Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-08-14
One Touch Of Nature.

1neSe were the WOruS lldI Sdluteu tllc
ear of distinguished officer who presides
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 wo-
manish wav 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 dignifed look to her face strangely
in contrast with her years.
"Well,," said the officer, "what do you
Hant?"
care you the person in CHARGE" said
the child.
"Yes"
"I 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, those 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 resi-
dence. "Some of them big ones, too,
that ought to know better"
" Why do they trouble you? asked
the officer.
at is in 'em," said Miss Simmons. 81
guess it's in most all 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|
"It's making a ghost out of pillow
and sheet and broom-stick, and then
they stick it inside the doors or up
against the window, and groan," she re-
turned.
"And does this frighten you ?" said
he.
"No, SIR l amt afraid of their tricks,
but when / amt there, they come, you
know, and scare Nathan, you see"
"Who is Nathan ?' said the officer.
"Heis is my pappy, sir, who lives with me,
cause he has no home of his own"
ooh, he lives with you, does he ?" said
the official, "and he's your father?'
eyes, sir"
"And why don't he go and drive the
boys away?"
"Bless you," said Miss Simmons, smil-
ing at the officers innocence, "he
wouldn't drive anybody. He's as weak
as kitten"
Sowhen you're not there, he is afraid,
is he %
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.
"Pm q dressmaker," returned the
child, "and sometimes | make work
shirts and over-alls."
"And do YOU get plenty to do?'
"Plenty plenty, though these are
rather hard times, don you think ~ she
said, with an 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 in
her blue eyes, no skipping along the side
walk with the eXuberant step of youth.
If she had ever known 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 cradle. And the officer visited her
house, and found it as she had said. The
father had lost the use of his limbs in 4
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 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, 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 man
as if he were a baby, and, putting mar
bles and blocks and wooden soldiers
on the floor beside him, told him to
be good;
"Tll be back soon, Nathan" she said,
cheerfully, as she rumpled up his hair and
patted his head. "Tm going up to get
nickels and dimes and quarters for you.
Then we'll have fun"
And she went out, while he sat gazing
after her with a halfconscious smile on
his withered face, with look of perfect
trust and confidence in her. 1t was a
strange sight, that infancy leading age,
the birding guarding the nest, and yet
only strange because preternaturally ex
hibited. For the days come quickly
when childhood 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 Simmons
now, for the kind officer has warned them
not to annoy her; beside, her life has be-
come known through the officers story,
and, instead of throwing torpedoes, the
big boys stand aside respectfully to let
her pass, and say to each other, in the
midst of boisterous revelry, and with in
slant effect:
"Hush, boys! Here comes Miss Sim
MONS"