Telegram-herald., 1889-10-16
AN EPIT0ME OF MAN.
Childhood as Seen IN One Speci-
men OF the Genus Homo.
The Joys >nd sorrows. as Wen ss the
Problems, or Life Begin ct No Great
Distance from the
Cradle.

/ There are nine Of Us IN all-from "Brother
/ VIII" down 10 Chessie-&nd We constitute
the wealth and blessings, hope. of one OF
! Gods most devoted ministers There is
! not a shadow OF doubt Ia our hearts that
/ Cnessie is a blessing, and the wealth Of the
/ Indies could not buy him.
We came one af,er another pretty regu-
| larry, forming stair steps, as we used 70
/ say. For long, long time Irving was the
/ last Stephen Chessie came, took the
sceDter, and has reigned right royalty ever
since.
Three of us have married and left the
! home ncst-two others are out in the world
/ 70 seek their fortunes-but every year we
/ troop back 20 see the home folks and each
other Every year we are amazed and de
lighted afresh az Chessie's growth in
beauty, intelligence and stature. Last
summer when we were all &C home he was
nearing his sixth birthday-a sturdy little
man with brown eyes, golden-brown hair
and the queerest little walk you ever saw.
Really. am afraid Chessie is Just a little
bowlegged, though the slightest hint 10
that effect is received with Indignation by
his loyal subjects. / sometimes call the
slight popularity in his walk johnson
ian roll, at which papa barely suppresses
smile
was so situated that l could stay at
home longer than the others, and Chess
| and became the greatest chums during
| my visit. think [ won his heart by the
wonderful tales told him. The night be-
fore left he took his slate and pencil and
! calculated that sister had told him $50
tales in all. OF course some of the special
| favorites were told over and over again, so
am not TO be credited with the inventive
genius indicated by the above number. He
was exceedingly fond Of the Uncle Re
mus" stories, and could initiate the darkey
dialect TO perfection. l could ask no better
entertainment than 10 hear him give "Brer
Rabbit and de Tar Baby"
That person is to be envied whose daily
life brings him in contact with one of these
sweet child natures. The beautiful fancies.
queer conceits and varying moods of this
manikin puzzled and delighted me by turns.
His speculative mood was irresistible.
Questions which older heads have disputed
over for ages past engaged his attention,
and his conclusions had the virtue of origi-
nality al least. Lying fat on hs back with
right foot on the left knee, and hands
crossed under his head, his isis, Iwonder,"
was enough 70 draw M attention from any
! book, however interesting.
One time he exclaimed: "Well, don't
understand about the resurrectionl"
What is it that you do not understand,
Chester l asked.
when / die III turn TO dust, won't q"
ayes" "Now, on the judgment day, how
Is that dust going to turn into me again.
And as quick as you can wink your eye,
too. Tell me that, won't you"
Any sketch Of Chessie would be incom-
plete without mention of Top-the big
! gray and yellow cat. long-suffering ami
nal. teased almost into madness at times,
then petted till he was quite bewildered at
the turn affairs had taken. Eve seen Ches-
sic busy tor an hour at time making
clothes for Tom, sewing on enormous
buttons and often making a collar or waist
band so tight tnat we had TO go TO the poor
animals rescue or he would have perished
on the spot.
At one time after heavy continuous rains
quite large streaT, Of water flowed
through the grove at the rear Of the
/ church and Chess and his PLAYMATE.
Lewis, made the most Of such good fort
tine, wadIng and splashing IN the water 10
their hearts content
CHANGING 10 step ont IN the back porch
during the season OF good fortune, most
wretched, forlOrn-ooking obi iect attracted
nv attention and pity. There sat Tom
drenched and muddy, shiveriug with cold,
aud dong his utmost 70 restore has coat of
fur 10 its usual condition. "Why, who
could have been 30 crueif' / exclaimed.
just then heard q ohucEie behind Lle and
turning, spied Chessie viewing his work,
his gesture aud attitude expressive Of the
most intense amusement.
"Chcss. did you do this?n questioned IS
fHH q
"l,ovvis and just baptized hin r. the Sabine
river" fthcy bad digaifed tie stream in
the grove with this uane) "and he doesn't
like r.. that's ALL
II was impossible not 70 largh, so the
scolding that followed lost its effect.
The first time I attended church after I
went down % this Texas home ! discovered
the most delightful Little secret, which.
an ashamed - say. took my thoughts d.
most entirely from The sermon. Chessie
satnoxt N me ga the family pcw. and I
could not help g.auciug a. u.s face now and
then q watch the effact of the service on
him. for had never seen him az church be-
re lie seemed greatly pleased w,h thu
music and SAT az sflIl as little mouse, olt
when she sermon began be shifted bis
position several tires aud glanced at a
ueighaar.ug pew in wh.cn sat tiny. dark
eyed creature seem g.Y intent ca catch
ing every word nv father uttered How
ever. 1 ssen saw waere bcr Thought were,
f,~ I intercepted tAe sweetest, br ghtess
smuo which passed between these dear
lttle s-yeethoaris After ftls mute expires
sion of attachment they both seemed qa.ts
content aad behaved with great propr.ety
untI the beuadletian was pronounced.
on our ret4rn from church I was in-
f-....4 tfaf fhstse f.rV folks fMes..e fr Z