The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-16
THE LITTLE GIRL, NOW A WOMAS.
BY C. C. HAHN.

Nell Father had Just moved to q new
home in the town Of Canton, and soon after
he got settled comfortably, was taken sick.
We were among strangers, and so great
deal ofthe care rested upon me. One even
ing, as had been up every night for some
time, mother told me to go TO bed for q
couple of hours while she set up with father
But 1 had just laid down upon the lounge,
and was DOING slightly, when she stood
before me and asked me to get up and give
directions to q man who had come to nurse
father.
ale is so deaf can't make him hear, and
so near-sighted he can't see anything. See
if you can make HIM understand what is
needed" she said.
So 1 got up and went into fathers room,
and there met, for the first time, Tom Nell.
lie was as pitiful sight as l ever saw. He
was sitting by the stand in low rocking
chair, rocking to and fro in an absent kind
of q way, like one entirely cut off from the
world. His forehead was fiat, and rather
low, and his eyes had a peculiar squiut COM
mon to near-sighted persons, and his nose
looked as if there was a small bone in the
end and the skin drawn from it to the fore
head, with a slight depression in the mid
die. 1 afterwards learned it was solid, but
the thin, almost transparent epidermis nerve
let me fully realize it. His hair was neatly
oiled and polished, but it had a queer way
of slanting backward on the right side, and
forward on the left. His whiskers consisted
of thin, why moustache, and moderate
ly heavy crop under the chin. The side
of his face and neck were deeply marked
with scrofula.
Just walked from sleep, 1 could not help
smiling as shouted the directions in his ear
and in return received low, thin answer,
that might have done credit to one in the
last stages of consumption. / afterward
learned that at one time he had heen given
up to die of that disease.
He smiled in return, and seemed so COM
pletely taken with the idea that he smiled
on all through the interview, and when he
bent over me at o'clock in the morning, to
wake me, he was smiling still.
That was our first meeting, and after the
kindness shown us, took pains 10 cultivate
his acquaintance. At first he always touched
his old straw hat when we met, and smiled
that peculiar smile, but as we got more ac-
Quainted he ceased the former and l forgot
10 notice the latter.
One evening visited him at his room. 1t
was up over a hardware store on Main
street, and was approached by dark entry,
so filed with boxes and boards and irregu-
u
inexperienced travellers, even at midday
He was at supper, aad, while he finished, l
had an opp Jrtunity to glance at mis- room.
In one corner was a bed, made upon a
couple of carpenters tressels, and covered
with an army blanket. Opposite it was the
table, which served as a bOok-rack, writing
desk, medicine-shelf, dining-table, and cup
board. The front part had been cleared off,
and, without a tableclOth, Tom was making
a meal of bread and butter and brown sugar
no meat, no vegetables, no tea or coffee.
Then there was rusty looking stove and
very large wOOd-box, a tub, and several iron
pots in the corner. The wall was oEna-
mented by rife, with which Tom hunted
when he had an afternoon to himself; saw
and ak, with which he earned his daily
bread; picture of a patent iron bridge; and
a collection Of old hats of ali colors and
stages of decay, and a full assortment of
coats, vests and breeches, all displayed to
advantage on the wall. The coats hung in
line with the hats, forming an elipse above
them.
After supper 1 lighted a cigar and draw
ing our chairs close together, in order that
L might not ruin my lungs shouting and,
also, that L might hear his low tones, he
told me the story of his life. 1t was sad,
and yet it was lonelier than sad. His par
ents were not very wealthy, but were re-
spectacle. At an early age Tom suffered
from the scrofula, which injured his hear
ing. In all other respects he was entirely
cured OF it new. Then he was taken down
with consumption. In comic manner
that was pathetic, he told me of his friends
consolatory visits during his sickness. How
they cheered him each time with-t'You
may get well, but you'd better be very
good boy, Tom" But when he went on to re-
late how he left home, determined to make a
living for himself, and of his struggles and
failures, / felt something Juggling at nv
breast and grew ashamed of what / had
considered trouble.
1t ia always so. There are in every vii
lage characters that God has made as daily
lessons to the unsatisfed Cnes. Persons
bearing such heavy burdens so manfully
that we grow ashamed of our own complain
ing, and dare not speak of our own little
crosses before them.
81 have often tried to get little ahead, >
he said, in his low, thin voice, "but it seem;
as if l can not. I used to think that
could sometime get to College, and L worked
hard to do SO, but with being almost blind
and hard of hearing, added to occasional
sickness, 1 had to give it up"
l knew Tom was considered quite {
genius in his own way by the neighbors
but had not supposed he was so ambitious
THAT was the hardest cross of my life
No one, unless he has gone through with it
knows how blank it leaves life to striv,
for years after something that will elevat
his condition and then have it fail and know
that he must go on all through life in tn
same low position. But, then" he salC
changing his tone, 81 read Fowler and tr,
TO be contented2"
"You understand phrenolcgy"
go, 1 can't say that do. have read
good deal on the subject, though, and it
my favorite study"
''Why not follow it up and go out as ex
aminer2 That would be easier on you thai
working at odd jobs by the day."
'tNo he replied reAectively, al couldn't
You see I've studied myself and there ar
two bump wanting. I've been cultivatinI
them for two years, though, and they ar
getting active"
"What are they~
Continuity and self-esteen. Hal an
afraid you will think the last is pretty vel
developed alreadyp
And truly, that was his failing. His lacl
perseverance kept him always working
round at odd jobs, instead ofholding good
.osition, and his Jack of confidence kept hin