Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-02-16
LITTLE COLONEL.

I had watched him every day for
weeks. He always stood in the shadow
of the American express Office on Market
space, and his poor little hunchback was
so pitiful. He was the tiniest mite
imaginable, and his pallid little face was
rendered douhly delicate in appearance
by the little blue shirt he always wore.
He had light brown hair that stuck out
around the small felt cap perched back
over the crown of his head like the soft
er wisps of hay that edge a stack in
summer. His eyes were like the blue of
the Italian sea, but the expression of his
mouth was old, very old, and the business
twang in his shrill voice very distinct as
he yelled his wares to the passersby:
Collar buttons-two for a cent Note
paper needles - twenty-five cents a
packl"
Some few used to buy from him;
others more often would give him q
nickel or a dime and let him keep his
goods. To each and every purchaser he
doffed his hat, but he forgot their faces
as soon as they amalgamated with the
crowd. One could see it was an irksome
task-mechanical, unloved. He was
studying on something all the time. All
the weeks passed by he did not learn to
know me until one day l paused and
asked: "Now, look here, colonel, want
you to recognize me when l go by next
time. I've traded with you for weeks,
and you never know me. I'm getting
pretty mad about it, can tell you, my
friend"
The little chap looked up into my face
with an incredulous stare. There were
lots of unspoken comments in the small
young heart beneath that jacket of navy
blue, but all he said was, as he lifted his
cap: "I'll know you next time. Warm,
isn't it?"
Right you are, colonel, 1 said. "How
is business?"
pretty fair. Dull timesnow, though"
''Ought not to be for you," l said.
"All the ladies are doing their spring
shopping and having their sewing done.
They can't sew without needles. You
have needles. Seer
He threw me a shrewd glance from
those wonderful blue eyes of his.
II see" he said.
After this l never passed without re-
ceiving a salute from the little colonel,
and sometimes when out with friend
was enabled to introduce a new GUS
toner to him. These favors he always
appreciated, and came to be looked up
on as the advertising member of the
firm. Between us we built up big
business, and we both felt encouraged.
But one day as l sauntered down there,
fbi,,Iyi,,a af N ~, 1itt1a y,iapa af r,noJ
news had for my partner, l was some
what startled by missing the colonel from
the old stand.
Funny" l thought, Every funny, he
did not speak of his intended vacation. /
am surprised, for the colonel is generally
so businesslike." Invent on disappointed,
of course. Days passed, and still missed
him. could not find any trace of him,
and, strange to say, during all our in
timacy had neglected to inquire his
exact address.
All day long, and as much of the night
as l was awake, l was confronted by
vivid memory of his little, pallid face.
The suspense seemed unbearable.
But just at that point where it seemed
that l could not wait moment longer
was relieved by a message from him.
1t reached me in this way: was pass
ing down the familiar Market space by
the old stand, thinking fondly and sadly
Of the little colonel, when noticed a
big eyed colored boy with double row
of white teeth looking eagerly up and
down the street. For some unaccount-
able reason l felt that he knew some
thing of my partner. | stepped up to
him and said:
"Good morning. Are you looking for
some one"
"Yessum, lady" he said. "I'ze been
lookin for white lady as used to know
the little chap as alters stands here sellin
collar buttons. Deed I'm afraid, though,
can't find her. I've done spoke to three
llready, and, gollyr (here he grinned so
both rows of teeth showed) "they was
mad. Deed they was"
"How were you to know the lady?"
asked.
Little Jim said" replied the boy, "Fd
know her by her smile. So help me
Gawd, every one as hes gone by a-grin-
min I've axed, Is you the little colonePs
partner an it strikes 'em silly an they
gifts mad. Deed they does!'
l was smiling broadly at his pictur-
esuue and animated relation of the past
few hours adventures; he ceased look
ing up and down the street and caught
me in the middle of full blown smile.
Up went the black paw, off went the
cap, tattered and torn, and my inquisi-
tor exclaimed, Say, lady, yo' bean't her;
be yo'?"
you've found your man." said; 81
am the colonel's partner. Now tell me
what message he sends by YOU"
.'The colonel am very sick. He done
tole me to fetch yo' eff yo' would come,