Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-04-29
A NEW MAN.
Little Violet and Her Flowers
Transform Jabed Jones.


If there ever was a man who would
have afforded a staunch proof in favor
of natural depravity it was Jabed Jones.
From his birth he had been under a
times of another, but always sufficiently
marked to lead to his avoidance by the
good and order-loving. He had grown
up on the town until he became old
enough to earn his own living; then he
had been apprenticed to one master
after another, being turned away from
all without exception, for some crime
or irremediable fault. He had never
known his father, and it would have
been better for him if he had been alike
ignorant of his mother; but she lived
long enough to instill in to his mind al
most every vicious principle, to the ex-
clusion of any good, then died. Not
an interesting hero for Il story, yet,
after all, one around whom clustered
unexpectedly some singular circum-
stances.
Walking swiftly through the woods
that border the outskirts of the town of
Drummond, Jabed Jones came sudden
~ one day upon little girl seated by
the side of bank covered with blue
yiolets. The child was covered aSswell
as the bank, for her lap was full of flow
ers; so were both of her hands, and all
around her gypsy hat a half-made
wreath was hanging Queer little
punches, too, were dropped carelessly
in among her light curls. Altogether
she made the prettiest picture Jabed
ever saw, and he began to walk slowly
as he drew near her, that he might see
her the better
Jabed was escaping from justice, and
had the shadow of great crime over
him, in spite of which he was by no
means an unpleasant-looking man. He
had light complexion, full blue eyes.
waving auburn hair, and one of the
sweetest smiles God ever gave human
face. As he came opposite the child,
he stopped, and smiled down upon her;
and she not only returned the smile, but
gathered both tiny hands full of flowers,
and held them toward him, with:
You may ave 'um, all your ownty
townty."
Thank you!" said Jabed, STOPPING
down to take them carefully. Pretty
flowers. amt they?"
"Vi'lets," said the child. 'for man.
ma. She's sick, don't YOU know? I've
got lots and lots. See!" trying to
spread out her treasures before him.
mice, pretty tlowers!' repeated ia
bed. in a voice SO softened he hardly
knew it for his own.
.'Good-by!" said the child, motioninr
Nim away. "You can't have any
more. They're my mammals cause
khe's sick"
Jabed walked slowly away. with the
flowers held daintily in his Sustained
hand. Never had one been given him
before. He could not drop them. he
had no wish to retain them. They
came from a world of which he knew
and cared nothing. but for some unac-
countable reason they seemed to have
hold upon him. He kept looking down
at them. then back at the child, as if
she could give the explanation. Still
going slowly away, as the distance be-
tween them increased. the spell was
breaking, when suddenly he heard
sharp cry. as of child in distress. He
looked at the flowers he held. stopped.
took step forward and then turned
abruptly and retraced his way to the
spot where he had left the flower-child.
She was not there. but the same sharp
cry repeated led him into the woods at
the right, and there. upon rock, sat
the little girl. crying bitterly.
What is it. little violet?" he asked,
gently Have you lost your way?"
Il wants my mammal said the child.
running toward him and taking tight
hold of his hand.
He hesitated. The town lay quite a
distance behind him. and to return to
it was to risk lifelong imprisonment.
perhaps worse. Yet the child kept tug
ging at his hand, repeating as she drew
him forward:
Il wants my mamma! l wants my
mamma! Biddy don't come to lead
me. Please!'
up, then!' said Jabed. lifting the
child in his arms. Then, with sudden
tenderness. kiss me, little violet, and
1 will carry you safe home, no matter
what happens to Jabed Jones'"
The child put her arms around his
neck and kissed him. the only pure kiss
this man had ever known. Then he
walked swiftly back, she chatting to
him in her pretty way, and he answer
ing with hushed voice. Suddenly the