The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-04-17
Blossoms
Little Pal
BY Ethel Darlington
Cormfqht, 1905. bB f.. G. Parcels

/ the handspring of his life was snap
ped Embttered and sensitive, he
Stunned companionshlp, his small an
nuity suflieing for cheap lodging and
meals at a neighboring restaurant. 1t
was terrible beyond expression to be
blind, to be dragged back to life when
! the fever had so denudcd him. Exist
ence was barren, useless, hopeless, and
when he prayed 1t was for death.
One day, tripping as he climbed the
! stairs. he felt the help Of baby hands.
"You counted wrong feproyed a
childish voice. Il did tuyer night in
the dark
Whats your name?' he demanded
shortly
Dora. Who's you?"
John Blossom"
"Pretty name. Bend down" Then
whispering In his ear Il shall call you
Blossom" she scampered away, sing
ing back mscbieyously, Blossom
Blossom"
| 1t was week before they met again.
The mans mood was desperate You
Is frownin' awful. Blossom piped The
shrlu voice "but you can't frightcn
me"
IF you are not scared come and talk
to me a bit
"Nuver don't low me in dodgers
rooms" Blossom felt the rebuff, aud,
reaching the top floor, stumbled into
his room and slammed the door. Seat
cd on his cot he clinched his hands IN
the agony Of his helpiessness
Come" he cried sharply in answer
10 4 timid rap, whereat some one on
tered. whom be could not recognize.
'eVhat IL IT, he half shouted, his
nerves strained TO yhe point OF frenzy
"Just me- Blossom Alnyer says you
Is exceptions" Then in The silence the
+ child's eyes royed over the room and
lighted on the table Uttered with pa
pers. Does you wrItet' Her tone be
tokened interest Blossoms hands
moved amlesslY. write, writer
That's precisely what ! can't do, curse
IT." There before him lay the work
begun In pride and hope, now shatter
ed by a darkness worse than death He
was recalled TO the present By the
pressure % small arms resting on his
knees as the child looked up iuto his
despairing face
Poor dear" she sympathized in an
old fashioned manner
ITS dark. Dora never any light,
That's why | cannot write" His voice
broke with half sob.
"I'm dreadful sorry. Let me do 1t
for YOU print now, and learn fast
See If don't" She tossed the papers
aside ana climbed into a chair sucking
loudly at the pencil 10 make 1t black.
what win we write Blossom Re
ceiving no answer, she looked up. Her
companions head was pilowed on his
arms. His shoulders heayed Could a
man cry even as she sometimes did,
Dora scrambled TO her feet and hur-
ried from The room. 10 return a few
minutes later flushed aud GREATNESS.
Here's Miss Arabella" she cried,
thrusting a doll INFO the mans hands.
when | get cryin' ] just hold her
tight. She comforts lots MUvcr's call
ia.. Hold ArabelIa close. blossom"
The doh became the lrst link in a
strange friendship, which grew with
years. For the child's amusement
Blossom brought wonderful tales ont
Of the stOrchouse of his imagination,
frequently I'm verse that he strung to
gether during wakefu hours Of the
night Dora listened and remembered
As she had said. she learned fast. She
T0s barely twelve when she recalled
her promise. Il write truly now. Tell
me what 80 write"
Blossom smiled sadly, declaring The
desire dead, but she insisted and coax
cd until he yielded. repeating some Of
the phrasincs that haunted him. and
the dormant passion revived. 1t was
new birth 10 the man. ana The -irl be
came his eyes. as the gilt that had
been sinothered I'm darkness and uneer
ialnty suddenly developed. and the poet !
came into his own. In time our poet
~" as Dora called b. verses with OK
Fuisite rhythm. IN round childish chi
Biography. found their way into editors
hands aud caused comment.
SO the years passed, and Blossom /
counted each anniversary as It came. 1
Fifteen today" he said on one oc-
casion. signing heavily. = wish so !
7 could see you once-tust once"
Dora raised her head from copying; /
il was unusual for Blossom to chat be
fore the dictation was completed |
How do you IookF' continued The 1
blind man. directing bis slghtless gaze I
toward her.
Whose decision shall renderF' /
Dora laughed deliciouslr. Mother /
says a big girl Aunt Helen 'gavky-
but Tom insists pretty.
"Of course Tom is right Well. here /
Is my remembrance" Plumbing in his /
pocket. be brought ont a little case 4
disclosing a gold locket with a dia-
mond set in its heart shape.
oh. Blossom. how lovely.' But what ]
You can't afford it,
"Ycu mistake. have more money 4
than I need. little pal"
The girl slipped the slender chain 4
about her meek ard gave The clasp in-5
Z