The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-09-10
TENDER-HEARTED.
Texans Adventure with Little Match
Girl.
lst. LouIs alobe-pemocrat.l

tSt Louis Globe Democrat
A big-boned Texan, something over
SIX feet high, with an enormous broad
brlmmed hat, and a sweeping mustache,
reaching nearly to his shoulders, stood
at the Laclede Hotel Office, carelessly ex-
aiming the register. A slight twitching
at his coat skirts was passed byunheeded,
but more vigorous pull caused him to
look around, expecting to greet a joking
friend, or something of that sort. He
saw nothing, and was turning back to
the register leaves again, when his glance
fell upon such g wee mite of a girl, whose
head was such a short distance from the
floor that it was no wonder he had not
seen her. The Withholding face bent
down to the little one, and in a deep bass
voice asked: "What is it, little gal ?"
Please, mister, won't you buy my
matches = came in weak, childish tones;
so low that the words could not have
been understood had the appeal not been
reinforced by the holding up of box of
matches, the corners Of the paper box
all dog-eared and miserably soiled.
The little figure was barefooted, and
her one calico garment rent, faded and
torn.
"No; I don't want any to-day, sissy"
said the Texan.
"Please, mister, won't you buy my
matches % with a second pull at the coat.
The man turned again, impatiently,
and glanced at the little one; then, as if
ashamed, and with a furtive glance
around as if to see if he was unobserved,
put his fingers in his vest pocket, and the
next instant bright half-dollar cleaned
in the little grimy fingers. With a half
sigh the big-hearted fellow said, half to
himself: Poor little cuss.
Please, mister, don't you want the
matches, and hain't got no changer"
"Oh, hi, no; keep the change and
matches. too"
Holding the precious coin in both
hands, the match girl vanished like a
shadow through the front door, and the
Texan, with muttered "what fool /
am, F" followed.
Around the corner and down Sixth
street battered the little naked feet, I'M
conscious that she was followed, and up
one of the streets devoted to small deal
ers and perfect nest of pawn-shops.
Into one of the least clean and imposing
of these she darted and whispered some
thing to the woman, who took paper
parcel out of a drawer and handed it to
the child. The child tore off the paper
with nervous fingers, and there was the
sole treasure of her heart-her only pos
session-her doll. She Rugged it to her
breast and kissed it. What was said be-
tween the woman and child could not be
heard, but when the little waif laid the
half-dollar on the counter the woman
shook her head and pushed it back very
far toward the child, as if her resolution
might not hold out very steadfast The
child looked amazed, but turned to go,
hugging her dolly, and at the door stood
the Texan, with very suspicious mois-
ture on his cheek and a big lump in his
| throat
"Ive got a little girl like you at
home" said he. "Come along and show
me where you live.
Well, you may be sure that the sick
mother and the little girl were rendered
more comfortable, for an hour afterward
she had a receipt for a months rent in
her hands, and doctors carriage stood
at the door of that tenement house.
And such was the story that was told
to the reporter by the big-hearted Texan
who last night left the Leclede Hotel for
his home upon the wide plain where
range his broad-horned herds.