The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-08-06
LITTLE MESS SIMMONS.

II want To see the person IN
charge"
These were the words that salut-
ell the ear of distinguished officer
W no presides AT West Side police
station. The officer turned aud be-
held II child, II 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 not at all
Outlandish. Her hat strings were
tied with quiet aud Qnaker-like
precision under her chin, and there
was diGnitied look to her face
strangely in contrast with her years.
"Well," said the officer, "what do
You want?"
care you the person in charge ?"
said the child.
Eyes" -.-
II ami Miss Simmons" she re-
piled, very seriously. 4
The officer smiled slightly, but
again asked what she desired.
"Yon see" said Miss Simmons,
with great gravity, these boys
are giving Inc 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
"Why do they trouble you 7" ask
ell the officer. a.er .
Its in 'rm," said Miss Simmons.
Il guess les in mosi all boys"
Nv hat do they do1" queried the
officer again.
They throw tOrpedoes against
the windows, and then they come
the durch-d trick )" she replied.
What is that? 7"
''II's making q ghost out of q pill
low aud sheet and u brOOm-slick,
aud then they stick it inside the
doors or up against the windows,
and groan," she returned.
And does this brighten yOu 2"
said he.
mo, sir; ! amt afraid of their
tricks, but when l ain't there they
come y ou know, and scare Nathan,
you see.'
"Who is Nathan p said the Off
Ger.
"lIe is my pappy, Sir, who lives
VI it'll me, cause has no home of his
avn"
"Oh! he lives with yon, docs he p
said the official, land he's your ia
ther.'
"Yee, Sir"
"And why don't he go out and
drive the boys away? 2"
smiling at the officers Innocence,
che wouldn't drive away anybody.
lies as weak as Kitten"
$50 when your not there, he is
afraid, is he 7"
"Yes, and sometimes when / am
home, and the boys come round
shooting their tOrpeIlOes aud ghOaG-
ing, he bOthers me SO, hanging on
tn me, that l cant work"
"What do you do, Miss Sim
mons 2" said the officer, leaning for
ward and getting interested.
''I'm = dressings" returned the
child, "and sometimes ] make work
shirts and OVeralls."
And do you get plenty TO do 2"
"Pretty plenty, though these are
rather hard times, don't you think, y
said she with q great air of busi-
ness.
"Ges, they are, truly" returned
the officer. "Miss Simmons, I'll
call down TO see you, and promise
you the boys shall stop"
The child thanked him, and turn
lug round, walked quietly out. Ii
WAS painful, as well AS amusing, 70
see her. There was no gIcam oil
childish JOyOusness in her blue eyes
nO skipping along the sidewalks
with the exuberant step OF youth.
ITshe had ever known q child's life
she gave no evidences of it then
but seemed one OH whom years Of
sat- experience had been laid, while
yet she was almost in her cradle
And the officer visited her house
aud found Il as she had said. fht
father had lost the use of his limbs
in great measure, and from Ont
cause or anOther was imbeciie and
helpless. lie watched her as . babs
watches its mother, ready to smile
when she petted him, but as ready
to whine piteously when she denied
him attention. IL was in the morn.
ing when The officer visited the
house, but he found the two littIs
roams as neat as wax, and as IL fresl
from the hands of an experienced