The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-10

table! Well, don WORTH 10 stoop. Use
mine
Mr.. Dimick stirred his tea and began
to sip it in silence. However, as the
warm fluid comfoTted and cheered him
he gradually regained his former compO-
/ sure
You was a-going to tell me about
| that cup" he said
And so 1 was. Well, 1 don't know
why 1 amt named it to you sooner.
/ But you see a thing sort of resembles
a person; there's points you name when
| they're dead you don't breathe while
| they're Twin. l amt much of a one for
sentiment, as you know, Dimick. You're
more that way than me; but even them
as has hard cases often has a soft part
| inside-lil1e a crab. so to speak"
He settled himself more firmly in his
| chair and put his hands inside his
sleeves, a habit he had when preparing
| for a narrative.
We'll. anyways, 1 had soft part in
me for her as gave me that. She weren't
a woman, though you might think it,
| I've had weaknesses for a various few
o them in my time; but. bless you, I've
forgot most Of them now, names and
| all, though l remembers occasional the
cOlorS of their hair. But this one was a
bit of girl, not more than eight years
old. and cripple to the bargain But If
ever / loved a human soul that was her.
My wife and me wasn't we'll matched,
which, though il don't do to speak i'll
1
If ever there was a bad-tempered one,
her 1t was. still, she've gone to her ac-
count, and 1 won't say but at times 1
aggravated Of her. A man is but man.
Liza and me we married each other out
of spite, think. l don't know why else,
for we quarreled when we KEEP company.
and believe we thought there wasn't
SIGH a good way of payin' out one an
other as Citing married. So. you see,
there weren't much love lost that way
a no hQ1 f.r-1
pass between us said Dimick thought
fully.
All" said Peters, rather sharply. Il
dare say it'd take a clever woman to
quarrel with you. Well, anyways, some
| has luck and some don't But L may
say that for cOokin a pertater Liza
| hadn't a equal But to resoom. Well
this kid-Alice her name was-she and
her mother, who was a wildly lady that
took in trousers to machine, they lived
in the same house, down below. Alice,
she was ike a doll in a ,tOyshop to the
face of her; fair she was. and blue eyes.
and hair all yellow, pretty-well, I don't
believe l ever see a face to beat il 'cept
once-a lady somewhat similar feat
ured what walked on a tight rope in a
circus when L was hopping in Kent.
But from birth this kid had some
thing wrong with one side-paI alyzed
il was-and she had to wear special
sort of leg thing got out of a hospital.
But get about she did. wonderful. Well,
that child were as full as mischief as
a egg is Of meat; but loving she were
she'd cling around yer neck and kiss
you so pretty, and if any one give her
something she weren't happy but you'd
have half. And shed come TO my room
we had no youngsters, you see-and
say, 'Hullo, Mr. Peters, and I'd saw I
amt at home, Alice and she'd laugh
that hearty and say. oh but 1 see yer,
Mr. Peters and p'r'aps you've got some
sweeties for me; have you, Mr.. Peters?'
L generally KEEP a bit of sOmethink by
me. And in SHIELD come and perch on
my knee and tell me her bits Of news,
and what her teacher at the Sunday
school had taught her-there was a kind
young woman as taught some of them
crippleS around our way-and how her
mother was gettin' along for work, and
what tricks she had been up to. We
was SIGH friends as never was. Well
Mr.. Peters hesitated for a moment be-
fore continuing, while ne regarded Mr.
Dimick with a dubious eye. He was
aware that Mr.. Dimick had a high
opinion of him. and he did not wish to
fall in his estimation.
We'll" he said then, 1--WE amt none
OF us saints. L suppose I'm i'm the right
way now. But there was time when
1 were wilder, Dimick l don't mind
owning up thu there was occasions
when L didn't see the benefits Of teatol-
ism, no, nor yet temperance. don't
say as I was a drunkard Dimick. but
p'r'aps I come anigh to bein'-pr'aps /
might have been one outright but for
that slip Of thing what the Almighty
sent to me. Some folks might say as
her life were useless. She come for a
bit, and she We're crippled. and then she
were took; but mark We, Dimick there's
a lot done by that sort Of folk as we
feel called on TO pity by reason Of their
Affections"
OF dom rnalya no do,,bt oe a. - Ill
Mr.. Dimick, and ne nodded two or three
times very emphatically. 4 don't make
no manner of doubt of IT,"
Anyways, one evening I'd had bust
up, and 1 came home a bit upset and 1
rounded on Liza, and ] will add
Dimick. though it weren't a usual thing
with me like with some. that I up and
hit her. And we was a maxim sich a
row that we didn't hear the little un
knock. But she had Just come in. and
she says in her shrill pipin voice, she
says, Are you playin'? Let me play too
Let me play too Mr.. Peters And 1
said, rough like, Cit away. Alice and
Liza she cryin'. And Alice she
says, Why, it amt a game! You're a
hitting Of her Mr. Peters, And then
she set to and cried like as if she'd been
the one hurried. And she ran away
down 70 her mother And not a blessed
glimpse of her did 1 have for three DAYS
You see, she We're disappointed in me:
lllciA MNlN ~ 1tlAlAlNhf anu liCl AALlt lttA-
ms suffered Well, / couldn't stand not
seem her. and at last / went along to
her mother and / said, Send Alice up.
lid like a game with her And Alice's
mother she said, Well to tell you the
truth, Mr.. Peters, she said. Mems men,
and 1 know the world; but Alice. she's
but a baby. and I've KEEP her inherent,
and IL she's a bit naughty at times, she
don't know no real wickedness. And
she'Ve been taught at the school, and |
wouldn't wonder but the Lord have
learned her Himself a lot OF pretty
thoughts. And quarrellin' and all up
sets her. And she don't seem to feel for
you what she did Mr.. Peters, she said
And then she went in and shut the door
Il didn't say nOthink; maybe, even
/ was a bit riled at her airs, but l felt IL
Notwithstanding! And one day soonish
after l catched Alice in the passage. and
I says, I've got some sWeeties. Alice
and says. Have yer, Mr.. Peters?' And
she looked at me sort of wistful. and I
says, Don't you want EN- Alice? amt
you going TO see me?' And she puts her
little head to one side like bird and
says, i don't love you, Mr.. Peters, when
you speak so loud and make Mrs. Peters
cry I'm frightened And / says, L
won't do it no more, Alice and she
Jumped up and chung around me and
says, L love yer again, Mr.. Peters.
do love yer, and l want them sweeties'
Lord il seems / can feel them little
hands on my neck now. and hear her
little voice, I do love yer, Mr.. Peters
she said.
There was a short pause. Mr.. Peters