Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-07-30

last day, my boy; make the best OF it."
Ned and Carrie were the only children.
Leaving Carrie in the house alone, after
they had consulted awhile whether there
was any way of evading old Dan g sad fate,
Ned shouldered his hoe and marched off
to his work. planting potatoes with Bron-
son the hired man, in the back lot.
But the Little girl OF thirteen had no
thought of being afraid. She had the
breakfast dishes to wash, some sweeping
to do. and the dinner to get, all before IL
! o'clock.
Time fled. The dishes stood in shining
rows upon the pantry shelf, the broom had
performed its work, and Carrie was pre-
pairing the vegetables to be boiled, when
there came a faint knock at the door. Sup
posing it to be one of the neighbors. the
little girl did not rise, but simply said
Come in''
i The door slowly opened, and man
! stepped within.
He wore long black coat, buttoned to
the chin, and very threadbare His trous-
1
too short for him. On one foot was boot
while the other was sraced by ragged
shoe. He carried silk hat in hand. His
face was long and solemn. but red, his
eyes bleared, his hands dirty, and altogeth
er he was queer-looking visitor.
els your ma at home, Miss?' he said in
a half whine, as he glanced sharply about
the room.
mo, sir" replied Carrie, wondering
why he asked; ''she has gone to Underhill.
Did you wish to see her, STRIP
ooh, no. the man replied. 81 only
asked out of politeness, you know" and
he smiled solemnly at the little girl, and
winked one eye. ''No, I came on business
with your pa-particularly urgent bust
ness. dispose he's around, is he not?"
mo, sir, he went to town with my
MOTHER said Carrie.
"Now, that's too bad!' exclaimed the
visitor, as he seated himself; land I've
! come so far to see him. But perhaps your
brother or sister would do just as well?"
II haven't any sister, said the little
hostess, laughing; land my brothers over
in the back lot, but he'll be in by-and-by
though, if he'll do
swell. don't hardly believe he will,
after ALL said the man. shaking his head
thoughtfully s'and I can't wait to day.
anyway; hahn It the time. But am ter
ribly hungry. If I could stay to dinner
Miss, would. However, under the cir
cumstances. perhaps you had better give
me a light lunch before go; say piece
| of pie and a cup of tea and little cold
meat, or something of that sort.''
| ''Oh, certainly, only can't give you the
meat, for we haven't it in the house,"
said Carrie, rising; ''but will find some
thing"
And she brought from the pantry
J whole apple pie, which she placed before
him, with knife and fork.
eff you will help yourself will have the
tea ready in about three minutes
''All right, my dear,'' said the man,
selling the knife and drawing the pie to-
ward him, II will act upon your advice.
The last time I took dinner with General
Grant," he continued, as he cut great
piece and began to eat, che said to me,
Governor, governor said he never disre-
gard LADY, advice and have always
remembered what he said," and he chuck
led merrily and nodded his head at the de-
licious-looking pastry before him.
| Carrie wondered little at the table
manners of the man who had dined with
Grant, but she stepped his tea, favored it
with rich cream and sugar, and passed it
to him.
II am not much of hand for tea." said
the man as he drained the cup, shut my
doctor says that I must drink it for my
digestion. Ruined my digestion while I
was in the army YOU see," and he wlnked
solemnly. "By-the-by," he continued,
picking up the silver teaspoon from the
saucer, ''haye you any more of these?
| They are as neat a pattern as l ever saw,
and odd too. should like to see the rest
Of the dozen if you have them.''
''Mother has only eleven,' said Carrie,
in her innocence, ssand she is very proud
of them: but I'll show them to you.'
Then she brought the little box
/
spoons and an ancient cream jug-all pure
silver and shining very brightly-and plac-
! ed them before her inquisitive visitor to
admire.
He finished his s'light lunch"-that is,
the pie was demolished and the teapot
empty. AS the little girl handed him the
treasures he arose, took the box to the
window, examined it's contents with a
Critical eye for moment, and then as if
in joyful surprise, cried:
Il am right! They are the very spoons!
The very same identical spoons that my
friend lost when he was boy How
lucky it is that I have found them at
last!''
With these words and a very low bow,
the rascal opened the door and slipped
away with the spoons aid silver cream
pitcher down toward the gate.
For an instant Carrie stood motionless:
then, rushing aftea him, she shrieked:
s'Give me those spoons! They are my
mothers spoons, and you are trying to
steal them You are thief Bring the N
back Bring them back l"
The man paid no attention to the child s
cries, but ran rapidly down the path, car
rying the box in his arms; and the spoons
and pitcher would have been lost forever
if new party had not appeared on the
scene.
Old Dan was quietly nibbllng the grass
near the gate way. Hearing his little
mistrass, VOICE he looked up at the very
instant that the tramp was passing. What