American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-20

il ?' he answers.
He puts the child down and goes over
to his desk, and unlocking his drawer he
takes out an account-book and begins
writing receipt. Then goes over into
the Cashiers room While he is there
the Telegraph Clerk calls him over.
Click, clickity click, goes the magic
instrument repeating its dot and dash
message.
Hear that?'' says the operator
90 That's news for you,n The proprie-
tor could read every word by its sound.
ats like message from Cod says
Mr.. Tawman, reverently. 81 must not
tell her.
He comes back to where the woman
is sitting, his face is flushed with emo
ton; some strange excitement. He
throws into her lap Il bundle of bank
notes.
"There, Mrs. Setter, now go home.
Take a car mt the door,
sob, I'm not tired. And / should
like to be hero when the brig comes in
But thank you so much, so much"
"Here, little one," says the good
hearted Tawman, "here's something
for you to buy candies with He puts
into her tiny outstretched hand a bright
quarter of Il dollar, and laughs at the
wonder and delight of the little recipi-
ent'
''I'll keep this for my papa
Poor little thing, she is weary unto
sleep. She cuddles herself in the big
chair and sinks into slumber in an in
slant.
''Now, Mrs. Setter, you've had no
dinner" says Tawman.
''Oh, yes, sir.''
g Yesterday, perhaps, but 1 mean to-
day. Go down with Mr.. Pelton there,
our young man, and get something to
eat. You see we have arrangements for
the comforts of our clerks. We give
them hot dinner, and good dinner,
too. There's nobody there
$50 down there and ask the waiter,
George" addressing Mr.. Pelton, whom
he had summoned, 'to give this good
lady cup of tea and Il piece of toast,
ing moment, as if propriety and phil
anthropy are struggling for mastery in
his mind
No, no, George. Tell Henderson
to send the dinner up into the room here
that's betteri' - The young man leaves
the room. Then Mr.. Tawman enters
the Office again and consults the tele-
graph operator.
sc Send this message at once, Mr.
Lindsay, if you please He writes
something, and the operator clicks it off
at once. It's long message, very
long message indeed; but the Presi-
dents message itself is not half so i'm
portant, so interesting to those whom it
concerns.
Then by the time the message is sent,
the dinner is ready in Mr.. Tawman's
private Office, when Mrs. Setter partakes
of it, but does not think proper to
waken the weary child that she may eat
also.
Then Mr.. Tawman says: "Now,
you had better go. I'll see to the child
I'll bring the little girl up with me to-
night
s' No, MOI" exclaims the mother al
must have my Ellie with me always, sir
You are so very good, though, sir; so
very good! And is there no news of the
Good Luck?"
90 Not word, I'm sorry to say
sc 1t can't be possible. The brig must
come in to-day
g I'm sure 1 hope SO, with all my
heart and soul, Mrs. Selter.''
81 know you do" she responds with
a sigh.
Now go. I'm sorry you have to
waken the child, but L suppose you can't
help it,
"Come, Ellie,'' says the mother,
touching her lightly on the shoulder.
The child with start awakens and
cries, els it my papaP Dear, dear
papaP''
Then, seeing her disappointment, she
burst into tears.
"Don't cry, dear, don't cry. The brig
will come in. Don't cry!" The good
old man speaks soothingly to the sob
bing child; and the mother catching her
hand walks slowly and sadly away, fol-
lowed by Mr.. Tawman, who lifts the lit
tie girl down stairs and helps both her
and her mother into a car.
The next morning the woman is again
lettering about the wharves with the
same agonized inquiry. She again puts
the question to the wharfmen, and again
receives only the same answer. Then,
as before, she seeks the Office of the brig
owners, still accompanied by her little
girl, and asks:
''Has the brig Good Luck come in
yet3''
ssNot yet, ma 'am.''
She signs and looks out of the window
at the shipping. She says she will wait
for Mr.. Tawman and sits down.
When Mr.. Tawman comes in, as usual
he greets her very kindly, and kisses the
little girl and says:
''I'm sorry the brig isn't in yet!''
"Will it be in to-day?''
''I hope sou And he goes behind his
lesk and looks over his letters He has
not long been engaged in his correspond
ence when a scream from the woman
startles him.
She has risen and is pointing excited
y out of the window.