Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-10-16

he was drummer-boy and got: h IS
wounds, once, for the last week. He'd,
rather be In an attic in Boston and
know was working my way up thar.
to stay here in Moorby; there's nobo ~;
here he cares enough about to make.
him want to stay. And might earn,
money enough to buy himSa wheeled.
chair before long. While mother livst.
couldn't go, but now,I could. y Y
Mrs Lapham's house raced the south.
and as Sammy entered the yard IN
looked for Mrs. .Lapham's smile atsthss d
window of the room where ALI her:
days were spent aEsEkssz g
She had been bedfidde6 for ten
years; the old sitting-room Of herearlg:
married life had been changed to her
bedroom, and every morning before
Mr.. Lapham started for his Harness
and Shoe Shop" he dragged the bel
close to the window All passers-bya
were used to the sight Of Mrs. lap;
hams pale face propped into view by
many pillows, and her thimble tapped
many summons to enter on the low
est right-hand pane.
There was no face at the window
that morning. although, as Sammr
drew close to the house, he could see
that the bed was in its usual place.
AS he stood moment irresolutely at,
the turn where the path branched OF.
toward the woodshed, a man hailed
him from a passing cart, saying:a
'Hullo, Sammy! How's business with.
you these days?" q!
Fair" returned the boy, soberlys:
adding under his breath, 81 wish peo-s
pie wouldn't call me Sammy Its.
such baby name" Nlgrssssssssi
There came tap at the window as
the cart ratified out of sight, and SAM
my turned quickly to see Mrs. Lap I
hams face, white and drawn, at tie
pane.
"Why, she looked as if she was cry
ing!" said the boy to himself, startled
out of thoughts about his own troubles
as he entered the house.
There was no longer any doubtains
his mind when he stood in the door
way and saw the invalid's great dark
eyes,.
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-trse,:
Sammy! John Roberts is there with
'em, experimenting under the judge
l 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! MysyieWdi ~
all spoiled. and it's everything hare
to look at, that mead Sammy.st
IT, Ites-m, I'm ow,' said the boy, with
quick sympathy. 81 suppose ne. thinks
the meadow'll be better wi:foutEthe
willows, and that the apple-tree doesn't
bear much of any fruit. He doesn't
realize about you, Mrs. Lapham, the
judge doesn't; 1 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 people. ."ttadded
Sammy, gently. 'It's an awful PITY
Mrs. Lapham." =.
"If he knew" said the invalid, crush
ing her handkerchief between her,
clasped hands, "if he knew, do" you
suppose he'd leave the apple-tree.
Sammy Look! Here's where see
the buds on that long branch first;
and then the blossoms come, ll'whita
and pink, and then the apples. And
the branches are lovely even Will
they're bare; and you know Row they
shine in the snow and ice I've shown
you so often The road is so narrow:
how can the judge help knowing about
me, Sammy? And the willows shine
so in the sun after a rain! shall be
gone before they could grow high
enough for me to see them again."
Sammy's face flushed a curious red
in streaks
81 will go and tell the Judge about it,
Mrs. Lapham," he said.
Even ready-tongued people hesitatcl
10 ask favors lightly Of Judge Saun-
ders, who was counted just but by no
means benevolent. Fear and excite
ment choked together in SamEy's
| throat. Many ideas shot through the
boys brain as he ran along the roal
to the break in the wall where the
meadow bars were down. and across
the meadow toward the tail figure Of
the Judge. But more vividly than all
else there rose before his MIND the
invalids face, and it was the only
spur he needed.
"You may begin on that oldest apple
tree, Roberts," the judge was saying.
81 have an appointment now with Mr..
Willis, but l shall be back in the
course of the morning to see how the
work goen on. i"
Judge Saunders, please stop!" came
a boys voice behind him, and the
judge turned to confront Sammy's
flushed and excited face.
whats the trouble, my young
friend?" he asked, in a curt tone.
Where and why do you wish me to
stop?"
"It's the tree. sir!" cried Sammy, his
troubled eyes fixed on the judges keen
gray ones. Mrs Lapham is all in
valid; it's years since she could leave
her bed, sir. Her husband pills it up
to the window every morning before
he goes off to work, so she can look
out. She can see just a strip Of slty
and this piece of your meadow; your
willows and the old apple-tree are her
picture, all she has to look at! "-.''r
The judge stopped to pick Up a long
blade of grass as the boy@sstopped t.or
breath, but did not interrupt hill. John
Roberts and the other men stood OPEN
mouthed behind their employer.
I'm the spring she watches for the
4 uaru frst cipn of Green IN fba old