Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-24

see the grooms and all the boys wuz
uncommon fond of Mamie and took
heap of care o. her.
"Well, sir, when my little girl
was about six years old, Dan Max
we'll wanted to break her TO ride
with him. At first | wouldn't hear
to it, but Mamie was SO wistful for
it, and Dan was such a great, stron g
fellow and | kn0W'd he be that keer
full of her as if she was made OF pure
gold, so let Mamie have her own
way. There warn't TO be no whip
used. / wouldn't ha' stood that,
but Lord, sir, there warn t no need
of t. The child took to riding like
duck to water. When | saw her
name on the posters in big letters,
couldn't help feeling bit proud and
livery night when she was on, used
to get some one to mind the door,
while slipped round in front. Sich
er pictur' as she looked in her bit Of
white dress,all covered with spang-
les And how they'd applaud her,
sir E! She got most basket full of
oranges livery night too
Her the old man paused mo-
ment, and drew his hand somewhat
shamefacedly across his eyes.
"Well, one night l couldn't git
round in front until jist as they wuz
doing the finish; for that Mamie
used to stand on Dams shoulder,
with one little foot out, and with
her bits o. lands throw kisses to the
audience. You've seen how it's
done, sir. When she got round to
the side of the ring | was on she
kinder forgot herself aud nodded
and kissed her lands to me, calling
out: There's one for you too, dad
dy." The next moment-I niver
knowed how it 'appened-but the
'orses wuz down, and Dan and my
little gal wuz under them. When
| picked her up | thought she wuz
dead, but she opened her eyes and
said: sis that you, daddy? | b'lieve
| amt hurt; l don't feel nothing
The Madame as | spoke of, sent
her own kerridge for doctor, and
when he came he looked SO grave
| knowed it wuz somethin' bad. So
/ up and asked him to tell me the
truth. And he did it in the feeling
est way he could. My little girl had
broken her back, and if she lived
would be a cripple. | thought as
how | couldn't stand it at fuSt; she
had been so 'andsome and spry,with
SIGH pretty figure. Dan got off
vita broken arm and a few bruises
| never seen er Teller so cut up as he
wuZ about Mamie. He sot there on
that chair and cried like babby,
and when my little girl put out her
arms to him one day, and ses, Dan,
don't you want to take me to see
'orses ?''-I think it wuz her way of
showing him she didn't blame him
he made pretense of going after
some candy fust, but it was to 'ide
his feelings. | think as how he spent
more than half his salary er buying
toys and things for my little gal.
And there was the Madame, too, er
fotching hall sorts of nice things to
eat and er talking to Mamie by the
hour. Mamie used to like to play
with Madame'S ring and SIGH. She
wuz mighty fond of jewelry. And
between the Madame and Dan there
wasn't much in that line she didn't
ave, even to a watch. | got them
hall slowed away in a box, heXcept
er ring she give to Dan. He wears
it on his watch chain now.
"Well, sir, arter a long while
Mamie was able to get round on her
crutches, but she was still pale and
sickly like. The Madam, when she
was here, took her out riding, away
into the country, trying to put er
bit O color into her cheeks. but it
never stayed there long. She used
to lay on that 'ere old sotfy there and
hold wot | called her drawing room.
Yer see, hall the boys used to drop
in and chat with her, and the wimen
folks. too, for that matter. Every
body loved little Mamie.
about a year arter the haccident
Mamie SEES to me one night: daddy,
Mrs. Green THAT was the wardrobe
woman) ses there's little girl goin
to ride tonight, jist like | used. |
should so like to see her.
would you, deary," ses l; "then
daddy 'ull take you nfront." [ wuz
angry with the woman for 'aving
told the child. Carrying Mamie in
my arms, | went around to the ring
entrance. With her eyes shinin' like
stars. she watched the act through;
then. as she put her lead down on
my shoulder, sort wearylike, she SEES:
daddy, l want that little girl to
have my whip"
| sot down here with her on my
lap, er strooking her pretty hair
Hall to once she put up her little
arms and pulled my face down to
hers. Daddy" SEES she, kiss me-"
then she cuddled up close to me and
seemed to sleep | sot for quite a
while as still as | could, fur fear of
waking her, but some one coming
to the door, l had to lay her down.
She was dead, sir My little Mamie
died in my arms
Everybody was so kind and feel