Richland beacon., 1881-12-03
THE LITTLE BOOTS.

In the morning, on leaving my room,
used to see his shoes carefully placed
besi my own before the door. They
we're little, laced boots. rathIr worn and
tarnished by the rough usage to which
ne subjected them. The soles were
somewhat thin in places, and a little
hole menaced the toe of the right foot.
The strings, loose and limp, hung care
lessly to the right and left. BY the
swelling of the leather, could easily
recognize the position occupied by his
great and little toes, and all the accus-
toned movements Of his foot mad LETT
their traces either in deep or almost I'M
percsptible indentatons.
Why has memory chung to all this? J
really know not, but I can still see my
dear boys boots anbitiously placed 10y
nv own-two grains Of sand beside two
paying-stones, godfnch in company
with an elephant They were his
everyday" boots; his play compan-
ions. with which he traversed his sand
mountains and explored the depths OF
the neighboring pools of water. Their
existence was 80 devoted to and partOok
80 much of his own that something OF
himself seemed to have been transferred
to them; to me they appeared to possess
n peculiar physiognomy; 1 felt that Al
INVISIBLE bond attached them to him
and could not look upon their still.un
decided form, 80 conically graceful
without thinking Of their master ana
avowing that they resembled him.
| Everything that comes IN contac
I, with babies grows little babyish also
, , and becomes characterized by that awk
ward grace peculiar to them.
Beside these laughing, gay, good-hu
mored little boots, demanding but t.
scour the fields, my own appeared MOI
strous, heavy, gpss an1 absurd, wit
their gigantic heels. Looking upo
them, as they stood there, with heav.
undeceived aspect, one could not b'
feel that for them life was grave, IL
road long and the burden to be borr
altogether serious.
The contrast vas marked and the lie
son profound. fused to approach the
. tinv boots very gently, in order not
wake the old man who still slept SCUM
" in the adjoining chamber. used
tap them, turn them over and over as
examined them on all sides, and / fell
- delicious smile mount from my heart
NV lips. The id glove, perfumed vi
violet. which have 30 long kept hidd
8" in the most secret depths of my draw
II never filed my soul with 30 sweet
emotion.
- Parental love il not . passing an
ton cast upon tb winds; it has Its
:, lies and its weakiess-it il either pu
:, ;le or sublime. / never analyzes 1T
;, and never seeks b explain its emotio
-, IL makes itself fell; and I allowed
- .aif TO drift with Id delicious oarrt
!. let the papa Who is without VI
il ness cast the fkst stone at me
,,a mammas will avage me.
hes Remember thai this little laced
md recalled 70 my mind tiny. dimpled
re to which was att&hed thousand c
,en ished souvenir.
eek can still see my dear boy Sit
an upon my kneeas I cut bis finger M
his how he struggled and pulled my De
the laughing in spite Il himself, for he
owe ticklish.
lean still se hin when. in the e
ine. beside the brisht. warm hre.
n to moved his little stockings. Ho"
be- Ightful it waa
lady fused to sy: "One-two-"
was he, envelopedn n hsvsst night-go~l
sally hands lost in he sleeves. which vel
noes. far too long, NTH sparkling eyes
and ready to burstof laughing awa''e
- glorious "ThSs. 3
Al length, Ixa taouasao os