The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-04-18
Her Fathers Guardian.


She was lit.'c mite Of IA woman,
and past 80. Beside her sat au Old
bent man. whose years had passed the
four score mark
When sat down beside the littl.
old lady she turned wrinklcd smil-
ing face 70 me that YVES like sunshine
Itself
This is IA. she announced cordi-
ally. PA does love 10 ct out to
hear the political speeches. Pa, he s
blind, and take him pretty near
everywhere 20. BE you real com
Portable pa?'
And She put her arm around him,
while she carefully shielded his sight
less face with her shabby parasol.
Now, you just lean on me, ia: bear
right hard, for | know you re tired.
Then she turncd'to mc. Poor pa,
he does enjoy getting out so much, so
got tickets and We come. IIc's 5
looked forward to this meeting ever
since we heard of it, and | said.
"lou just contemt yourself, pa; vel
go.
The speech was to be given in an
immense inclosurc out Of doors, aud
the California July sun poured down
rclentlessly. Ten Thousand people
waited with more or less impaticnce,
but the little old lady was serene.
"Its pretty hot for pa" she said,
"but land l don't mind it,"
II don't mind it NEITHER" quavcr.
ed the old man, "but my! I'd give a
good deal if could see the crowd!'
The daughter looked at me with
eyes all tenderness. She did not
speak. nor did she need to, for in
those faded blue eyes behind the spec
taclcs shone the essence of love and
pity and divine companion.
A boy came by with big juicy
peaches for sale. The little woman
looked at the peaches, glanced at
'pa," and resolutcly turned her
eyes away. The shabby little purse
in her lap told the story Of the car
fare for the home trip, and peaches
were beyond her.
After l had purchased some and
offered them to her the old man said
plaintively: 'Im dreadfully thirsty,
Mandy
Mandy frightened. "Be you,
pap. Well, that's nivc. Here's a
peach for you right in minute.
Ain t that lucky! I'll peel it,
The old man munched contentcdly
on the iruit, and the little old woman
began again. "I'm married. she
said, "but my husband couldn' come.
He's on a digging job. and Of course
he couldn't get off. But pa and me,
we can tell him all we can remember,
and thatll be better than nothing
Pa s going to listen like everything
! hi5 hearing first rate-and I'm going
! to tell Elm how the stage is fixed, and
how the speaker looks and all the
rest. If we wasn't quite so far back
could see him better. Ny eye 8
ain't what they used to be and mebby
I'll have sc ask you some
Just then amid great applause the
speaker appeared. I handed the
little woman -ly open glasses. 80.
my! she cried, faint you kind! O.
can see him just as plain! Pa,
can see him real plain"
Pa smiled like a happy child.
"Well, Mandy, I'm real glad. Re-
member how it looks, so.you can tell
Jim"
The little woman kept silence dur
ing the long speech, her every nerve
stretched to the utmost to see and
hear and make forever hers this won.
| derful event.
When it was over and the band
crashed noisily she helped the stiffen.
ed old man to his feet. Lean hard
on me, pa, she said; "we're going
home now" And pa, as he turned
his sightless eyes upon me, said:
This is the day Of lifetime to