Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-08-04
A Little Girl at Home.

A few days ago a big-boned Texan
something over six feet high, with an
enormous broad-brimmed hat and a
sweeping mustache reaching nearly to
his shoulders, stood at the Laelede
Hotel office, st. Louis, earelessly ex-
amining the register. A slight twitch-
ing at his coat skirts was passed by un-
needed, but more vigorous pull caused
him to look around expecting to greet
joking friend or something of the
sort. He saw nothing and was turn
ing back to the register leaves again,
when his glance fell upon such a wee
mite of girl whose head was such
short distance from the floor that 1t
was no wonder he had not seen her.
The Withholding face bent down to.the
little one and 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 re-enforced 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
the one calico garment rent and faded
and torn
"No, 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 frutive glance
around as if to see il 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 l hain't got no changer"
''Oh, the devil, no; keep the change
and matches, too"
Holding the precious coin in both
hands the little match-girl vanished
like shadow through the front door.
and the Texan, muttering "what fool
| sm," followed.
Around the corner and down Sixth
street battered the little naked feet un-
conscious 6hat she was followed, and
up one of the streets devoted to small
dealers and perfect nest of pawnshops.
Into one OF the least clean and i'm
posing of these she darted and whis-
pered something 10 the woman, who
took paper parcel out of drawer and
handed it 20 the child. The child tore
off the paper with nervous fingers, and
there was the sole treasure of her heart,
her only pOssessiOn-her doll. She
Rugged it TO her breast and kissed it.
What was said between 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, hug
ging her dolly, and at the door stood
the Texan with a very suspicious
moisture upon his cheek and 4 big
lump in his throat.
''I've got 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 render
ed more comfortable, for an hour after
wards she had receipt for months
rent in her hands and a doc tors car
riage stood at the door of That tene-
ment house.