Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-02-27
Little Colonel.

l.
weeks He always stood in the shadow
of the American express Office on
Market space, and his poor little
hupchback was SO pitiful. He was the
tiniest mite imaginable, and his pallid
little face was rendered doubly deli
cate 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 softer wisps
of hay that edge stack in summer.
His eyes were like the blue Of the
Italian sea, but the expression of his
mouth was old, very old land the bust
ness twang in his shrill voice very dis
tinct as he yelled his wares to the
passerby: "Collar buttions-two for
a cent. Note paper-needles- twenty
five cents pack!''
Some few used to buy from him;
others more often would give him
nickel or dime and let him keep his
goods. To each and every purchaser
he dotted 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 paused and asked: CHOW, look
here, colonel, I want you to recognize
me when | 60 by next time. I've
traded with you for weeks, and you
never know me. I'm getting pretty
mad about it, I 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: ''Ill know
you next time. Warm, isn't it?''
Fright you are, colonel" I said.
''How is business?"
"Pretty fair. Dull times now
though
"Ought not to be for you," said.
'All the ladies are doing their spring
shopping and having their sewing
done. They can't sew without need
les. You have needles. See?"
He threw me shrewd glance from
those wonderful blue eyes of his.
II see," he said.
After this I never passed without
receiving salute from the little colo
mel, and sometimes when out with
fyfn I 10
new customer to him. These favors
he always appreciated, and [ came to
be looked upon as the advertising
member of the firm. Between us we
built up big business, and we both
felt encouraged.
But one day as [ sauntered down
there, thinking of certain little piece
of good news / had for my partner, I
was somewhat startled by missing
the colonel from the old stand.
Funny" thought, Every funny,
he did not speak of his intended va
cation. | am surprised, for the colo
mel is generally so business like.'' I
went on disappointed of course. DAYS
passed, and still I missed him. I
could not find any trace of him, and,
strange to say, during all our intima-
cy had neglected to inquire his ex-
act address.
All day long, and as much of the
night as I was awake, I was confront
ed by vivid memory of his little pal
lid face. The suspense seemed I'M
bearable.
But just at that point where it seem
ed that [ could not wait a moment
longer I was relieved by message
from him. 1t reached me in this way:
L was passing down the familiar Mar
ket space by the old stand, thinking
fondly and sadly of the little colonel,
when | noticed big eyed colored
boy with double row of white teeth
looking eagerly up and down the
street. For some unaccountable rea-
son felt that he knew something of
my partner. I stepped up to him and
said
Good morning. Are you looking
Tor some one?'7
Yessum, lady," he said. ''I'ze been
1'oRln' for white lady as used to
know the little chap as alters stands