Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-16
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
A Tale or Two in Prose and a Song of the
Orchard.

A Tale or Two in Prose and a Song of the
Orchard.
A DAY or two ago doctor of this city hap.
pened to be with me on Fifth avenue, when we
met man with q head that was simply i'm
mense. Not swelled head mind you; nor a
head enlarged by some external disease, but
simply head half as big again as the average
mans. 1t was well-shaped, and, the man being
tolerably stout and tall, it did not disfgure him.
as it might have otherwise done.
As the large-headed man passed my compan-
ion the doctor said: II should like to have a
mortgage in the nature of a post-obit on that
mans head. The dissection of that head would
be of intense interest to the medical profession,
and I've no doubt that good many surgeons
would contribute roundly to buy that head
that is, to pay the man who owns it large sum
toleave it to them by will"
80
THERE is a man who is affiicted-yes, afiict-
ed-with head of unusually large size, and who
is to be seen every day on the streets of WASH
ington, D. c. Everybody in Washington knows
him by sight He is a man of small and slender
build. His hats must be made for him, for he
surely takes No. IA or l5. if such numbers
exist.
So top heavy is this poor little man that he
has to take extraordinary pains to balance him
self when he walks. His spine is not strong
enough to keep his head horizontal. But he
does not regret this so much as you might
think. His big head is his livelihood. Several
years ago he sold his head, delivery after death,
to a medical society in Washington. So highly
did these men of science value his head that the
sum they paid, by careful investment. was large
enough to produce an income upon which the
poor wretch ekes cut modest living. He liter
ally sold his head to live.
Y,of an0uafntad with thp urpciea rpaS0ns
for the doctors purchase of this head. Proba-
bly, they hope to find some abnormal illustra-
tions of anatomy, and it will be interesting to
measure the amount of brain in so immense a
caput.
In warm corner where a house and hill
side combined to shelter the orchard, saw
yesterday the first apple blossom of the year
that is in my knowledge.
%x@
APPLE BLOSSOMS.
You see set beside her,
Her little hand in mine,
And her glances clingin' to me,
Like soft tendrils of vine.
And she could see afore her,
If she peeked the window through,
The orchard with its sod o. green,
Where the apple blossoms blew;
And the robins teeterin on the rail,
A merry courtin' crew.
There when the days were drowzy,
And hot in summer time,
She'd take her doll or fairy tale
And in the branches climb.
She looked at me, and stretched her hands
Toward the orchard green;
knew she longed that she might be,
AS free as she had been,
To run and romp upon the turf
The apple trees between.
T'weren,t no use to cry, nor say
MY darling mustn't die
But still my eyes would fill with tears,
couldn't keep 'em dry.
Yet she was cheerful like, and smiled
When to the winder sill
A robin came, and sat and sung,
just piped his heart out till
A sort'er Sunday peace and calm
Seemed all the room to fill.
And zen she set her hands ter work
A gorgis wreath to twine,
Of apple blossoms pearly white.
With golden centers fine.
/ vowed 1t was too good fur me
A rough old farmer chap,
But she would have me wear it.
s'For' said she. 'it may be, Pap,
Your little girl IL never wake,
When next she takes a nap.''
WE'LL can't help it. mister,
It's nigh on year ago,
But when see them blossoms,
1t makes me feel as though
There were no JOY IN natur' left
For such man as me
The robins song amt glad no more,
Nor flower, nor buddin' tree.
Things--since my Lucy fell asleep q.
Amt what they used ter be!
HEPBURN JOHNS.