The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-06-11
THE OLD SOLDIERS LOVE.

What! What do you say" cried
Slaets. docs Rosa still livePn
Eyes, she still lives" was the reply,
''if one can be said to live who has ex-
perienced her sad lot"
Her sad lotP What do you meanP
What has befallen her?"
"She is blind"
"Blind! Rosa blindr'
And, overcome with grief, Slaets stag
gered back To the bench and sat down
upon it,
"She has been blind for these five
years" continued the grave-digger, land
more, she begs her daily bread. give
her every week two stivers, and when
we bake there is always little loaf for
her in the oven"
Slaets sprang to his feet and grasplng
the graye-digger's hand, cried
Thanks, thanks, Lauw. Heaven will
bless you for your kindness TO her. But
you shall be rewarded in this life, for
am rich, very rich. And now tell me
where Rosa is--where she lives; | will
90 TO her Immediately; every moments
delay is moment Of misery for US
both
"You see, yonder, on the side Of the
hill, little cabin" said the graye-dig-
ger, pointing to hill on the outskirts
OF the village; she lives there with
broom-maker, Nelis Gems"
Without moments delay, Slaets
started Off in the direction indicated. and
soon reached the modest but tidy abode
Of the broom-maker.
About the door played four small
children in the sun. They were bare
footed, and not more than half clothed.
The eldesta boy six or seven years
old-gazed at the stranger with GER
tain intentness that partook as much Of
wonder as of boldness, while his three
sisters looked at him timidly and sought
% avoid observation.
Slaets said kind word or two TO the
children, and Immediately entered the
cabin, where he found the broom-maker
busiy employed in one corner, while
the wife was occupied in spinning.
The entrance Of stranger did not
seem to surprise them. They evidently
thought he wanted to enquire his way,
and the man arose and was about to go
to the door and point it out to him,
when Slaets, in tone that betrayed his
great agitation and Impotence, asked:
Does not Rosa Meulinks live here?"
eyes, mynheer." answered the broom
maker, placing a chair near the door
for the stranger, who was scarcely seat
ed when he felt little hand laid softly
on his He looked round. There stood
the little boy he had seen before the
door, looking up at him with his big
blue eyes, as though he were an old ac-
quaintance.
Come here Peerkenr' cried the
mother; 'you must not be so bold my
child"
"Peerken, however, paid no attention
10 the admonition; but continued to look
up into the face Of the stranger, and to
stroke his hand.
"You are iiue little fellow" said
Slaets, "aud what beautiful eyes, You
shall have something, sir, for being so
good"
So saying, he gave some small coins
TO the boy, who looked ut them with
wonder and delight, but did not let &C
the strangers hand,
"Pccrken,' said his mother, "why do
you not thank mynhccr and kiss his
hand?'
The boy kissed Slaets' hand, and then
peering up in his face, said in a clear
voice:
Il thank you very much, mynheer
Jan"
An earthquake would hardly have sur
priscd SlaetS more than the pronounce
ing of his name by this innocent child.
Tears, in spite Of him, came into his
eyes. He took the boy on his lap and
looking him full in the face, as though
he would assure himself of the reality
of what he had heard, exclaimed;
"What! do you know me-, whom
YOU have never seen before? Who taught
you my nance"
Blind Rosa" answered the child.
"But how is it possible thatyoushould
recognize me?'
"Ah! | knew II was you at once"
said Pcerken. when go out to beg
with Rosa she always talks about you,
and says YOU are so tall, and have such
black, sharp eyes, and that you would
come back some day and bring us n
great many nice things, And am not
afraid, for Rosa saidyou would like me,
and you would bring me big bow and
arrow"
Saets pressed the child to his bosom
and kissed him tendcrly; then turning
to his parents, he said:
Your little Peerkcn here shall be my
care. BY recognizing me he has mads
his fortune. His support and education
shall be my care
The parents were overcome with as
constituent and joy. The man finally
stammered;
"Ah, you are too good. We thought
it was you, but we were not quite sure.
Rosa did not tell us you were rich
mynheer."
"And you knew me, toop" cried
Slaets. IL am, then, among friends;
at last find some one who welcomes me
here, where, till now, have been
met by nothing but death and forgetful-
ness"
Every Saturday evening"" said the
woman.
Rosa burns taper for the return.
or for the soul Of Jan Slaets"
Slaets raised his eyes to heaven and