The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-11-30
For the BULLETS.
70 REMINISC ENCE.,

" REMINISCENCE.
Long years ago | knew child who
rambcd DER our native hills, free as the
nimbc squirrel. and all but wild as they.
4 happy, careless child whose voice We
| heard full many summer noon, high up
| among the branches of the forest trees.
oud and clear as were birds whose full,
sweet notes it was her wont to trill from
this her dizzy perch. No fonder JOY had
she, this strange, queer child, than thus to
live amid the green old hills, nor dreamed
sac, then, that change could ever come to
them or her. Nor kith nor kin had she ,
alone she stood reared by the cold hand Of
charity-the charity that doles out with
pious groanS the stinted meal of whole.
some bread or kindly word, or kindly deed.
One hand alone, reached out 10 welcome
| hcr--a thin, white hand that rested
all the day upon the twisted
cane that helped to bear the sickly,
neglected boy, whose weight grew pitiiuIly
less with each retiring year. one motion
Of that slender hand would bring this way
ward child flying from the highest branches
OF her iayoritc trees, or send her on the
widest Of wild or daring exploits. And
how th, crippled, poor, detormed lad
glorcd in the rude strength and undauntcd
spirit OF his little friend, His own weak
ness seemed but to strcn,hrn his love for
his little friend; his willing, faithful ser
want. Thu, passed their NJ, for many
years; contentcd he; full Of buoyancy and
glad happips, was she, nor thought,
nor wished for change, did either
Time touched with magic hand the
yellow locks and twncd them into
silken threads OF gold A deeper, newer
depth Of blue Swallowed the full clear eyes.
! The tawny skin took on roster hue; the
supple, graceful form lost none of lis free,
elastic beauty in the rounded l'ullncss OF its
perfect womanhood aud 10, before the eyes
Of thtNwakcned lad stood forth comedy
woman. 4 woman, with all woman's
/ power for loving with all 4 woman's need
Of love And he, poor wretch, what had he
worthy to offer this pcnnIcSs child Of nature:
Alas his heart was hers not gold nor jew
/ al f,i.rIs hn,,. ,,t,,,, i. . :.
poor poor gift-hs weak, unsghtly self had
he To offer and could he dare
hc--tcI this iricndlc,s, orphan
girl how dear she was to him!
| Wouldsho not hate him did he once pre-
sent himself to her in this new light and,
. perhaps leave him, altogether, to his un.
loved life, He noted, well, the change
that had come over hcl Watched, anxious
! ly the rcstlcssncss OF her every movement,
and marked with peculiar dread how
Scldomly, now. she spoke of the wild
things in the wood that once, to her had
all the charm Of = full companionship
The beauties Of her native hills had flown,
and lett An aching void that all the lowell.
ness in nature could not iill \ strange
new ycarhiug filed the soul OF this lonely
woman "a spirit Of rcstlcssnesS "A strong
desire TO leave, forever, the eternal same
ness of her child-hoOd's home and
fight her way, alone, if need be, amidst
LIES storms and battles but the thin, white
hands, strong in the strength of their very
weakness, held back the impatient spir
and bound it down with stronger bands o
unbrokcn tenderness. She could not leave
the pleading eyes that were 50 fixed uponlc'
nor blot tron her heart the image of tin
fast fading face that turned So tondl,
toward her And yet awhile she fingered
, the struggling heart.beatS beneath Il,
placid bosom alone, telling of the might,
, effort that held this woman there
. At length there came ua,
when duty held no claims upo
T.. her. Beyond the limits Of he
= OF her little home she flew beyond til
sound OF the very winds that moancd an,
sighed about the forest trees and seemed t
whisper to her a last farewell; nor pause,
Il she once, nor turned she backward gaz
. upon the one familiar scene of all he, earle
y days-and she was gone. Gage, how fare
t | al,.,gN A.. ~ 4 Al a. A
she How fares the wild doe when hor