The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-08-12
Little Mss simmons.

81 want to see the person in
charge"
These were the words that saluted
the ear of distinguished officer who
presides at a West Side police station.
The officer turned and beheid child,
little girl OF about niue years of age,
standing on tip toe so as to rest her
chin upon the railing, the better to
get at him. She was very neatly
dressed, but IN n sort of old NOmanisn
way that struck one Is odd, though
not at all uutlandish. Her hat strings
were tied with quiet and Quaker-like
precision under her chin, and there
was a dignified look To her face
strangely i'm contrast with her years.
"Well," " said the officer. what do
you want >"
"Are you the person in charge >"
said the child.
"Yes."
81 am Miss Simmous," ste replied
very seriously
The officer smiled igbtIy but again
asked what she desired
"YOu see," said Miss simmons, with
great gravity, "these boys are giving
me lots of trouble. ] IISve stood il
hUOuI rs long as can.
what boys 80 said the officer.
''The boys i'm the neighhOrhcOd,"
said Miss Simmons, giving her place
Of residence. "SJme of them big
ones, too, that ought to know bet
ter"
"Why do they trouble you "asked
the officer.
''It's in 'em," said Miss Simmons.
al guess it's il. most all boys"
"What do they do - qneried the
officer again.
They throw tOrpedOes against the
windows. and then they come the
dutch doll trick, !" she replied.
"WhAt is that ."
ITS making ghost out Of pillow
aud q sheet and bIoOm-stick, and
then they stick it inside the doors or
up against the windows, and grOan,"
she returned.
"And does it frighien you" said
he.
"NO sir; | amt afraid of their
sticks, but when | ain't there, they
come, you know, and scare Nathan,
ycu see."
"Who is Nathan ?'' said the of.
fieer.
"He is my pappy, sir. who lives
with me, cause lie mas no home OF
his own"
ooh, he lives with you, does he ?''
said the official. "And he's you faith
er -
"Yes.n
"And why don't he go out and drive
the boys away ?"
fEDlao, xyns, 81 MI
smiling at the officers innocence,
che wouldn't drive away anybody.
He's as weak as kitten"
$50 when you're not there, he is
afraid Is he ?''
"Yes, and sometimes when l am
home, and the boys come round
shooting their torpedOes and grOan-
Ing, he bOtherS me so, hanging on to
me, that l can't work.
"What do you do, Miss Simmons ?"
said the officer, leaning forward and
getting Interested.
"I'm a dressmaker," returned the
child, "and sometimes / make work
shirts snd overails."
"And do you get plenty to do ?"
"Pretty plenty. though these are
rather hard times, don't you think"
said she, with a reat sir of business.
''Yes, they are, truly" returned the
officer. "Miss Simmons, I'll call
down to see you. and / promise the
boys shall stop"
The child thanked him, and turn
ing round, walked quietly out. 1t
was painful, as well as amusing TO set
her. There was no gleam OF childish
jOyOusness in her blue eyes, no skip
ping along the sidewalk with the
exuberant step of youth. II she had
ever known a child's life, she gave no
evidence Of it then, but seemed one
on whom years Of sad experience had
been laid, while yet she was almost
in her eradle. And the officer visited
her house and found il as she had
said. The father had lost the use OF
his limbs, in a great measure, and
from one cause or other was imbecile
and helpless. He watched her as
baby watches its mother, ready to
smile when she petted him, but as
ready to whine piteously when she
denied him attention. 1t was in the
morning when the officer visited the
house, but he found the two little
rooms as neat as wax, aud as if fresh
from the hands of an experienced
hOusekeeper. When Miss Simmons
got ready to leave for her work, she
turned to the little old man as il he
were a baby, and, putting marbles
and blocks and wooden soldiers on
the floor beside him, told him to be
good.
"I'll be back soon, Nathan" abe
said cheerily, AS she rumpied up his
hair and patted his head. "I'm go
ing to get nickels and dimes aud
quarters for you. Then We'll have
fun"
And she went out while he sat gaz
ing after her with a haIf.eonseiOus
smile on his withered face. but q look
Of perfect trust and confidence in her.
1t was a strange sight, that infancy
leading age, the birdling guarding
the nest, and yet only strange be-
cause preternstnrally exhibited. For
the days come quickly when child
hood glides into stately age and age
into dependent childishness, and the
space is so brief between them that
We hardly note the change.
The boys do not trouble Miss Sim
mons now. for the kind officer has
warned them not to annoy her, and,
besides, her life has become known
through the officers story, and, in
stead Of throwing tOrpedOes, the big
ger boys stand aside respectfully to
let her pass, and say to each other in
the midst of bOisterOus revelry, and
with instant effect "Hush, boys
Here comes Miss Simmons. ."-Llter-
Ocean.