Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-08-06

she was very low, perhaps a-dyin'
Yer may know who the girl was
an it's likely yer know, too, as |
wasn't long a.gettin' to her. But ]
wasn't any too soon. She was lynn
on cot, an when she saw me, 1t
was Just all she could do to stretch
her arms ont to me, so she could
put 'em around me an press her
poor, pale face against NINE.
"Father,' she whispered, Il went
back on yer-and yer who'd been
so good an kind to me; an, faith
er, | want yer to say before ! die
as you've forgiven me-
81 couldn't say nothin', mister, |
Just drew her closer, but | guess as
when she felt my tears a-rOllin'
down on her face she knOw'd she'd
got what she wanted. | held her
till they told me she couldn't speak
no more, an then laid her back.
1t was only few minutes after
that she lived, but afore she died
she opened her eyes once more an
moved her lips. | bent down to
her an she could Just whisper:
wFather, Pm sure yer haven't
gone back on me. I'm sure yer
forgive me. But-father-l want
you to forgive him, too. For-fath-
er-Pve forgiven"
The old man buried his face in
his hands and sobbed, while the
dog moved up close to his master
and howled piteously. The piano
was still iangling in the other room
and the singing was at its loudest.
But he didn't seem to hear it,
After awhile, though, they got
through. But before he went out
he passed his hand gently over the
dogs back and said, turning to me :
81 forgive her, mister, an I've tried
to forgive him, but it's more than a
poor old man like me can do. I'll
try again, mister; I'll try hard for
the little girls sake. | know as
his sins a-goin' to drive him back
here some time-drive him back
that he may go on his knees to me
an tell me how he wronged her an
me-"
| had always been fond Of Uncle
Jake, bnt after what he had told
me liked him better than ever
| knew that this "littlc girls death
weighed heavily on him, and after
that | got mp as many parties as |
could 10 visit the tavern to cheer
him up. One day toward autumn,
two years aiterward, he called me
aside and said: "Nlister, it's gettln
kind O lonesome for the dog an me
down here winters, an ] guess
won't stay here no longer after the
fall. I've got a house as | took
over in the village ashore yonder
near to where the little girls buried
The dog an ! wants to be neaI
Maggie, an if ycr'll come down of
an on we'll he glad to see yer, for il
amt much company we'll he hav
| in'.r
Well, Uncle Jake took the house
and | did 90 down there as often
as | could. He made things right
comfortable in the little house. On
the cold winter nights he had big
/ log fire blazing on the open hearth
and a kettle Of hot water for the
punch singing cheerily over the
flames. In front was big woody
rug, on which the dog stretched
himself, rising only occasionally tc
come over to his master and lick
his hands. The old dog had learned
the way to the "httle girls grave
very soon, and on days when it was
too stormy for the old man to 90 tC
it himself, Samson would trot of
and see that all was at rights.
The blazing logs and the singing
kettle seemed particularly CHEEKY
one January night. A fierce wind
was bowling around the house. II
had been showing all day, but as II
grew colder the snow had stopped
and now the gusts sent icy parti
cles rafting against the windows
The dog seemed sleeping peacefully
at least he hadn't stirred-wheu
Uncle Jake went to the hearth tC
lift of the kettle. The old man had
brewed a punch, and was just rails
ing the glass to his lips, when sud
denly Samson sprang toward one
of the windows with a furious bark
As I turned in the direction il
which he sprang, what saw NIGH
have been an illusion, it vanished
so quickly-a mans face, pale, hag
gard and driven, pressed agains'
the pane. y moment later the dog
was leaping against the door.
sprang toward it and threw it open
The fierce gust that swept in near
ly threw me back, but | held OF
and saw the black figure of the dol
speeding toward the gate, where III
stopped, still barking furiously a.
he tried in vain to Overleap 1t.
called him back, but he would no
come, and there he remained bark
ing and bowling for half an hou
after had closed the door. ! TOLD
Uncle Jake that | thought a maj
had been out there, but all he salt
was: 81 guess it was one of then
tramps as comes around. Samson
amt particular fond o. them. Blu