Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-07-31
OLD GRUMPs.
Hrs S. c, Ha-lsu IN Detroit Free Press.
Nature always atOnes for any incon-
gritty I'm her make nm

U
grass, cluster Of fragrant flowers, an
artistic bit of pebble coloring. or per
I haps the trill of bird sounds sweeter
there; at least the sun shines just as
brightly as elsewhere. and glintS the
dull waters with the same sparkle and
radiance rs when il fingers on the bosom
of the placid lake.
One of natures incongruitieS, appar-
emily, was "old GrumpS." The Oldest
inhabitants in Ferndale could not re-
member when he came among them.
neither could it be remembered that he
was ever young. and If he ever had
any other name that. too, seemed to be
wOolly forgotten. "Old GrumpS" ap-
pearcd To have reached a certain age,
and then, for him. time stopped. Quiet.
reticent and unobStTuSiye, how he lived
was a mystery to himself more than to
others, who marveled not little as TO
how he managed to exist. Old, bent
and misShapen, with forbidding coun-
tenance and gruff, unpleasant man
ner, he was not pleasant companion.
IL was strange how little children
loved him. Every one called him "old
GrumpA" even these tiny ones, whose
sweet voices Softened it, and the wee
birds and squirrels fluttered and sour
ried about his weather beaten old hut
as though quite at home there.
The hut was rough, homcly little af-
fair, consisting of one room. with Il
large open fireplace. 1t was built of
logs and plaStered with mud. There
was one tiny window and ramshackle
door hung with leather hinges.
The room contained several boxes.
One he used for table, the two smaller
ones for seats and the long one for a
couch or bed.
Everything was ScrupulouSly neat,
and kept in perfect order, and the tiny
room in summer and winter was as
fragrant with the perfume of blossoms
rs a tropical garden. This was the way
he lived.
lie never accepted favorS, but was
prone to profler them, and Fcrndale
people did not patronize him very lib
orally, so he gave away more flowers
than he sold.
HE is so ungraciouS," they said, yet
accepted his free will offerings with Il
not very good grace, as he presented
them with 4 stern, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
them sort Of an air that made them
feel very small indeed.
just at the foot of great hill in the
edge of a SOmbcr wood stood the little
| hut, surrounded with huge trees, whose
leafy branches toyed and careSSed the
moSS-gr0wn roof as though they loved
| il.
In summer the hut was a sea of bloom
externally; its rough sides were covered
with trailing, clinging vines and rare
fragrant blossoms beautiful picture
its masterpiece, "old GrumpS" him
self, standing in the open door, with
the sunlight pickering through the in
terlacing of leaves and boughS, and fall
ing aslant of his uncovered head. max
ing a halo of his Silyery hair.
His would have been deSolatc, lone
ly life were it not for the birds and the
flowers and warm sunlight; he compar-
atively cared little for the companion
ship of human kind. if we may except
the children, occasionally.
His face was like his life, sealed
book. If he ever had "kith or kim no
one knew it. His eyes were always
averted: none ever could tell what they
were like. those tcll-tac win
dowS Of the soul. Who might
say Joy or sorrow lay in their
depths?
1t was 4 stormy day in midwinter;
snow lay thick on highway and hedges.
wanted some pure white buds to lay
upon the pulseeSS bosom of Il dead
young friend; marvelng little at the
Inon-appcarance of ''Old GumpS,' who
usually made us Il weekly call las well
rs to other residents, taking orders for
/ his flowers. decided To seek him in his
/ little home.
\ toilsomc walk. for odd Gumps''
/ lived nearly two miles from the village
proper.
No smoke curlcd up from the quaint
old chimney, and an air OF dcSolation
pervaded the surroundings of the hut,
where the drifted snow piled against
the low door proved that no foOtStep of
recent date had treSpaSScd therein.
Wading through the white drifts.
raped gently. No answer, no sound of
life within.
Again. more loudly. Nought but the
signing OF the wind through the leailesS
branches Of the great trees greeted my
listening ear. UnheSitatingly | liHed
the frail latch: the door crcaked noiS-
lily.
Beautiful flowers hung Shriycied,
wiltcd, drooping-dead.
A pile Of lifclcSS gray ashes in the
open fireplace.
Inyoluntarily lifted my eyes from
the floor, and they rested upon two
fathomleSS blue eyes gazing into mine
with the innocent sweetness of a little
child-the beautiful eyes OF "old
GrumpS"
There was no dimneSS, no blur-age
had certainly passed them by-and, APP
parently resting calmly, he lay upon his
hard box bed. The horny, toll worn
hands lay helpleSSly, touchingly, upon
the thin coyerlet
There was no movement. and as |
stepped nearer, with that subtle awe
creeping over me, | caught a glimpse OF
the infinite through the kindling cX-
preston of those dying eyes. Nought
but a life free from stain, life that had
suffered and grown strong. could those
windows of the soul wear such light,
showing nature loving, true and kind,
unapprcciated, misunderstood.
Grand j. the nobility of rugged en-
durance.
Only a neeting glance. Almost in
stantly the light faded softly, the weary
lids drooped-he had drifted out with
the tide.
Reyercntly, with bowed head and
Iclasped hands. for the place where !
stood was holy ground and then
gently drew the faded covering over the
face that had transformed into wondrouS
beauty and dignity-the touch OF mas
ter hand. who sealed with his sanction
the dumb smiling lips.
ClaSped tightly in the dead old hand
a withered flower (where frost deeper
than winters cold had blightedl and the
Laughing picture of fair, girliSh face.
"Ethel-my brothers wife, these
were the significant words underlined
revealing only too well living Sacrl-
Zee ended at last-a love lost on EARTH
to find perhaps in heaven.
MACEDONIAN HORRORS.