The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-06-14


Say I'm growing old, but add
Jenny kissed me,
leigh Hunt)
"Will you kindly bring in a log, Mrs.
Dawson. and then you may go. | shall
not require anything more tonight"
Very well, sir. I'll put the kettle
on the hob for you; you may like to
have little something hot later on,
and | always think kettle is such
company"
A grunt was the only response to
this well-meant offer, as Mrs. Dawson,
charwoman and caretaller, went out OF
the room.
''Confound that woman's incessant
chatter: thank goodness | shall be
left in peace for the next few hours at
least
The speaker, cross-lOolling. hard
featured old man. settled himself to
the best of his ability among his pill
lows. for he was an invalid, but
somehow the pillows would not
take the curve he wanted and
at last, breathless and exhaust
ed. he sank back and closed his eyes,
giving up the attempt. A look Of
intense WEAKNESS came over his thin
old face, and think his worst enemy
would have felt some pity for him
now, old, i'll and alone. with no one to
care whether he We're alive or dead.
His loneliness was indeed pitiable.
Presently he turned his head towards
the Pickering freight, and had any
one been there to see, they
would have noticed something glisten-
ing in the old mans eyes suspiciously
like tears, but, as | said before, he was
alone, so no one brushed those tears
away from his eyes, or tried to turn
his thoughts into brighter channel.
The fire burnt on titfully, casting
weird shadows on the furniture of the
room, handsome old-fashioned furni-
ture, that told you the owner was by
no means poor man. In fact, there
was everything in the room that told
of wealth, but comfort and LONELINESS
were wanting. The magic touch of a
loving woman's hand might have
worked wonders, but then she also was
wanting.
The old-fashioned black ebony clock
blChlIIS oOlCIIhlN wa IllC OillN oONhNt
that broke the stiffness. Occasionally
a red-hot coal fell S'ith dull thud in
to the fender, and then the fire would
burn up brightly for moment or two,
bringing the white face and the white
hands of the occupant of the bed into
high relief against the dark shadows
thrown by the heavy moreen curtains
of the old-faShioned fOur-pOSt bed
stead. BY and by. as the kettle began
to sing in soft and soothing way,
the WEAKNESS of the face relaxed, as
the eyes closed, and the old man fell
asleep, and judging from the trans
formation of his face his dreams must
have been happy ones
"Dandy-boy, be quiet, YOU naughty
little dog, or you'll wake up my poor
old gennlemans"-th with a soft adj
monishing pat on the head of a re-
markedly Notwithstanding fox ter
rier pup. The voice came from the
doorway. where stood a quaint little
figure. In her arms. caught up with a
good portion of the littlc white night
gown, was the puppy addressed. Peep
ing cautiously round, the little figure
advanced a few steps into the room,
looking all the time at the bed, and
clutching at the puppy for confidence,
until that lOng-suffering animal pro-
tested with a squeak. only to be again
gently patted on the head and told to
keep quiet. Still fixing her eyes on
the bed, the little girl climbed up into
the big leather armchair, in front OF
abe fire, and smoothing her night
gown over her knees she deposited the
puppy, who first shook himself well on
finding ne was released from his
previous sutfocating position, and then
curled himself up with long drawn
out sigh that would have done justice
to tie most blase and ancient dog.
What quaint little couple they We're,
this baby girl and puppy dog.
The former with her little pink toes
protruding from under the hem of her
nightgown, her curly hair as it caught
the light of the fire, glittering with a
bright coppery gold, the big mischiev-
sons brown eyes looking SO serious. and
the sweet little mouth and dimpled
achin, sat with a most determined ex-
Nsp7ICb ciipb X tiNN u Nui IOhp tiS my w
the quaint little figure. The puppy
dog, on the other hand, with one ear
pricked, his head resting forward on
his paws, and the eye that was not
closed looking sharply round the room,
on the lookout for mischief or rats.
After looking steadily at the occu-
pant of the bed for some time, the
child murmured to herself: Poor old
man, he's got no jam and no Dandy
boy. When ! cut my finger mother
gave me jam, and when | had the
measles the doctor gave me Dandy
boy, eos | was good and looked my
medicine proply.'
The old man turned in his sleep and
smiled. Instantly the child slipped
down off the chair, upsetting the
puppy on the hearthrug just as he was
on the point of going to sleep. an3
crossing the room on tip-toe she went
over to the bedside, and stood there
gently smoothing the pillow over and
over again with her little hand, and
grooming a lullaby almost under her
breath, the lullaby that she used to
sing to her doll and to Dandy-boy
sometimes, when she wanted him to
sleep.