Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-14

her To come right now and she looked
real proud like.
susan amt here; she's gone, Ben
said, kinder shamed. Guess you car
say your prayers ter yerself this once
can't yer?' he asked
Course not, she said, her eyes big.
There wouldn't be anyone TO say: God
bless you, darling, and keep you:" aud
that little under lip o. hers began ter
tremble.
Il tell yer, boys, there come a lump
In nay throat SO big, if it had been gold
I'd "a been rich man; and all of us
was a-wishing we were back in camp.
twas SO mighty uncomfortable a-hear-
ing that kid asking fer some one ter
hear her prayers.
Sudden she came further into the
room and looked all round ter US men.
ana yer never seen such pretty SIGHT
In all yer life as She made there. Her
blg blue eyes were filled with tears
ana her cheeks were pretty and pink.
and her golden hair was all frowzled.
and her little pink feet peeped out be-
low her white gown, like Mavhowers
when they shine through snowdrift
on warm day. Everything was so
black around she looked like a little
white flower growing all alone in a
clunp er black stumpS; and somehow
wished all q "A sudden that want
such rough old chap. Thought il
must nave been nice ter had a kid.like
that real friendly with me when come
home nights.
seemed as IL she must have known
what was thinking about. cause She
came up ter me, real confiding like. and
put her little hand onter my knee, and
said:
You'll hear me say my prayers. d
won't your
Il tell You that room was awful still
and | didn't dare look round ter SEQ
the fellers a-grinning at the thought |
OF me a-hearing her say her PRAYERS |
Hadn't said my own for nigh onter
twenty years.
But she stood expectant like. and |
tell yer, boys, just couldn't say no.
I'd a ruther had EN- all a-laughing at
me forever than "a hurt that poor kid
Strange what fools men are sometimes
amt it?
Veil. says |, go ahead; III listen
lhen she dropped down onter her
knees and clasped her little hands.
and waited fer her ter begin.
'fou must fold your hands. too
She said, and get down on your knees
side % me
"'Oh. this1l DO, said 4 can hear
you just as well this way, and amt
very much used ter PRAYING
But she insisted. and SO Just cause
didn't know what else ter do. got
Town on the floor, too.
can't seem ter remem Der very
much what she said, only I know il
ended: Frod bless every body and then
Vhen she said amen, she didn't get up.
)ut kinder waited
Il looked round ter see what was nm
nd if you'll believe me. three of them
nen were down on their knees. ton
M one OF EN- was crying like baby.
Yer must say wha; She told yer TO-.
whispered Ben.
Then kind er recOllected what She
adj said, and managed, with his help
n.y. TO say: God bless you. darling.
nd keep you, and as | said il | meant
!, too
she seemed satisfied then. and got
p and shook hands with me; then
hen Bill held out his, she shook all
)und. and went off a-smilin as happv
5 could be-
That's all there is ter it." and Sam
lanced defantly at his audience
but it's true, every word, and I'm
roud er 1t. too. faint very often we
ND er folks get chance ter see
lgels, and yer don't never want ter
iss it II yer do"
There was silence for a moment.
len sam got up and pushed back his
DOL and shuffied from the room.
That was good yarn of his" said
lie, as the door closed: and the
hers prepared to take their departure
so.
But yer never would er thought il
him, would yer, now?" queried an.
her.
One by one they filed ont. and the
ndlord, barring the door behind
en- stood looking vacantly at the
ipty chairs
That was good yarn" he unused.
\. Y. Independent.