Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-08-07
Eittze Miss Simmons.

Little Miss Simmons.
az want to see the person in charge
These were the words that saluted the
ears of a distinguished officer who pre-
sides at a West Side police station. The
officer turned and beheld child-a 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 a 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. dignified look to hel
face strangely in contrast with her years.
"Wen," said the officer, "what do you
want?"
ssAre you the person in charger" said
the child.
"YeS.n
81 am Miss Simmons she replied very
seriously. =
The officer smiled slightly, but again
asked what she desired.
You see,n said Miss Simmons, with
lots of trouble. have stood it about as
long as can.
What boys?" 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 your asked the
officer.
s.It'sin EN- said Miss Simmons. IL
guess it's in mostall 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" 49,
sits makinga ghost out of pillow and
sheet and a broOmstick, and then they
stick inside the doors or up against the
windows, and groan," she returned.
ssAnd does this brighten your" said he.
"No, sir; amt afraid of their tricks,
but when amt there they come up you
"WhO is Nathan?" said the officer.
He is my pappy, Sir, who lives with
me, cause he has no home of his own"
',Ohi he lives with you, does he?" said
the official ssand he's your father"
ssYeS sir.
land why don't he go out and drive
the boys away?"
..Bless you,n said Miss Simmons, smil-
ing at the officers innocence, she
wouldn't drive away anybody. He's as
weak as kitten"
$50 when you're not, there, he is afraid,
is hc?"
Eyes, and sometimes when am home,
and the boys come round shooting their
torpedoes and groaning, he botbers me
so, hanging on me, that L can't work"
"What do you do, Miss Simmons?" said
the officer leaning forward and getting
I'm dressmaker," returned the child
land sometimes make work-shirts and
Overalls."
Sand do you get plenty to do?"
pretty plenty, though these are rather
hard times, don't you think" said she,
with a great air of business.
Eyes. 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 turning
round, walked quietly out. 1t was pain
full, as well as amusing to see her. There
was no CLEAN of childish joyousness i'm
her blue eyes, no skipping along the side
walk with the exuberant step of youth.
If she had ever known a child's life she
gave no evidence oft then, but seemed
one on whom years of sad experience
had been laid while yet she was almost
in her cradle. And the officer visited her
house and found it as she had said. The
father had lost the use of his limbs, and
from one cause or another was imbecile
and helpless. He watched her as babe
watches its mother, ready to smile when
she petted him, but as ready to whine
piteOusly when she denied him atten-
ton.
It was in the morning when the officer
visited the house, but he found the little
rooms as neat as wax, and as if fresh
from the hands Of an experienced house
keeper.
When Miss Simmons got ready to leave
for her work. she turned to the little old
man as if he were 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" she
said cheerily, as she rumpled up his hair
and patted his head. Pm going to get
nickles and dimes and quarters for you.
Then we'll have fun" And she went
cut, while he sat gazing after her with
half conscious smile on his withered
face, but look of perfect trust and con-
fidence in her. 1t was strange sight,
that of infancy leading age, the birding
guarding the nest, and yet only strange
because preternaturally exhibited. For
the days come quickly when childhood
glides into stately age and age into. de-
pendent childishness, and the space Is so
brief between them that we hardly note
the change.
The boys do not trouble Miss Simmons
now, for the kind officer has warned them
not to annoy her; and, besides, her life
has become known through the officers
story, and, instead of throwing torpedoes,
the bigger 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. Inter Ocean.
Some idea Of the ramifications of the
electric telegraph may be gathered from
an experiment successfully accomnlished
In London, few weeks since Cant
Sartorius, at present in Teheran Persia
wished 10 test his pocket chrononatar
anu 20 cneck, with absolute correctnass
It's ume Ia Persia with Greenwich tine
10 10 TINS, 1t was necessary TO have
gear nne from Teheran to London, a
distance by swire" of nearly 1000 miles
6lser some little trouble in getting the
German German relays into satisfactory order
vme nne comes through Berlin), the i'm
k.ant signal was made several times TO
insure accuracy, with the result that the