The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-06-14
The Feet of the
Children.
By Norman Duncan.

Once of a still night at Twist Tickle
(when was grown to be eleven) my
uncle came betimes to my room 10
make sure that | was snug in my Sleep
Twas fall weather without, the first
chill and frosty menace of winter
abroad: clear, MINDLESS, with all the
stars that ever shone a-twinkle in the
far velvet depths of the sky beyond
the lew window of my room. mad
drawn wide the curtain to let the
companionable lights come in; to
stare, too, into the vast pools OF shad-
ows, which was the sea, unquiet and
sombre beneath the serenity and
twinkling splendor of the night. Thus
I lay awake, high on the pillows,
tucked to my chin: but feigned a rest
full slumber when l caught the sigh
and downcast tread of his coming.
Dannie,' he whispered, is you
awaken
81 made no answer.
All, Dannie, isn't you"
Still I would not heed him.
8 I wisht you was, he sighed, for
I'm wonderful lonely the night, lad,
an wantin' t talk a spell
Twas like a childs beseeching. l
was awake at once-wide awake for
him: moved by the usefulness of this
appeal to some perception of his need,
AN is you comfortable Dannie,
lyin' there in your own little bed?'
cay, sir
"'An' happy?
Grand, sirp said I.
'He crept softly to my bed. You
don't mind?' he whispered. l drew
my feet away to make room. He sat
down, and for a moment patted me
with the tenderness of a woman. You
don't mind? he ventured again, in
difidence. / did not mind (but would
not tell him SOY; nay, so far was
from any objection that l glowed with
content in this assurance of loving
protection from the ills of the world
Nor said he. I'm glad O. that: for
I'm so wonderful old an lonely, an
L
fondle. 'Tis pleasant t. touch a thing
that's young an not yet smirched by
sin an trouble IT'S some sort O. cure
for the souls O. broken folk, I'm think
in An you don't mind? I'm glad O.
that. You're gettin so wonderful old
yourself, Dannie, that I was bit
afeared baby yerterday an man
the morrow! You're near crowned up
Eleven year old!' with a wry smile, in
which was no pride, but only poignant
regret You're near crowned up
Presently he withdrew little 'Ay,
said he gently; you is housed an clad
an fed. So much I've managed well
enough He paused distraught, his
brows bent, his hand passing aimIess-
ly over the scars and gray stubble of
his head. You're happy, Dannie? lie
asked, looking up. Come, now is you
sure? You'd not be maxim game o.
the old man, would you. Dannie?
You'd not tell un you was when you
wasn't, would you? Is you sure you're
happy? An you're glad, is you, t. be
Twin all alone at Twist Tickle with a
OF Teller like Nick Top?'
Wonderful happy, sir I answered,
used to the question, free and prompt
in response; happy, sir-with you
can you is sure?'
II was sure.
"T'm glad O. that, he continued. but
with no relief of the anxious gloom
upon his face. I'm glad you is com
Portable an happy. / low said he.
that poor Tom Galloway would like t.
get word of it. Poor Tom! Poor OF
Tom! Lord love you, lad he was
your father: an he loved you well-all
too well. l low he'd be wonderful
glad Just t. know you was comfortable
an happy-an' good. You is good isn't
YOU? Oh. I knows you is! An visit
Tom Galloway could know l wisht he
could: for low 'twould perk un up
hit in the place he's to, t. get wind of
If that his little Dannie was happy
with oil Nick Top. He've a good deal
+, her I'm thinkin', where he's to: an
-,twould give un something t distract
his mind if he knowed you was dom
well But. Dannie, lad he pursued
with a lively little flash Of interest,
4hev's a queer thing about that. Now
lad. mark you! tits easy enough t. send
messa ges Aloft; but when it comes t
pattin' a line or two O comfort t. the