The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-06-01
SEVENTY SEVEN.

What is that you say, RobcrtY
Little things don't count
Don't they? Now my belief is that there
never was n little duty done, or II kind word
spoken which did not bring long train OF
blessings. You may not see them, but some.
where and somehow they are there; just rs
you plant Il seed and go away, and the roots
spread and the tree grows, and goes on grow
ing, and the birds come and sing in the branch
cs long after you arcdcad Plltell you II story
about that SAID the old man, settling himself
on the heap of warm hay, while the boys gath
cred around him
Two boys went out TO fish one day. If you
clean out the barn. their father told them in
the morning. you can have the afternoon ioi
play
Let's make quick job of it, said Charley
So they worked steadily and actively and
earned their holiday. As they started, they
halted by the gate, their rods over their should
crs.
THE pond or the creek asked Bill
Charley was "A good hearted fellow, The
creek and then we can take n basket of apples
to old Aunty StanniX,' he said.
So they brought the apples, gave them to the
old negrcss, and went down to the creek. Tn
der "A big walnut was a dark pool, the very
place for perch.
luiN ndlulN HIIbhC lOl lll ll'Al--J NNl ~ IN
had mbblc II step was heard on the dry
grass above, and man appeared and look
ed down al them. His clothes were shah
by; his face strangely boodlcss and punched
It's too bad muttercd Bill. He's driven
that fellow away and he's two FOUNDER. The
sneaking old tramp, I'll shy a stone at him il
he comes any closer
'Youll do nothing of the sort, Bill Pardcc,
said Charley The man looks hungry, poor
fellow
Il believe he's escaped from the lookup per.
sisted Bill If he comes down I'll tell him to
90 back to Jail where he belongs, see i'll don't
The man was slowly and unscadily making
his way toward them. He watched the boys
with strangely eager, imploring glance. \
few feet from them he stopped, twiring his
hat in his hand
Been a-fishing, boys " lac said-'Can come
down"
Before tell you what they said, must go
back little.
Fifteen years before, a dead man was found
in the woods, mile from this creek. He was
a son of one of the neighboring farmers There
was bullet hole through his heart but his
watch and money were untouched The object
of the murderer had been revenge, moi lundcr
Suspicion fell on IA companion ofthc victim,
with whom he had had quarrel. They had
been seen on the road together week before
and the murdered man was never seen alive
again. His friend was arrested and tried. The
circumstantial evidence was strong against him
He was found guilty, and sentenced to impris-
onment for lie. Fifteen years of his confnc
men, had passed, when he received pardon
and was released.
ON the morning and just at the hour when
our boys went 10 clear the barn, he came on, OF
the prison gates and stood looking up and
down the busy streets, as though he were hall
blinded.
The gate-keeper followed him blindly. Wher,
are ye goIn'. Seyentysevcn" he asked, calling
the man by his prison number, for he neve
had heard his name
Il don't know
Got no kim
The man did not answer lie sat down OF
the curbstone, his eyes blinking, his moutl
twitching ncrvOusIy He looked wistfully a
the gate, as if he would ask 20 be taken in again
In that fifteen years his cell had grown 10 be
home TO him; he had no other home; Ia,
keeper turned 20 90 In.
Don't leave me, Jackson he said, feebl,
putting out his hand
Jackson stood before him. Take a cigar
he said, ID token Of their new equality.
4 havenevr smoked