Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-05-05
Blossoms
Little Pal
By Ethel harrington
Copyright. ro6. by n. 4. Parceiis
BY Ethel harrington

Stunned companionShip. his small an.
nuity Suiiicing for Il cheap lodging and
meals NJ a ncighboring restaurant. II
was terrible beyond expression TO be
blind. to Ice dragged back to life when
the fever had So dcuudcd him. Exist
encc was barren. useless. hopeless. and
when he prayed il was for death.
One day, tripping rs he climbed the
stairs he felt the help Of baby hands
You counted WRONG" rcproycd II
childish voice. Il did t'uvrr night In
the dark
whats your namef' he demanded
shortly.
"Dora. Who's you?"
John blossom"
pretty name Bend down" Then
whispering in his ear. IL shall call you
Blossom" She Scampcrcd away, sing
ing back mIschievously blossom
B-l-os-s-o-n.'
II was week before they met again.
The mans mood WAS desperate. You
is irownin awful. BLOSSOM" plprd the
shrll voice. but you can't brighten
me
III you are not scared come and talk
10 me q biz
"Nuvcr don't low me In dodgers
rooms" BLOSSOM felt the rebuff. and.
reaching the top floor, stumbled into
his room and slammed the door. Seat
el ON his cot hr clinched his hands in
the agony Of his helplcssnesS
Come" he cried sharply in answer
TO timid rap. whereat some one IN
tered. whom he could not recognize.
"What Is ~" he half shouted. his
nerves strained to the point Of frenzy.
"Just me, blossom Muver says you
is exceptions" Then in the silence the
child's eyes rovcd over the room and
lighted on the table Uttered with pa
pers Does you writc?" Her tone be
tokencd interest blossoms hands
moved alinlessly Write, write?
That's precisely what | can't do curse
IT," There before him lay the work
begun In pride and hope. now shatter-
ed by darkness worse than death He
was recalled to the present 10y the
pressure OF small arms resting on his
knees MS the child looked up into his
despariug 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 a half sob.
I'm dreadful sorry. Let me do It
for YOU print now. and learn fast.
See II don't" She tossed the papers
aside and climbed into chair sucking
loudly NJ the pencil To make II black.
What will we write. RlosSom?" Re
celving no answer. she looked up. Her
companions head was pillowed on his
arms. Ills shoulders hcaved. Gould a
man cry even as she sometimes did?
Dora scrambled 10 her feet and hur
rled from the room. to return few
minutes later flushed and brcathless
Here's Miss Arahella'' she cried.
thrusting a doll into the mans hands.
when yet cryin' Just hold her
tight She comforts lots. Muycr's call
Ing. Hold Arabella close. blossom"
The doll became the first link In Il
strange friendship. which grew with
years For the chld's amusement
Blossom brought wonderful tales out
OF the storehouse of his imaglna tlon,
frequently IN verse that he strung to
gether during wakeful hours OF the
night Dora listened and remembered
AS she had said. she learned fast She
was barely twelve when she recalled
her promise. Il write truly now. Tell
me what to write"
Blossom smiled sadly, declaring the
desire dead. but she insisted and coax
ed until he yielded repeating some OF
the phrasings that haunted him. and
the dormant passion revived. II was
new birth TO the man. and the girl be-
came his eyes as the gift that had
been smothered In darkness and uncer-
tainty suddenly developed. and the poet
came into his own. In time Our poet
ry," as Dora called H. verses with cx-
quisite rhythm, In round childish chi
Biography. found their way into editors
hands ana caused comment.
So the years passed, and Blossom
counted each anniversary as II came.
Fifteen today" he said on one oc-
casion signing heavily Il wish so
l could see you once just once"
Dora raised her head from copying;
II was unusual for Blossom 10 chat be-
fore the dlctatlon was completed.
How do you look?" continued the
blind man. directing his slghtless gaze
toward her.
'WhOse decision shall renderi"
Dora laughed dellclously. Mother
says big girl Aunt Helen 'gawky.'
but Tom insists pretty.
"Of course Tom is right. Well. here
Is my remembrance Fumbling In his
pocket. he brought out a little case,
disclosing gold locket with "A dia
mond set In It's heart shape.
"Oh, Blossom. how lovely, But what
extravaganza. You can't afford H."
you mistake. have more money
than need. little pal"
The girl slipped the slender chain
about her neck and gave the clasp into
his hands: then as he clumsily fitted Il