Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-10-23
AN EPITOME OF MAN.
Childhood as Seen In One Speci-
men Of the Genus Homo.
The Joys and Sorrows, rs Well as the
= Problems, OF LILO Begin at No Great
Distance from tho
Cradle.

There are nine Of US in all-from "Brother
WHIP down to Chessie-and we constitute
the wealth and blessings, hope, of one of
Gods most devoted ministers. There is
not a shadow of doubt in our hearts that
Chessie is blessing, and the wealth Of the
Indies could not buy him.
We came one after another pretty regu-
larry, forming stair steps, as we used to
say. For long, long time Irving was the
last Stephen Chessie came, took the
scepter, and has reigned right royalty ever
since.
Three Of us have married and left the
home nest-two others are out in the world
to seek their fortunes-but every year we
troop back to see the home folks and each
other. Every year we are amazed and de-
lighted afresh at Chessies growth In
beauty, intelligence and stature. Last
summer when we were all at home he was
nearing his sixth birthdays sturdy little
man with brown eyes, golden-brown hair
and the queerest little walk you ever saw
Really, am afraid Chessie is just little
bow-leRged, though the slightest hint to
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 a
smile.
was so situated that ! could stay at
home longer than the others, and Chess
and became the greatest chums during
my visit. 1 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. or course some OF the special
favorites were told over and over again, so
am not to be credited with the inventive
Oanina Indicated nv tho n
was exceedingly fond of the ''Uncle Re
mus" stories, and could initiate the darkey
dialect to perfection. could ask no better
entertainment than to 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 at least. Lying fiat on his back with
right foot on the left knee, and hands
crossed under his head, his isis, Iwonder,"
was enough to draw my attention from any
book, however interesting.
One time he exclaimed: "Well, / don't
understand about the resurrectionf'
"What is it that you do not understand,
Chester" asked.
"When die I'll turn to dust, won't II"
eyes" "Now, on the Judgment day, how
Is that dust going to turn into me againl
And as quick as you can wink your eye,
too. Tell me that, won't youl"
Any sketch of Chessie would be incom-
plete without mention Of Tom-the big
gray and yellow cat, q long-suffering ami
al fauaad al inf OF
then petted till he was quite bewildered at
the turn affairs had taken. I've seen Ches-
sic busy tor an hour at time making
clothes for Tom, sewing on enormous
buttons and often making q collar or waist
band so tight that we had to go to the poor
animals rescue or he would have persisted
on the spot.
At one time after heavy continuous rains
quito q large stream 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
une, wadIng and splashing in the water to
their hearts content.
CHANGING to step out in the back porch
during the season Of good fortune, q most
wretched, forlorn-looking object attracted
my attention and pity. There sat Tom
drenched and muddy, shiverinR with cold,
and dong his utmost to restore his coat of
fur to its usual condition. "Why, who
could have been so cruelp / exclaimed
just then heard a chuckle behind me and
turning, l spied Chessie viewing his work,
his gesture and attitude expressive Of the
most intense amusement.
"Chess, did you do this?" / questioned as
severely as l could. "Oh," he answered
Lewis end just baptized him in the Sabine
river" 0hey had dignified the stream in
the grove with this name) land he doesn't
like it, that's all"
1t was impossible not to laugh, so the
scolding that followed lost its effect.
The first time l attended church after 1
went down to this Texas home discovered
the most delightful little secret, which, 1
am ashamed to say, took my thoughts al
most entirely from the sermon. Chessie
sat next TO me in the family pew. and /
could not help glancing at his face now and
then to watch the effect of the service on
him, for had never seen HIM at church be-
fire He seemed greatly pleased with the
music and sat as still as a little mouse, but
when the sermon began he shifted his
position several times and glanced at q
neighboring pew in which sat a tiny, dark
eyed creature, seemingly intent on catch
ing every word my father uttered. How
ever, soon saw whore her thought were,
for 1 intercepted the sweetest, brightest
smile which passed between these dear
little sweethearts. After this mute express
sion of attachment they both seemed quite
content, and behaved with great propriety
until the benediction was pronounced.
On our return from church 1 was in
formed that these tiny folks, Chessie and
Emma, professed tho most ardent affection
for each other, and that the six-year-old
lover was ready to fight fellows much big
ger than he If they dared to insinuate tina
his lady love was not the prettiest girl II
town.
Courage itself in defending her before
others, yet 1t was the rarest thing that ht
could summon enough to say more thar
Good morning." or "Good evening,
when he met her. But the little follow wa:
wiser than he knew; too shy to tell hei
what was in his heart, he resorted to {
language far more beautiful than ours
The choicest, most beautiful flowers hC
could find were carefully gathered and SEM
to her, with no word accompanying them
Lewis, his bosom friend, was always will
ing to be the bearer of these tokens, and
on his return, faithfully told the eagerly
waiting Chessie what she said and how she
looked.
II was not long before he confided in me
and soon understood that even for thi.
darling manikin the course OF true love die
not run smooth.
Lewis liked Emma, he told me with
sigh, and he had seen her smile at him
Poor baby heartl Must 1t always be so
Can you not be exempt from such pain, i
only for these few short years OF child
hoodl l tried 10 comfort him, but h
walked on with his hands thrust deep u