aside and respectfully
let her pass, ard say to each other in the
midst OF boisterous revelry, and with instant
etfec;. FLUSH, boys! Here CONES Miss Sim.
Chicago Lnter- ocean.
HAWAIIAN BATHERs. officer Of The
United States flag SHIP Pensacola, in private
etter to friends, describes visit to Lahamia,
n the island OF Mani, incidentally mention
ng the sceae among The surf-bathers. He
writes: ''The buthers take u board about
we've teet long, which is brought 10 biunt
POINT 1t one eud au0 is ma de convex on the
luder side. After preparing themselves
or the water they ta.Se the board and
,lunge into The sea. They watch their
OPPORTUNITY, aud rs u tremendous wave ap.
'ruiehcs they throw themselves on the board |
With the pointed end toward the beach, ard |
S The approaching wave cyertakes them and
aries them forward with lightning rapdi,
Y, they guide the board 10 an oblique direc,