Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-02
MONK

name heads this sketch .as when he walked
into the Office where held the position a
bookkeepsr, and asked the general manager
for lob.
In appearance he YVES almost hideous, his
face being wider than It was broad sur
mounted by patch VI wooily hair that came
TO the very eige Of his eyebrows; 20 close, In
fact, that the point Of beginning could not
b., determined Of either
\ cavernous mouth, containing rows OF
fangs that we're continually IN sight, opened
beneath nose Of startling tatness
A short chunky body, with long arms and
hands that we're seldom still, completes the
best description can give OF Monk.
The only thing that secured him place
was the shortnsss Of hands, for the general
manager tur,led To ne when the negro walked
out, and said
Did you ever ,ee such ali evil face on a
human beingf
Ny reply In the affirmative
Monk however, much 10 my surprise,
proved 10 be one Of the best men We had, and
everything went on usual, until about two
months after his appearance.
Then we began 10 be bothered with petty
theyng from the coinmlssary, which battied
the sharp eyed clerk who held full sway IN
that department.
| should have mentioned before that the
scene OF this action at u large sawmll,
where, as Is the case with all large manufac-
turers, We sold goods to our employees
The robberies, at first small and Of little
consequence, soon began to grow oftener and
on larger scale.
Articles were marked and all such plans
worked, but to purpose, for the thief
would leave the marked goods and take
IL ~ IL trafs t.alI
miged that the general manager secured the
help Of n detective and put him at work on
the case.
After a couple OF weeks the detective came
in the office and went into the private room
OF the general manager.
After "A conference of a few moments they
came out smiling.
We've got him" chuckled my employer,
"and who do you think it isf'
Monk replied, my first thought being
of the meanest looking negro on the place.
Correct" said the general manager, land
what do you suppose he did with the stuff he
tookf
That's more than | can tell"
''Wel the detective is TO show US tonight
and he says we will not hurt Monk for it, If
we are the people he takes us to be."
That night the general manager, detective
and myself were secreted near the c0ininlS-
sary, waiting for Monk to show himself.
About 10 o'clock we saw his ugly form
come sliding through one Of the windows, in
comi.auy with two sacks of -four and numer-
Gus other bundles.
He stood still for a short time after getting
to the ground, and looked carefully around;
then, Us If satisfied that he unseen, no
shoudered his load and marched silently off,
with us in the rear. He went about two
miles through the woods, and finally came to
u halt before II small cabin.
Softly he crept to the door and listened, as
if to be sure no one was up.
Then he took of the sacks Of -four and
laid it nOiselessly on the front steps, and piled
some of the other packages on it.
This done, he went on with the rest of his
load
His actions were a perfect mystery to me,
and the detective said
II want You to stay here until day, to
watch the person who takes that stuff away,
while this gentleman and will follow him to
the other places"
agreed, and began lonely watch
The hours before day seemed ages, but when
the first rays of the sun gilded the waving
trees, | was alert aud ut my post.
just few moments after the sun arose, the
gave cry of delight rs her eyes fell Oh the
provisions, and called to some ono in the
house
"Od sanity has been here again"
In answer to her cry boy joined her and
the two lifted tho flour and packages and
moved them into the house
When thcy disappeared, crept closer to
the cabin and lecred through hole between
the logs, and this is what | saw;
In one corner OF the little l0x12 room. on
an Old nnl torn mattress, lay the form of n
woman, covered with n tattcred shawl and
apparently asleep.
The room contained no furniture, with the
exception of rickety table and two home
manufactured chairs,
There was no other occupant to the place.
save this woman and the two children, the
eldest of whom was not over years.
When reached my post Of observation
the boy and girl were standing beside the
still form Of the woman, trying to arouse her
NANNY" the girl said, get up and see
what we've got this morning, old SAINT has
brought us some real -four, and coffee and
sugar, and. Oh, many nice thing.
But the figure did not move.
Don't bother her. spoke the boy, she's
tired out, don't you know how she cried and
set up last night
Yes" smiled the sister, II will get break
fast, and then wake her; won't she he happy,
thought
And those two began preparing a meal
that to them was an undoubted feast
still remained at the hole to what the
end would be- for felt that something would
happen that would require the help of an older
person.
1t was not long before the girl had a pot Of
hot coffee ready, together with few pieces
of crisp bacon and hoe cake.
She approached the pallet again and called
her mother, but still 10 answer.
Brother, she said in a low whisper 81
blieve she is worse"
could see the boys face pale at this and
he went to the mattress and knelt beside it.
As he drew back the cover from the face,
he gave cry Of sorrow.
What is itf asked the sister, sinking at
his side
ner, and sobt,ed
''Oh. sister NANNY is dead and gone from
us"
The g.rl was speeches. with terror hut
soon recovered her voice and replied in a
tone. chokci with sadness:
NO she amt. Buddy; she's jest cold ike;
she got that way heap times
The boy shook his head and continued to
sob
thought il about time for me TO show ny
self, and, pushing the door open. walked in
They little startlsi at my entrance,
but the boy quickly asked, while a look Of
hope mounted his cheeks:
Mister I'm so glad you come nanny il
worse, and think she's dead but sis says
she's jest cold
did not reply, but stepped to the pallet
and examined the silent form
1t took me but moment 10 see that the
spirit had He'd, and turning 10 the boy asked
Have you any one to go tor
No sir, there was nobody but pa and
NANNY and the and sister when we came
here"
Where is your fatherr
He got killed with log last year
And you've been living here ever SINGER
Yes sir. but it wasn't cause we wanted
TO, but cause we didn't have money 'nough
to get off with
What will YOU do nowf'
Then nanny is deaiF' cried the boy, a.
he understood the meaning Of my question
Yes, my poor children. she is in heaven"
With such sobs hope never to hear
again, they fell on the body and began ca
ressIng it and kissing tine cold face, at the
same time begging her to speak to them just
once more
let the first burst of grief expend itself /
and then taking the boy in my arms, said;
My boy, can you go for helpr'
''i Is sir " he ryay,iie-f his hr eyes stream