The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-07-30
CHICAGO. REPORTERS IMITATION
OF DICKENS.
From the Inter- Ocean.1
. LITTLE MISS SIMMONS.

90 Va uAo1'u8uISucU OLQCcF VINO ORE.
sides at West Side police station. The
officer turned and beheld = child, little
girl Of about nine 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 sort of
old.womanish way that struck one as
odd, though pot at all outlandish. Her
hat strings were tied with quiet and
Quaker-like precision under her chin,
and there was dignified look to her face
strangely in contrast with her years.
SWELL, said the officer, "what do YOU
want?"
''Are you the person in charge - said
the child.
@sYcs.''
Il 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 CAM
''What boys!'' said the officer.
'lhe boys in the neighborhood,'' said
Miss Simmons, giving her place of resi-.
dence. ,'some Of then. big ones, too,
that ought to know BETTER :,
why do they trouble you?' asked
the officer.
cts in 'em," said Miss Simmons. 81
guess it's in most all boys.a
"What do they dol" queried the off.
Ger again.
"They throw torpedoes against the
windows, and then they come the dutch.
doll trick" she replied.
'sWhat is that p
''1t's making ghost out of pillow
and a sheet and broom-stick, and then
they stick it inside the doors or up
against the windows, and groan,'' she re-
turned.
"And does this frighten you g. said
he.
''No, sir; ain t afraid Of their tricks,
but when l 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.''
"Oh he lives with you, does he % said
the official, t'and he's your father
eyes SIR
''And why don't he 60 out and drive
the boys away?"
''Bless you" said Miss Simmons, smi.-
ing at the officers innocence, che would
not drive away anybody. He's as weak
as Kitten
$50 when your not there, he is afraid,
is he e.
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 can't work. -
"What do you do, Miss Simmons ?"
said the officer, leaning forward and get.
ting interested.
"Im dressmaker," returned the
child, ''and sometimes make work shirts
and overalls.''
"And do you get plenty to do?"
"Prettty plenty, though these are
rather hard times, don't you think, y
said she, with 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.
tul, as well as amusing, to see her. There
was no CLEAN of childish joyousness in
her blue eyes, no skipping along the
sidewalk with the exuberant step Of
youth. II she had ever known child S
life she gave no evidences of it then, but
seemed one OIL whom years of sad exper-
ienoe had been laid, while yet she was al
most in her cradle. And the officer visit.
ed her house and found it as she had said.
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 a babe watches its mother,
ready to smile when she .pctted him, but
as ready to whine piteously when she de-
MED him attention. 1t was in the morn
ing 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
experienced housekeeper. When Miss
Simmons got ready to leave for her work,
she turned to the little old man as if he
were baby, and, putting marb' es and
blocks and wooden soldiers on the floor
beside him, told him to be good. ''I'n be
back soon, Nathan she said cheerily,
as she rumpled up his hair and patted his
head. ''l'm going to get nickles and
dimes and quarters for you. Then we'll
have fun And she went out while he
sat gazing after her with half conscious
smile on his withercd face, but a look of
perfect trust and confidence in her. 1t
was strange sight that, inf,ncy leading
age, the birding guarding the nest, and
yet only strange because preternaturally
exhibited. For the days come quickly
when childhood glides int" stately age and
age into dependent childishness. and the
space is 80 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 in
slant effect: flush, boys! Here comes
Miss Simmons
An Anocdote of Daniel $. Dtcktnson.
Burle'gh, writing from New York to the
<no h. Gil A