The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-09-06


day of the town celebration when l
rode past the house, three years
back"
Tie CHEEKY smile fingered on Uncle
Hiran's face till the boy was well out
&C sight beyond the turn in the road,
| and then it gave place to look of
patient pain.
"He'd counted on the judges know
ing him." said the crippled man, turn
ing his head YEARLY against the soft
old custom. 81 know it just as well as
if he'd said so! If the judge had
shown signs Of remembering him,
Sammy would have plucked up cour-
age to ask him if there was any
chance for him down below. Don't
l know how he's kept at his study
evenings when he's been most too
tired to sit up? Seventeen years old
last week, and going to be hived up
here all winter, and only just earn
enough to keep us a-going!"
Mr.. Lane pounded on the ground
with his crutch in excitement, and
scared away squirrel which was on
journey to neighboring elm.
"Poor little creatur! I didn't mean
to fright you,' said Uncle Hiram, re-
gretfu1ly, ''but 1 just recollected that
Sammy asked me if I'd full as soon
call him Sam now he's II, and I've
clean forgotten it ever since till this
minute! And he such a boy, and me
such drag on him, and forgetting
such an easy thing as that! I'll get
my mouth fixed for it when he comes
back. SAM I'll say to him, SAM
I'm glad to see you, Sam; and. Sam,
I've had nice morning under the
trees. Sam 1 reckon the oftener l
say it for spell, the easier it'll come
Ill practice it off and on the rest O.
the morning to keep my hand in.'' said
Uncle Hiram, wisely.
Sammy's thoughts, as he hurried
down the road that led to the Lap
ham house, were not very comforting.
"I'm nothing but what the children
call 'fraid cat that's all L ami" he
said, bitterly. "Any other boy would
speak up to the judge and make him
remember, and perhaps get chance.
Uncle Hiram minds, too. He's hardly
talked about the old war times, when
he was drummer boy and got his
wounds, once, for the last week. He'd
rather be in an attic in Boston and
know l was working my way up than
to stay here in Moorby; there's no.
body here he cares enough about to
make him want to stay. And l might
earn money enough to buy him a
wheeled chair before long. While
mother lived 1 couldn't go, but now
could"
Mrs. Lapham's house faced the
south, and as Sammy entered the yard
he looked for Mrs. Lapham's smile
at the window of the room where all
her days were spent.
She had been bedridden for. ten
years: the old sitting room of her
early married life had been changed
to her bedroom, and every morning
before Mr.. Lapham started for his
Harness and Shoe Shop he dragged
the bed close to the window. All
passers-by were used to the sight Of
Mrs. Lapham's pale face proppcd into
view by the many pillows, and her
thimble tapped many summon to
enter on the lowest righthand pane.
There was no face at the window
that morning, although, as Sammy
that the bed was in it's usual place.
AS he stood moment irresolutely at
the turn where the path branched off
toward the woodshed, a man hailed
him from passing cart, saying Hui
10, Sammy! How's business with you
these days?"
"Fair," returned the boy, soberly,
adding under his breath, 81 wish PEG.
pie wouldn't call me Sammy It's
such baby name!"
There came a tap at the window as
the cart ratified out of sight and Sam
my turned quickly to see Mrs. lap
hams face, white and drawn, at the
pane.
''Why, she looked as if she was cry
ing!" said the boy to himself, star
tied out of thoughts about his own
troubles. us he entered the house.
Sammy" she cried, in high,
strained voice. ''The men are at work
in the judges meadow, and he's there
with 'em! They're going to cut down
all my willows and my old apple
tree, my dear old apple tree, Sammy!
John Roberts is there with 'em, SUI
perintending under the judge. tapped
him in this morning just after Mr..
Lapham had gone, and he told me-
Why, Sammy, it seems as if those
trees belonged to me! My view'll
be all spoiled, and it's everything 1
have to look at, that meadow is,
Sammy!"
''Yes'm, know" said the boy, with
quick sympathy. 81 suppose he
thinks the meadow'll be better with
out the willows, and that the apple
tree doesn't bear much of any fruit.
He doesn't realize about you, Mrs.
L4apham, the judge doesn't; don't
believe he even knows about you. You
see he's only here in the summer, and
he doesn't see much of us village peo-
ple," added Sammy, gently. tits an
awful pity, Mrs. Lapham.'
eff he knew" said the invalid,
crushing her handkerchief between
her clasped hands, eff he know, do