The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-04-19

words were almost
forgotten in listening to the CHEEKY, cour-
Ageous voice, albeit little cracked and
husky from age and weakness. One scarce
~ noticed that he pronounced flesh" as If
spelled flush, and that he made other mis-
takes scarcely less serious. With all his err
rors, the song as sung by him that gusty
day had in it the lifting power of a Crom-
wolllun battle hymn.
And yet apparently, Tom Towsley had
little to render him CHEEKY and hopeful
His trucll-pRtch, on which he depended for
a subsistence for himself and grand-daugh-
ter, had failed miserably the previous sum
mer. The drought had ruined his garden
the hot sun had twisted his vines into the
Remblanco of sapless strings, and the beetles
had devoured his potatoes leaf and branch.
The winter that followed was unusually
severe, and he had scarcely been able, be-
cause of rheumatism and general tll-health,
TO provide the necessary food and fuel AS
fCS clothing, the coat which now kept out
the north wind had already seen many win
ters, and persisted in becoming thread-bare
and shabby, I'm spite of interchangeable mend
ing and careful brushing.
There was only one thing that touched
him lie could endure poverty, rags and
want The iron hail of misfortune could
not scare him But the sufferings of his
grandchild struck chord of woe, some
times, even from his blissfully attuned
henrt-strings
Worst of all, It seemed very likely that
they would not have SO much as a shelter
for their heads in the summer that was com
ing. He had been unable to pay the rent
for the cottage and truck patch, and had
received notice that If the amount due was
not handed in by the first of May, the place
would be given to another And to pay it,
seemed, in his present financial distress, an
utter impOssibility.
In hts momentary despair he had begp ed
for time, but the landlord would not 70
lent
PAY er git outln was the harsh command.
~ can't give away good dollars to every
beggnr that asks me. I'd be paying rent
purity soon myself If l did,"
It was while returning from this unsuc-
cessful visit that the words and tune of the
quaint old hymn fell from his lips.
Speck's laid an egg, gran'pal Specks
laid an eggl" cried little Ethel, running to
meet him Il lef' it in the nes' SO she'd lay
anuther'n."
Tom Towsley stopped short in the midst
Of his singing and caught the child to his
breast
She hes, ehl Well, that's beginnin'l
II them two hens nd on'y git down to biz
ness lack they ought, we c'u'd put little
mite more onto the table"
lie kissed the chubby face uplifted to his,
and carried the child through the gateway
and on toward the house
His voice trembled little as he answered
her prattle; but his was n tremudous voice
Rt best and the child did not notice the unac-
eustomed quaver. Mingled with the recol-
lection OF the words OF the landlord was the
memory of the request of his dying daugh-
ter, who, six years before, had conhded
Ethel. her first-born, to his care.
Il leave Ethel TO you, father, for know
that you viii never let her suffer while you
livel"
"Inover viii, so help me!' was his Ter
vent response. as he pressed the tiny girl
baby to his heart that desolate, crushing
evening.
AN can have the eggs fer Easter,
Eran'paen questioned Ethel eagerly, as the