Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-02

passed SO near me IfIdC L COulu SIT tuo
happy look in her eyes, and hear her say,
with a toss of the bright hair:
"Mother will plan it for me, and [ can
get it done by New Year. Won't it be fun
to hang it on the door some day and then
run?"
l fancied that she meant to make some
thing for me. and waited with patience,
wondering how this odd trolic with my
schoolgirl would end.
New Years day came and passed, but no
| gift huLg on my door; so [ made up my
mind it was all a mistake, and being pretty
busy about that time, thought no more Of
! the matter until some weeks later, as I
came into town one day after a visit to the
country. I am fond of observing faces and
seldom forget one if anything has particu-
larly attracted my attention to it. So this
morning, as l rode along, | looked at the
conductor, as there was no one else to OBJ
serve, and he had a pleasant sort of a face.
tSomehow it looked familiar, and after
thinking about it idly for q minute, L re-
membered where l had cen it before.
He was the man who waited for '.little
Missy" and [ at once began to hope that
she would come again for 1 wanted to ask
about the holidays, remembering chow
fond of fun she was.
when we came to the Soutll-end square,
where | met her first, [ looked out, expect
ing to see the little figure running down
the wide path again. and quite willing to
wait for it a long time if necessary. But
no nj was to be seen but two boys and a
dog. The car did not stop, and though the
conductor looked out that way, his hand
was not ON the strap, and no smile on his
face.
"Don't you wait for that little girl now?',
I asked, feeling disappointe d at not seeing
my little friend again.
II wish l could, ma'am,'' answered the
man, understanding at once, tho of course.
he did not remember me.
New rules, perhaps,' 1 added, as he did
not explain, but stood lingering his punch,
and never minding an old lady wildly way
ing her bag at him from the sidewalk.
mo, ma'am; but it's no use waiting for
little missey any more, because"-here he
leaned in, and said very loN-''she's dead;"
then turned sharply round, rung the bell,
put the old lady in, and shut the door.
How grieved I was to have the pleasant
friendship end so sadly, for [ had planned
many pleasant little surprises for my little
girl, and now 1 could do no more, could
never know all about her, never see the
sunny face again, Or win another word
from lips that seemed made for smiling.
Only a little school girl, yet how many
friends she seemed to have, making them
unconsciously happy for her gentle man
ners, generous actions and innocent light
heartedness. [ could not bear to think
what home must be without her, for [ am
sure l was right in believing her a good
sweet child, because real character shows
itself in LITTLE things, and the heart that
keeps in time makes its music heard every
where.
The busy man on the horse car found
time to miss her. the schoolmates evident
ly missed their queen, for when l met them
they walked quietly, talked low, and sew
eral wore black bows on their sleeve ;
while ], although I never knew her name,
Or learned q single fact about her, felt the
sweetness of her happy nature, and have
not yet forgotten my little school girl.