Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-06-10
ONLY CHILD.


cheek. The child waited a moment as
though for a kiss in return, but she
did not get it, and she slipped down
and went with Her mother to the little
dark where Rufus Grote hal
given up to their use his own hard,
poor bed.
For himself the host had planned to
spread a blanket upon the floor in the
living room. He had slept there be-
fore, and he could sleep there again.
The soil Of Rufus Grote's heart was
like the soil of other hearts. A seed
once forced through the crust would
find root there-either good or evil.
In all his manhood's life SO warm a
thing as that childish kiss had not
touched his cheek. He did not think
of it SO much until he was alone in
the dense darkness; and then when he
could see nothing else, he could see
that sunny face, and the musical CHR
rup sounded again in his ears. At
first he would have been glad to be-
l1eve that the child's mother had in
structed her in this, but when he look
ed over all the circumstances, he knew
it could not have been; and before he
slept he was glad the child had come
to him of her own sweet impulse.
Upon the hard floor, with only a
single blanket for bedding, Rufus
Grote did not sleep so soundly as was
his wont. He dreamed, and in his
dreams he saw a cherub, and felt cher
ubic arms about his neck, with kisses
upon his cheek. And he said to him
self in his dreams:
Surely, 1 cannot be such an ogre
IL these sweet beings can love me-"
In the morning Rufus Grote was
up very early. He had thought the
night before that he had bread and
cheese enough for breakfast; but after
the nights dream-he took new
thoughts. Without exactly compre-
hending the feeling, the sense Of utter
loneliness and selfshness had given
place to a warmer sense of companion
ship and fraternity. He put his hand
to the cheek where the impress of the
child's kiss had fallen, and a new res.
olution came to his mind. He went out
to a neighboring street corner and pur.
chased tea and sugar and butter. and
new warm breakfast rolls, and a small
can of milk.
He had just deposited these articles
upon the table when Mrs. Sanford
made her appearance.
"Good-morning, Uncle Rufus"
Had the host caught that sound
when he first arose it would have
startled him; but 1t fell very softly
upon his ears now. He had been ex-
ercising, and earned the salute.
Good morning, Mary" returned
Rufus; and so odd was it, that tile
very tones of his own voice surprised
him.
What can 1 do for you this morn
ing, uncle? May l get your break
fast for your"
II will build a fire." said the man,
"and then if you please, you may make
a cup of tea."
The fire was built, and then lie
showed where his dishes were.
Mary Sanford was an accomplished
housekeeper, and she could accommo-
date herself to circumstances very mar
row.. While she was busy a ray of
fresh sunshine burst into the room,
lighting up the dingy wall, and MAX
ing golden with its light the atmos-
phere Of the place. 1t was little
Flora, bright, joyous and jubilant,
thinking only Of love in the first hour
of her waking from refreshing sleep.
Without o word-only a ripple Of glad
ness-dropping from her lips-she went
to where the old man had just sat
down in the corner, and crept up again
into his lap.
II can't reach your cheek, uncle"
she laughed, without getting p-you
are SC big and l am so little"
And then she kissed him as she
had done the night before; but not as
on the night before>did Rufus Grote.
With a movement almost spasmodic
so strange was 1t for him-he drew
the child back to him, and imprinted
a hearty kiss upon her round cheek.
And the wOrds-"GOd bless Won. If