Morning journal and courier., 1885-04-06
Old Sfmon,s yfsito~

Matte Dyer Britts in Careful E,ltldersl
| It was cold, clustering, stormy Novem
Der night-a night on which neither mau MOI
| beast would choose to be abroad if it coulo
| be helped.
| Old Simon Lowe had finished his day.
work, shut up his little shop and gone into
the back room to get his supper.
| It was nice and warm in the back loom
| The fire was blazing cheerily in the CRATE anc
| the kettle singing merrily upon the hob.
| Old Simon smiled at the warmth and com
| fort and rubbed his hands the blaze
| few moments, while he listened to the hoarst
| growl of the wind outside.
Then he brought his teapot to the fire, put
in the tea and the boiling water, and set the
teapot down on the hob to steep his tea.
He brought out his one lonely cup and
saucer, placed the loaf of bread and a plate
of cold meat upon the table, and set a GER
tain black bottle there beside him.
"A drop and a bite will do one good this
cold night" he remarked as he drew up his
chair. Probably he addressed himself, as
there was no one else there for him to speak
to-not even cat
He turned to the fire, and was just about
to fill up his teapot, when he thought he
heard rap on his door. He listened. Sure
night! Yes there was. He heard the sound
clrild's hand.
He opened the door, and in out of the
darkness and the rain stepped wet and shiv-
ering little figure, and fastened to the fire,
spreading out her tiny hands before the com
forting blaze, while Simon could only look
on in surprise.
"How'dy!" she said. ''I saw your light
aid [ thought I'd come in. Oh, how nice
and warm it is here!' and she looked up at
him with a bird-like glance.
''Why bless my soulI' exclaimed old ST.
mon, looking down at her with perplexed
air. ''Where did you come froma"
''Fron out there!" said the queer little
visitor, motioning her head toward the door.
you're going to have supper, amt you'
Well, I'm awful hungry. Uaint had bite
to-day. But 1 want to get warm first."
And she curled down on old Simon's coat,
which he had dropped ON the floor before the
CRATE, while lie stared at her in amusement
and wonder.
She was a tiny mite, not more than nino
years old. Her feet were bare and her dress
was poo1 and old, as was the faded hood she
had thrown OF her tangled eurls.
"Who are you, anyhow asked old Si-
mon. "Whose girl are you, and where did
You come frornY
''I amt robody's girl nowl7 piped the
mite ''f eJule from cross the river, and /
did live with old Sal Hopkins, but she's dead
now"
Haven't you 1nothor7" asked old Simon
The girl shook her head. "No, hain't got
NO NANNY. She's dead. Old Sails dead
too. She got drunk an had ft an died.
An her gal she gets drunk too. l wasn't
goi1i' to stay there and he bent no more, SO
run off, an I'm going to find somebody nice
to live with But 1t won't be nobody that
drinis, l tell youi say, You got my little
girli''
mo, I've got nobody answered old 81
mon.
"f.al hain't you' Who keeps housep
~ do" answered old Simon.
"You do3 In! n mans housekeepin' amt
nothin'i" And the mite made gesture of
contempt. "Guess I'll stay and live with
you'll" She suddenly added, lyon don't
drink, do you?"
"N-no, )" said Simon, with an nneasy look
at the black bottle on the table, and an un-
easy thought of certain kegs of cider and ale
in the cellar, where q few "choce spirits"
could get glass of an evening
Thought you didn't" piped the elf on the
floor. ''You look too nice and good! Well,
I'm ready for supper now" she coolly added.
eyes, yesl" said old Simon, who was for
getting his hospitality in his surprise and
amusement at his odd guest.
He took up the kettle and filled the teapot,
hardly turning his gaze from his strange Wis
itor. But when Simon turned to the table
he managed to get the black bottle off and
INTO the cupDoaru, Willis He uunteu aho'noi
cup and saucer.
"She thinks Pm nice and goodP' he
thought, ''and she says she's come to stay.
Well! wslli'.
The child ate SO heartily to prove her
famished condition. After supper she neat
lv helped old Simon wash and wipe the few
dishes. Then, saying she was tired, she
asked for her bed. Old Simon showed her a
little cot wher- she could sleep, at least that
night.
And after she was snugly tucked in he sat
long by the fire thinking deeply.
TIN all alone and lonely, too" he said to
himself. "Woulan't it be good thing to
give up the drink and keep the midget here?''
Why her simple faith should have touched
him, when older advice and teaching had
failed, he could not tell. But over his dying
fire old Simon resolved to keep the little waif
strangely sent him. and lead new life.
When she opened her blue eyes next morn
ing all the black bottles had disappeared
And before long ''the boys" found out there
were no more drinks for them in old Simon's
cellar
But little Della stayed. and in her older
days she was the comfort and support of the
friend who had taken her in, and whose life
she had rescued, unconsciously, from the
downward way.