Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-13
Little Miss Simmons.

West Side police station. The officer turn
ed and beheld child, little girl of abou
nine years of age, standing on tiptoe so as tt
rest her chin upon the railing, the better tC
get at him. She was very neatly dressed
bat in sort of old-womanish way thai
struck one as odd. though not at all outland-
ish. 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
WANT"
Are you the person in charge?" said the
Yes"
Il am Miss Simmons, - She replied very
seriously.
The officer smiled slightly, but again asked
what she desired
"lou see, " said Miss Simmons with great
gravity, these boys are giving me 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 residence
some OF them big ones, too, that ought to
know better
o hy' do they trouble you" asked the
Its in EN-, said Miss Simmons. Il
guess its in most all BOYS -
again.
They throw torpedoes against the win
dows' and then they come the Dutch doll
trick, she replied.
Wv hat Is that? ?''
&" Its making ghost ont of a pillow and
a sheet and broomstick, and then thev
stick 1t inside the door or up against the
windows and croan, >" she returned.
And does that frightcn You ," said he.
NO, sir, | amt afraid Of their tricks
put when | amt there they come, you
know, and scare Nathan you see
Nv no Is Nathan?' said the officer.
He Is my pappy, sir, who lives with me,
cause be has no home Of his own
"Oh he lives with you. does he?" said
the official ''and he's your father?''
"les, sir.
And why don't he 90 out and drive the
boys away?'
Bless you, ." said Miss Simmons. smiling
at the officers innocence. .'he wouldn't
drive away anybody. Hes as weak as a
kitten
hc?''
Yes, and sometimes when l am home
and the boys come round shooting their tor
pedoes and groaning he bothers me so. hang
ing on to me, that | can't work"
Nv hat DO you do, Miss Simmons p" said
the officer, leaning forward and getting in
tereSted.
I'm a dressmaker. returned the child,
'and sometimes | make work-shirts and
oyeralls''
And doyou get plenty to do?"
" Pretty plenty, though these are rather
hard times, don't YOU think ?" said she. with
a great air Of business.
"Aes, they are, truly returned the Off
GER. Miss Simmons, III call down to see
You, and promise the boys shall stop" g"
The child thanked him, and turning
round walked quietly out 1t was painful
a. well as amusing 10 see her. There was
no CLEAN of childishness in her blue ewes.
no skipping along the sidewalk with the
exuberant step OF youth If she had ever
known child's life she gave no evidences of
1t then, hat seemed one on whom wears Of
sad experience had been laid while vet She
was almost in her cradle And the officer
visited her house and found it as She had
sand. The father had lost the use of his
limbs IN great measure, 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 p.teously when she denied
hun attention. 1t was in the morning
when the officer visited the house, but he
found the two little rooms as neat as wax,
and as if fresh from the hands of an expe-
rlenced housekeeper. When Miss Simmons
got ready to leave for her work she turned
10 the little old man As if he were a baby.