The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-08-28

said kinder ashamed. Guess you
can say your prayers ter yourself this
once. can't yer ? he asked
"'Course not she said, her eyes
big. There wouldn't be any one to
say God bless you darling. and keep
you;"' and that little under lip o. hers
began ter tremble.
Il tell yer, boys, there come lump
in my throat so big, if it had been
gold I'd "a been a rich man; and all
of us was a-wishing we We're back in
camp, twas so mighty uncomfortable
a-hearing that kid asking for some
one ter hear her prayers.
Sudden she come further into the
room and looked all around ter us
men, and yer never seen such pretty
sight in all yer life as she made there.
Her big blue eyes were filled with tears
and her cheeks were pretty and pink
and her golden hair was all frowZied,
and her little pink feet peeped out be-
low her white gown, like Mayflowers
when they shine through a snowdrift
on Il warm day. Everything was so
black around she looked like Il little
white flower growing all alone in Il
clump er black stumps; and somehow
| wished all O sudden that want
such IL rough old chap. Thought it
must have been nice ter had kid like
that real friendly with ne when |
come home nights.
Seemed as if 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
won't your
Il tell you that room was awful
still, and didn't dare look round ter
see 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 rather had 'em all a-laugh-
ing at me for ever than "a hurt that
poor kid. Strange what fools men are
some times, amt it?
well says l, go ahead; I'll
listen
"Then she dropped down onter her
knees, and clasped her little hands,
and waited for her ter begin.
"'You must fold your hands too
she said, 1 get down on your knees
side O. me-
"'Oh, this'll do l said. 1 can
hear you just as well this way, and l
amt very much used ter prayingn
but she insisted, and so just cause
| didn't know what else to do, | got
down on the floor too.
II can't seem to remember very
much what she said, only l know it
ended God bless everybody and
then when she'd said Amen, she
didn't get up, but kinder waited.
II looked round ter see what was
up, and, if you'll believe me, three of
too, and one of them was crying like Il
baby.
Yer must say what she told yer
to- whispered Ben.
Then, l kinder recollected what
she had said, and managed, with his
helping, to say, God bless you darling
and keep YOU And as l said it !
meant it too.
"She seemed satisfied then, and got
up and shook hands with me; then
when Bill held out his, she shook all
round and went off u smiling as happy
as could be.
That's all there is ter it, and Sam
glanced defiantly at his audience
but it's true, every word, and I'm
proud of it. too. faint very often
we kind err folks get chance ter see
angels, and yer don't never want ter
miss it if yer do"
There was silence for a moment,
then Sam got up, pushed back his
stool, and shuffled from the room.
THAT was good yarn of his" and
one. as the door closed: and the others
prepared to take their departure also.
But yer never would err thought it
of him, would yer nowr" queried an
other.
One by one they filed out, and the
landlord, barring the door behind
them, stood looking vacantly at the
empty chair.
THAT was good yarn" he unused.