The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-09-06

4 back.
The CHEEKY smile fingered on Uncle
Hiram > face till tho boy was wei out
Oh sight beyond the turn in the rond
and then II gave place to a 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. II know il just as well al
~ he'd said SO! IL the judge had
shown signs OF remembering him,
Sammy would have pluckcd up cour-
age to ask him If there was any
chance for him down below. Don't
know how hes kept at his study
evenings when he's been most too
tired TO sit up? Seventeen years old
last week, and going TO be hiyed 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
a Journey to a ncighboring elm.
Poor little creatur. l didn't mean
TO fright you" said Uncle Hiram, re-
gretfully, but just recollectcd that
Sammy asked me il I'd full as soon
call him SAM now he's IL, and I've
clean forgotten it ever since till this
minute! And he such "a boy, and me
such a drag on him, and forgetting
such an easy thing as that, III get
my mouth fixed for it when he comes
back. SAM Ill say to him. Sam
I'm glad to see you, Sam; and. Sam,
I've had nice morning under the
trees. Sam / reckon the oftencr /
say it for spell, the easier it'll come
Ill practice it of 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
nam house. were not very comforting.
I'm nothing but what the children
call 'fraid cat that's all / am" he
said, bitterly. "Any other boy would
speak up to the Judge and make him
remember. and perhaps get "A chance.
Uncle Hiram minds. too. He's hardly
talked about the old war times. when
he was n drummer boy and got his
wounds. once, for the last week. He'd
rather he in an attic in Boston and
know j 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 might
earn money enough TO buy him n
wheeled chair before long. While
mother lived couldn't 60, but now l
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
ioassers-by were used to the sight Of
Mrs Lapham's pale face proppcd into
view by the many pillows. and her
thmblc tapped many a summon to
enter on the lowest righthand pane.
There was no face at the window
that morning, although, as sammy
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 off
toward the woodshed, man hailed
him from passing cart. saying Hui.
10. sammy! How's business with you
these days?"
Fair" returned the boy, soDerly,
adding under his breath. Il wish PEG
pie wouldn't call me Sammy. It's
such n baby name''
There came n tap at The window Is
the cart ratified out of sight and Sam
my turned quickly 10 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
Iroublss. us he entered the house.
sammy" she cried. in high, l
strained voice. The men are at work
n The judges meadow. and he's there
with EN-. They're going TO cut down
al my willows and my old apple
rec, my dear old apple tree, Sammy.
Tohn Roberts is there with 'em, SUI
'erintcnding under the judge. tapped
iim in this morning just after Mr..
-apham had gone, and he told me-
Why, Sammy. it seems as if those
rces belonged TO me. Ny view'll
&c all spoiled. and it's everything /
rave TO look at, that meadow il,
sammy"
.'Ycs'm, know" said the boy. with
Iuick sympathy. II suppose he
links the mcadow'll be better with
mt the willows, and that the apple
rec doesn't bear much OF any fruit.
lie doesn't realize about you, Mrs.
.npham, the judge doesn't; 1 don't
'clicvc he even knows about you. You
&c he's only here in the summer, and
e doesn't see much of us village peo-
le,' added Sammy, gently. TITS an
wfnl pity, Mrs. Lepham."