The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-05-16


Il dunno, whispered the man, with
as anxious look toward the sleeping
child. "A Teller that met me two days
ago on the east-bound wagon-train told
me her pa and ma he'd died suddenly, an
the children he'd scattered, an he'd
never heered O. Janet at all. Her
gran marm he'd KEEP her from baby, an
the old lady dyin', Janet's uncle Jest
shipped her OF to Denver where her
folks was Twin. Don't seem nobody to
take her"
why didn't you send her back with
these folks2" asked Miss Reed.
"'Cause they was only harf way, an
was short for grub; they wouldn't take
her. j."
Yet the Maverick was a great pet on
the journey. Every one liked her, and
welcomed her bright presence to their
wagons. Around the camp fires even
the men gathered to hear her sing the
quaint old hymns her grandmother had
taught her. She held tired babies till
her little arms were numb, she told
stories to weary children, and was a
uinistering angel at every wagon-at the
last one in the train most Of all.
This wagon had joined the train in
Missouri, and belonged to an unfortunate
family that Chase called Pixies" The
father, sullen, sickly man, drove the
four lean oxen; the mother, haf-dead
from malaria, seldom lifted her head from
her bed and the nine children, practically
orphans, took care of themselves, and of
a little, motherless girl, sent to her father
in Denver.
This baby, Rose, was merry little
creature of three, beautiful and winning,
and much liked But the days were toll
some ones, and as the Browns had charge
Of her, no one interfered, though many of
the party wondered who could have
trusted her with them.
The two younger Browns, homely,
faded little souls, were faithful guar
dians over her. The other children were
unruly and rude, but these two seemed
like some good old folks who had lived
out well-rounded lives and been trans
lated back TO earth to begin over again.
To these children Janet's presence was
ths one happiness of their 6Sy, nor
eOlld she could tell stories enough to /
satisfy them. Once Janet, coming IN
Observed, heard the youngest Pike tell |
ing baby Rose, who was cross, one of /
is- own stories.
you sorrerful little things" cried .
Janet, Cant you make 'em up your
ielves of your ownl"
For week, at Eight, the sentry at the /
tockade saw far-oif, black, moving /
pecks on the horizon, and weary |
md anxious were tine hours of dark
less, early the start, eager the h6Pr~'
o get on without the attack. Each man
would mutter in the gray dawn, as bag
sard and white, he harnessed his team,
Thank God, another night of peace, no
indians yet'
Janet said Chase one morning,
when she came to watch him harness his
cam. "ef them Injuns comes an gifts /
he better o us you GIT on that ere leetle 7
gray pony, Nance, thar, an take Rose
IN set out fur them low hills cross I
.har"
Nance likes me, " smiled Janet, 81
feed her my bread"
''All of US like ye, ye Maverick, yer so /
clipper aIlus, Chase said, admiringly. !
The Injuns shan't git ye eff we kin help |
It. -
That day young wife was sick, and |
all the long hours Janet tended the wall
ing baby its mother was too ill to care
for. She looked back at the liue of
wagons and thought of baby Rose, that |
she loved best Of all.
"Those good little Pixies will see to
her, she thought, hopefully. But the /
two little Pixies were weary that day
they lay in q strange stupoE, those pa