The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-12-11
SHE HAD HER WISH.
Little Bixby Was Allowed 60 Die
for TIcr Friend.

"It's got to be done. fust rs well q,
last, Car'lne"'
Car'line, u young and not uncomely
woman, despite her rags and Crime, an
swercd listlcssly: 'Wcll. Jim. l s'post
it'll hev to be as you say"
She was tting on the dccayod door.
sill of an old stone house. Dirt, squalo,
and shiftlessncss were everywhere ap
parent, and she ana Jim fitted Their en-
vironmenl perfectly. Down in corner
where fence once had been WAS wild
rose-bush, and close beside ii. with ono
OF the da niy flowers in her hand. sat g
dirty. unloycly child. Car'linc turned
her dull ack eyes towardher. andJim,
who was Il thick-set, animal-faced man,
followed her glance.
..Shc aint Il handsome one. is she,
Car'line our little daughter, she's good
fur nothin' but to eat an git into m s.
ch ef gincrally. Now, it's jist as plain
as day we've got all we can do to take
kccr on ourselves an old nanny.
We've got to GIT out of this shanty
Samms is goin to tear it down over
our heads-old rascal he is! m 'taint
convenient trav ling with baby with
out nursegal.'
He laughed at his righteousness. but
was vexed to find Car'liuc unrespon-
sive.
$50 II! take her to big boarding
house where she'll have good livin' al
the expense OF rich folks. Come here,
l say!'
The child scrambled to her feet, feat
manifest in her every motion. She
stumbled over stone. but. though hurt
p cNed herself up without VIII mper.
The man caught and held her roughl,
as he came near him. shrinking pitt
fully away from his grasp.
..See here, Carl ne. they'll tn nix wt
ar kerr ess to her. Give us n rag an
some wa er. Now you go put her duds
together
He dabbled the little soled face W Il
the rag, then wiped it with her Dirt,
dress
"Now you are clean as button-jus
fit to ,av goodbye to your mammy."
He fled her to his shoulder.
.'Haint got 10 duds. oh? Well,
didn't think she'd need Saratogy
trunk. Say goodbye to her. Carl ne. =
The something that served Car'lint
for heart felt strange thrill as sh'
looked up at the frightened face, saw thu
pleading, outstrctched hands, heard th,
wailing "Mammy! mammy!"
'Bcst set ber down, Jim; she seems
ter feel bad bout il"
"No, Car'line; here goes to th,
boardin' -house. Save your G cye-drops il
n bottle, Car line"
The woman turned shortly and wen
into the house. An old cronc, seeing
her, looked up and quavered
Whats goin' onP'
"Jim's took the younG one to tn
poor-hausc," answered Car line, Sui
lenly'
II declare, Lady, if you have not Cas-
your shoe! Whoa" and Violet Fem
springing from her phacton. ran bacl
to pick it up. She returned flushed ant
smiling. and took the pretty bay pom,
by the bride. ''It's coincidence
Lady, that there is blacksmith jus
here. might as well have it set righ
away: but | believe you are in collusiol
with the smith.
There was nothing doing in the littl
roadside forge: business was dull, ant
the smith sat on log baside collcc
ton of old wheels, reading a paper. III
was thin and undersized. quite uulil>
the brawny, traditional workman. Ill
looked sharply up ut Violet and tn
turnout, briskly rising, as if work wcr,
relaxation.
at won't take long" nc said. as Ia
took Lady from the thills; "but yol
might go over to the house and set til
tits done. Here, Pete, como work tn
bellows!'
A sandy-haircd boy started up from
covert, and Violet strolled across TN
road To the yard, where limpid sprin!
bubblcd banoa'h grand old oak.
dipper hung on its trunk. and taking
down, she drank tn rstily. sit is tn
best water ever tasted" she sa!d q
she rc-hung The dipper. Then she sa'
near her ii ragged, bare-footed girl who
leaning on spade, was watching he
in astonishmcnt.
''What forlorn. nnloyc'y creature!
she thought; then she smiled-and Vio
let's smile was rarely swcet-on her
'How do you do?" she So d, pleasantly
''How do you do?" said the child
solcmnly. "Air you a-visitn'a"
"Oh no; am having shoe put o
my horse"
The red-rimmcd. light-lashcd eye
continued to inspect her SO soberly tina
she smiled again.
II should think spading was har
work; why doesn't your father do ito
somebody"
why, he amt my father!" cried tn
child, noddng towards th, shop. "He'
Nate Kelley. | only live here. l hahn
got no oiolks!'
She looked as IL she had no folks
poor hing in her tatters and CRIME
"Poor child" Violet said Her loo
seemed to the child like caress; sh
came little nearer, as II moved To to-
the short, barren history OF her life.