Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-10-31

THE doctor was soft-hearted man;
he had done his best to console,
and had failed. He was not little
troubled and anxious. It is always
very sad to see old grief in young
eyes.
''This is not natural. If could only
make her cry!" thought DR.. Ross.
It was not natural, as he said. And
get there was another side to the
question. Such an annoyance as,
passing, vexes us, makes children
weep; and, though the care that
writes itself on our foreheads is to
them unknown, yet the sudden blow
that otrikes man once or twice in his
history, swaying him as tree that
in the rush Of the storm bends and
groans and filings out protesting arms
and murmurs with q thousand voices
this sudden sorrow in child is an
agony thrusting an unwelcome pres
ence into a kingdom where it is
least to be desired, and from which
it is always soon dismissed.
DIR. Ross said to himself, Perhaps
had better leave her now, poor, poor
little thing!"
He moved towards the door. The
lonely inmate of the room did not
notice that he was leaving her. She
sat before morsel of fire quaint
little figure that had known 10 years
of living, three without mother, five
without father, and the. rest with a
sister-s'tall, grown-up," who had
been mother and father and every
thing else that is good and brave.
And now the sister was gone, and
the child was alone.
''Good-by," said the doctor.
He was not answered because he
was not heard. He closed the door
softly, saying to himself that he
would come to see her again on the
morrow. He descended the shabby
staircase, to which few remnants
Of cheapest oilcloth still chung. The
landlady's children were playing
touch wood = screaming vociferously
as, they rushed from landing to land.
ing. A woman's tired voice urged
them to be quiet.
why, by no means, ma'am," rang
out the doctors cheerful voice; s'let
them play, it will rouse her.
All, poor thing! How is she, doc
!. tor?"
Quiet, much too quiet. It is ex
traordinary in a child of her years.
is anything settled as to what il
to be done?"
81 fear not. She seems quite friend
less.''
aYou don't say so, sir2 Friendless!
Dear, dear!"
Long after DIR. Ross had left the
house that word "friendless'' insist
emily remained with him. Suddenly
it introduced to him another word
q name. He paused in his walk, fol
the idea that had come to him wa.
startling.
At no great distance from tn.
house which DR.. Ross had just quilted
lived Gideon Beth, scholar and re
cluse. Tt may be as well to say a,
once that the doctor intended tt
visit this man, whom he knew, tina,
he might enlist his sympathies on be
half Of child's sad heart. But wha,
is there startling in this? Had Gideo1
no sympathy? Is he poor and old AMI
grabbed and <crotchety? Is he on,
Of those singular beings who stop theil
Z ears when children play, and speal
OF ..brats," ''pests," "little nui
sance?" No, Gideon hardly come
under these headings. The truth il
that Gideon Beth had been friend
less from his youth up, and, resting
on his own strong character, has
! grown to view the world with al
apathetic and dispassionate eye.
The trouble began with retiring
disposition, which is not given to an,
boy to cultivate. He lacked spon
taneity, and SO was always at dis
advantage. On suchaa one jadgmen
is easily passed, yet there is no in
stance in which it might with NOR,
wisdom be withheld.
Then an unkind fate buffeted hin