Smyrna times., 1878-06-05
SeVenty-Seven

What is that you say, Robert ?''
" Little things don't count"
Don't they? Now my belief is. that
there never was little duty done. or a
KIND word spoken, which did not brinc a
long tram of blessings. You may not See
them, but somewhere and somehow thev
are there; just as you plant a seed and po
away, ana the roots spread, and the tree
grows and goes on growing, and the birds
come and sing in the branches-lonr after
| you are dead. I'll tell you a story about
that, sald the old man, settling himself on
the heap OF warm hay, while the bows
gathered about him.
Two boys went out to fish one day. az
| you clear out the barn, their father told
them in the morning You can have tho
afternoon to play"
=, Let's make a quick job of it," said
Charley.
30 they worked steadily and actively. and
earned their holiday. As they started
lsthsSt-h@4teei by the gate, their rods over
their shoulders. ''N' over
The pond or the creek ?" asked RilI
Charley was good-natured fellow. "The
creek ana then we can take basket of
apples to old Aunty Stannix," he said.
80 they brought the apples, gave them
10 the old negro, and went down to the
creek. Under big walnut was n dorlr
pool, the very place for perch. ''' -
They hardly spoke for an hour inst
as Bill had nibble, u step was heard ON
the dry grass above, and a man apneared
and looked down at them. His clothes
were shabby, his face strangely bloodless
and pinched.
ITS too badP' muttered Bill. "IIe's
driven that fellow away, and he was a two
FOUNDER. The sneaking old trampl I'll
shy stone at him if he comes any
closerr' WY
You'll do nothing of the sort, Bill
Pardee," said Charley. "The man looks
hungry, poor fellow r'
=" believe he's escaped from tho lock.
up" persisted Bill. "If he comes down.
III tell him to go back to Jail. where he
belongs see if / don't"
The man was slowly and unsteadilv
making his way toward them. lie watched
the boys with strangely eager, imploring
glance. A few feet from them he stopped,
twirling his hat in hand.
Been fishing, boys2" he said. "Can
| come DOWN."
Before / tell you what they said, I must
go back little.
Fifteen years before, a dead man was
~ eAO "OOusj a lillib ITOul LnlS creek. |
He was q son of one of the neighborinp |
farmers. There was bullethole through |
his heart, but his watch and money were |
untouched. The object of the murderer
had been revenge, not plunder
Suspicion fell on companion of the
victim, with whom he had had a quarrel.
They had been seen on the road together
a week before, and the murdered man was
never seen alive again. This friend was
arrested and tried. The circumstantial
evidence was strong against him. He was
found guilty, and sentenced to imprison.
ment for life. Fifteen years Of his confine.
ment had passed when he received n
pardon, and was released
On the morning and just as the hour
when our boys went to clean the barn, he
came out of the prison gates, and stood
looking up and down the busy streets, as
though he were halfblinded.
The gate-keeper followed him kindly.
"Where are ye goin ,Seventy.seven ~ he
asked, calling the man by his prison
number; for he never had heard his name.
/ don't know"
"Got no kin2'
The man did not answer. He sal down