The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-05-16
SEYENTY.SEVEN.
what is that you say, Roberto

SEVENTY.SEVEN.
"What is that you say, Roberto
"Little things don't count
"Dont they' Now my belief is that
there never was little duty done, or d
kind word spoken which did not bring a
long train OF blessings. You may no.
see them but somewhere and somehow
they ale there; just as you plant seed
and go away, and the roots spread and
tho tree grows, and goes on growing, and
the birds come and sing in the branches,
long after you are dead. I'll tell you a
story about that" said the old man, set
ting himself on the heap Of warm hay,
while the boys gathered around him.
1.-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 for play.
Let's make a quick job of it, said
Charley.
So they worked steadily and actively
and earned their holiday. As they start
cd, they halted by the gate, their rods
over their shoulders.
"'Thc pond or the crcek2' asked Bill.
"Charley was good hearted fellow.
The creek; aud then VIC can talk, 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 w&s dark
pool, the very place for perch.
"They hardly spoke for an hour. Just
as Bill had nibble q step was heard on
the grass above, and a man appeared and
looked down at them. His clothes were
shabby, his face strangely bloollcss and
pinched.
"'Its too bad,' muttercd Bill. Hes
driven that fellow away and he's two
FOUNDER. The sneaking old tramp! I'll
shy stone at him if he comes any
closer.'
60 You'll do nothing Of the sort, Bill
Pardee,' said Charley. 'Thc man looks
hungry, poor fellow
49, believe he's escaped from the lock-
up persisted Bill. If he comes down
III tell him to 60 back to jail where he
belongs, sec if I don't
The man was slowly and unsteadily
making his way toward them. He watch:
ed the boys with a strangely eager, i'm
ploring glance. A few feet from them
he stopped, twirling his hat in his hand.'
"'Becn afishing, boys2' he said. Can
come down.
Before tell you what they said, I
must go back a little.
Fifteen years before dead man was
found in the woods, Il mile from this
creek. He was a son Of one of the neigh
boring farmers. There was bullet-lo!e
through his heart, but his watch and
money were untouched. The object Of
the murderer had been revenge, NOT plum
plumber.
"suspicien fell on companion of the
victim, with whom he had had q, quarrel
They had been seen OH the road to-
gether a>weck before, and the murdered
man was never seen alive again
This friend was arrested and tired. The
clrcuinstantial evidence was strong
against him. He was found guilty, and
sentenced to imprisonmen< for lite: FIT.
teen years OF his confinement had passed
when lie received pardon, and was re-
leased.
On the morning and just at the hour
when our boys went 10 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.
"Ihe gate.keeper followed him kindly.
Where are ye goin', Seventy -sevens' he
asked, calling the man by his prison
number; for he never had heard his
name.
"H don't know
"'Got no kim
THE man did not answer. He sat down
on the curbstone, his eyes blinking, his
mouth twiching ncivous!y. lie looked
Wistfully at the gate, as if he would ask
to be taken in again. In that fifteen wears
his cell had grown to be home to him.
he had no other home. The keeper
turned to 20 in.
"'Dont Leave me, Jackson he. said,
teebly putting out his hand.
"Jackson stood before him. sTako 4
cigar, he said, in token of their new
equality.
go have never smoked
"Where are ye goin', anyhow
"seventy-seven stared vacantly up
and down the street. When he had gone
In at the gate, he was \ young and hand
some man. He had been lawyer in fair
practice, with mother who made an idol
OF him, and hosts Of friends.
"Now he was bent and white haired
There was not man whom he could call
friend, or house where he had rioht
to shelter, in all the world.
"'1'd like to go back he said, with a
miserable smile.
Can't do that, my boy. You were
"'Murder'
"Yesv
~ was innocent muttcred Seventy
seven: And then, suddenly, as if the
1ree air and sun accused him a(resh of
MS CRIME, he rose and strtchcd out his
arms. LAO
C.. Before God, 1 was innoccntv he
"'Yes, Of course, of course said lack
son. You ALI say SO. But | believe
you, seyenty-seven. Got no kin2'
80 My mother died eight years 400
My brother lives in the old Homestead
don't know whether to 70 to him. Or
what would you DOE turning in his bit-
ter solitude to Jackson as a friend.
80 Got the money to COZ:
eyes, the prison society gave me these
clothes and money to pay my way home.
Bit -
- Hows yer brother treated ye? Has
he gin you the cold shculder2'
"'No. After he married ten years aoo
:. never would see him when he came to
uo prison. wanted him to feel clear