The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-12-25

sick for the old scenes. The old
colored servant who ushered him
in stood waiting, "You'uns may
CO." said the farmer. Surprised,
Mrs. Cooper looked up into his
face as he told her that he had
come to see her on a matter of i'm
portance, and in a few words told
her Of her daughters nearness and
sad plight. what can l doi l am
powerless; my baby, my pretty
Sallie But her father will never
forgive her, never, and my dover
was all slaves, and they were taken
from me, l have nothing, MOTH.
ING |"
"Let me manage this yere thing
said he of the rough exterior and
kind heart, and so the plan was
laid and he went to Mr.. Cooper
telling him of the straits of the fam.
lily, and asking that he would rent
them comfortable co>.agc stand.
ing near, and promising to become
responsible for the rent if they did
not pay This Mr.. Simpson, being
well Anown as honest and quite
we'll to.do, he agreed to let them
in. Christmas is nearly here, and
if | find them deserving 7 may have
chance to do the children a good
turn, then" With smile honest
Bill Simpson visited store after
store, and the capacious saddle bags
were filed, not with. presents for
his own children, but with cloth
from Wiley M. Christian and Rhea,
Wood & Co 3 small suits of boys
clothes from Toney & Browns and
and some ready made cloaks for
little girls from Hart, Armbrust &
Co., and Hunter & Browns, and
shoes from the City Shoe store.
The astonished wife at home enter.
ed into the plan, and the busy hands
of mother and daughters, using her
own children to measure by, made
dresses for the little ones in the old
cabin above them on the mountain.
"We will not miss it wife, and I'll
get the little ones presents when |
go in again with the Grants, So
the good work went on, and the
good couple carried their burdens
up the hill. where already loan of
eatables had been sent long before
by the willing hands of the oldest
boy. who was already attracted by
the budding beauty of Matte
Grant, tie oldest child, named by
the mother for her own dear moth
er. When the Grants would have
demurred, Mrs. Simpson said, "lt
is not yet Christmas, but we wanted
to give you your Christmas prese ITS
in advance, so you might go into
town respectfully as you ought to.
Don't refuse me this comfort, / owe
you SO mighty a debt of love,
When we thought our darlings
would die Of fever, and when l,
too, gave out and came down with
it; when no one could be got to
help US for fear of it, you'uns came
to us and we did not refuse your
help" She washed the faces
helped put on the pretty clothes,
and Matte bloomed out q pretty
girl Of r3, not dowdy any longer
The mother once more seeing
something of comfort for her chill
dren frightened into something Oi
her own self, but the good farmer
and his wife held their secret fast
locked in their own bosoms.
"We'uns met that yere man go.
ing down the hill this morning
maw,' said little John; "he had 4
heavy grip and he carried it a little
way and sot it down a heap o
times. He's done gone and left
the mountain for good, guess"
wall" says the farmer, che has
prowled around enough, seed hin
crawl ON his hands and knees ur
those steep places on this yer'
mountain. / don't guess he's jus
right here" touching his forehea,
significantly.
John Grants eyes frightened
"In the old days they said Their
was lead there--aye, and silve
too" Not thinking that had they
not already known, he would hav'
betrayed the secret OF his early III
near here.
That's what's in that satche
My father took up this land fror
the State, and now I've crawle
back here to die, but the old plac
, may be worth something yet. M
father found a right smart of some
thing bright, and dug and dug bu
found no more. He spent abou