Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-03-20

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1t was agreed that they should
put the hour off as long as possible,
by urging Dave to wait until he got
a little stronger; and he consented
to wait d week. He would then be
well enough to crawl out into the
sun, and perhaps when the boy saw
him off his sick bed his aversion
would not DO so strong.
Uncle Sile's big heart was full of
love for the lad who slept every
night on his arm, and always ad-
dressed him as "grandpa;" but he
felt that Dave had better right,
and he agreed with the nurses that
pet must go back. They reasoned
with the boy, coaxed and promised,
but they found him as firm as a
rock.
"'Taint Dave-Dave's gone way
offw he sobbed, and he shuddered
as he remembered that terrible look
ing face.
"P'raps it'll all come right arter a
few days." said Uucle Sile, tears in
his eyes; and they concluded to
wait.
Dave picked up rapidly, and at
the end of another week he was able
to walk around the gulch. The
men had been very kind to him, and
they reioiced to see him out, though
it would be weeks yet before he
could use his arm. 1t had become
generally known that the pet had
alienated himself from his best
friend. and though the men felt sor
ry, they could not wonder at it.
The sight of the left eye was de-
stroyed, one corner of the mouth
was torn out, the nose broken and
the cheeks scared and there was
not the least resemblance to Dave
of old.
The wounded man senJ word
around that he wanted to borrow Il
hand glass, that he might see how
badly his face was hurt; and here
the miners displayed genuine charl-
ty. Glasses were always few, and
at this time not single one was to
be found in the gulch. Owners hid
them away and told lies, rather than
that Dave should see his horrible
scars.
Unolo silo moved to the upper
end of the gulch, to postpone a meet
ing between Dave aid the pet as
long as possible, hoping that every
day would make change in the
boys feelings. There was always
some excuse for not bringing the
boy down, and the dreaded meet
ing did not take place until nearly
two weeks after the miner first
crawled out.
Then he would be put off no long
er. Leaning on his crutch, he hob
bled up to Uncle Sile's shanty. He
looked much paler than usual, and
his lips were hard shut, like one who
had made a stern resolve. Before
going he slipped something into his
bosom, whispering to himself:
eff the pet goes back on me
might as well die"
The word went through the gulch
that Dave had gone up to sre the
pet, and the men at once knocked
off work, feeling that something
would happen. The boy was sail
ng chips in kettle of spring wa
,er, and Uucle Sile was picking over
beams for dinner. He grew pale aud
his voice tremblhd as he welcomed
Dave, and he prayed in his heart
that pets love for the wounded man
might suddenly return,
"My che-ild, don't ye know me 2"
asked Dave, as the boy looked up
and shrank away little.
"You aint Dave-you is ugly
man y replied Paul.
"Come, my che-ild, come here,'
,oaxed Dave.
Paul sidled up to Uncle Sile and
,lasped the old mans arm for pro-
;ection.
"No-no-'taint Davew cried the
ad, beginning to tremble.
eyes it ar, my che-ild," said
Dave. "Pm the same as took care
J ye, an was like yer father for
months an months. Come an sit
IN my knee and kiss me like yer
lsed to-"
"NO-nO-nO!' almost screamed
he lad, showing that he was badly
Uncle Sile would have carried him
,ver to Dave, but his cries aud
screams alarmed the whole camp.