The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-04-04
SEVENTY SEVEN.
BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.

"What is that you say, Roberto
Little things don't count"
"Don't they? Now my belief is, that
there never was little duty done, or
kind word spoken, which did not bring
a long train of blessings. You may not
see them, but somewhere and somehow
they are there; just as you plant a seed
and 60 away, and the roots spread, ard
the tree grows, and goes on growing,
and the birds come and sing in the
branches, long after you are dead. III
tell you a story about that, said the old
man, settling himself on the heap Of
warm hay, while the boys gathered
about him.
Two boys went out to fish one day.
'If YOU clear out the barn. their father
told them in the morning, you can have
the afternoon Tor play
"Let's make quick job of it, said
Charley.
$50 they worked steadily and active
", and earned their holiday. As they
started, they halted by the gate, their
rods over their shoulders.
1.-The pond or the creek?' asked
Bill.
Charley was a good-hearted fellow.
The creek; and then we can take a
basket of apples to old Aunty Stannix,'
he said.
$50 they brought the apples, gave
them to the old negro, and went down
to the creek. Under big walnut was
dark pool, the very place for perch.
"They hardly spoke for an hour.
Just as Bill had a nibble, step was
heard on the dry grass above, and man
appeared and looked down at them. His
clothes were shabby, his face strangely
bloodless and pinched.
"'It's too badi' muttered Bill. 'He's
driven that fellow away and he's two
FOUNDER. The sneaking old tramp! I'll
Shy stone at him if he comes any
closer,'
go You'll do nothing of the sort, Bill
Pardee, said Charlie. The man looks
hungry, poor fellowr
40 believe he's escaped from the
lookup persisted Bill. IF he comes
down, III tell him to 90 back to jail
where he belongs, see if l don't
1.-The man was slowly and unsteadily
making his way towards them. He
watched the boys with a strangely eager,
imploring glance. A few feet from
them he stopped, twirling his hat in his
hand.
"'Been a-fshing, boys?' he said.
Can | come DOWN.
Before tell you what they said, |
must 90 back little.
" Fifteen years before, a dead man
WIS found in the woods, mile from this
creek. He was a son of one of the
neighboring farmers. There was bull
let-hole through his heart, but his watch
and money were untouched. The OBJ
iect of the murderer had, been revenge,
not plumber.
suspicion fell on a companion of the
victim, with whom he had had quarrel.
They had been seen on the road togeth-
er a week before, and the murdered man
was never seen alive again. This friend
was arrested and tried The circum-
stantial evidence was strong against
him. He was found guilty, and sem
fenced to Imprisonment for life. Eff
teen years of his confinement had pass
ed when he received 4 pardon, and was
released.
"On the morning and just at the hour
when our boys went to clear the barn,
he came out of the prison gates, and
stood looking up and down the busy
streets, as though he were half blinded.
1.-The gate-keeper followed him kind
". Where are ye goin', Seventy-sev-
emp he asked, calling the man by his
prison number; for he never had heard
his name.
81 don't know
'''Got no kin?'
1.-The man did not answer. He sat
down on the curbstone, his eyes blink
ing, his mouth twitching nervously. He
looked wistfully at the gate, as if he
would ask to be taken in again. In that
fifteen years his cell had grown to be a
home to him. He had no other home.
The keeper turned to 90 in.
"'Don't leave me, Jackson he said,
feebly putting out his hand.
jackson stood beside MIN. Take
a cigar he said, in token of their new
equality -.-
al have never smoked
"'Where are We goin', anyhow
." Seyenty-seven stared vacantly up
and down the street. When he had
zone in at that gate, he was young
and handsome man. He had been 4
lawyer in fair practice, with mother