Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-06-18

was the naruesl uchl tNeI hau' NSf
little lady, says |, but are you happy
herer Yes, sir gays she, 'as happy as
can be till | get to heaven and see my
father Do yon think he's waiting for
me there P' Il hope so. darling; any rate,
he will be. Wont you kiss me just
onceP' The lit;le thing looked at me
straight with her shiny eyes, and gave
me q kiss that can taste yet Your
little girl may kiss somebody from Calf
iornia some day. Are you going back
there p Yes, little lady, | shall 60 70
morrow Wait here then minute
And she darted away over TO her house
and disappeared in the garden. In sec
ond she was back, and in her chubby
hands were beautiful flowers-viOlets,
pinks aud mOrnin' giories. viii you
take these with you and put them on my
fathers grave. if you can fad il? He
may be lonely there Yes, lassie,' says
|, almost broken, III tPke them with me
as you wish Aud coudn'r help catchin'
her in my arms and kissin' her hard and
tast. And then, without another word, !
LEFT her standn' there with world o.
wonder in her eyes, and got my dunnago
from the b ho.el, aud bsck | camo again.
Excuse mo, must turn them sheep.
Here, Bruce ~
The poor old man could hardly speak,
and waited iii he came up 10 NE again.
"Do you see this ?" Ho took from his
rough shirt little packet, fastened round
his neck by cord. He unwrspped this,
aud there lay a bunch OF faded flowers.
II told the little lady I'd put them on
her laIher's grave. and I've worn them
on my heart ever since
could not keep the tears from yelling
up into MY eyes, and on pretense OF fll-
ing my pipe, slipped away ill | could
command my voice.
"But what have you been doing since
you came back p
"Most anything. | was q fireman in
the city for years. II was eIcitin' like,
and thoY was 6 good set OF boys, was the
Knickerbockers. And we had little
lady in our company which always set
me a ,hinkin' of my Maggie though in
looks she wasn't. But Just the same ways
and actions. and believe every man in
the company would have died for her. !
got TO be foreman once and our lite
seemed abou. as good as any. RG.tlir'
to fires. pilin' mp ladders, titin' fire ard
smoke, goin' to funerals-tako i. oil. we
enjoyed life. Aud | thought as how |
should die in that business, and that the
boys would string along with the band
arter my bones somo day, but It wasn't TO
be. There amt no psrsdes now. nor no
nothin'. and tho city is too dull for me
since they disbanded US and put out fire
by machinery. Homypathic nonsense, |
| SGlS, putin Jul ulb Will AACs huh bSF
er did believe in them new-tsngled no.
tious Dye see this Five on my hand ?
That led me to join that company. Il
has puzzled many feller. but It's only
what we did at school. There was five
of US used 70 90 tor apples and melons
and such, and we was all numbered.
You We had my story. young teller. and
I'm glad to see you. The sun is comm
out through the clouds. and il you want
TO reach Bear Creek tonight, you must
start in. If you ever come up here agin,
see me- Goodbye"
We shook hands, and left him follow
ing his sheep. Our horses were soon
ready. and bidding adieu TO our kind
hosts, we cantered southwark. and my
old friend Five waved his hand as last
farewell.