The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-07-10

/ knowed our folks was long-lived.
Ten years back, when Sam wrote he
was doin' fair an sent me money,
begun to think Of him; fur he was al
lus generous an kind, an the CRATE
fullest boy, an so began to save ito
60 to him, fur znowed | could work
my board for good many years to
come. Fur three years he amt hard
ly wrote, but laid that to the wild
lSentry he lived in. | said bears and
huns don't skeer me none, fur when
+ was gal up in Aroostuk kentry
there was plenty of both, an as fur
buffalers. them horned cattle don't
skeer me none, fur I've been used to.
farm allus But the lonesomeness
of these medders has sorter upset me
and made me think every day Sam
was further off than ever calclated
on
"But what will you do if Sam amt
in Denver?" asked. the farmer.
Il hev put my faith in Providence
she answered simply, and the strang-
er could not mar that trust by any
word of warning.
He gave her his address as he got
off at the Nebraska line, and told her
to send him word il she needed help
With a warm hand-clasp he parted
from her to join the phantoms in her
memory of folks that had been kind
to her, God bless me-" and then the
train was rumbling on.
But many of the passengers had
listened, to her story and were inter-
ested, and they came to sit with her.
One pale little lad in the seat in
front turned to look at her now and
then and to answer her smile. He
was going to the new country for
health and wealth, poor lad, only to
find eternal rest in the sunny land,
but his last days frightened by the
reward for his thoughtful act and
kindness
"'She probably brought those boys
up, he thought, land denied her life
for them Is she to die unrewarde1,
wonder? There cannot be any
good in the world if that be So" He
thought of her and took out his purse;
there was so little money in it, too,
every cent made big hole in his
store; but the consciousness of a good
deed was worth something. Il mayn't
have the chance to do many more,
thought the lad, buttoning his worn
overcoat.
He slipped off without word at
station and sent telegram to Den
yer.
"To Samuel Blair"--for he had
caught the name from her talk
"Your Aunt Hannah Blair is on The
w. and W. train coming to you"
1t was only straw but kindly
wind might blow it to the right one
after ALL When he was sitting there
after his message had gone on its
way, she leaned over and handed him
a peppermint drop from a package in
her pocket.
"You don5t look strong, dearie," she
said; "ain't We no. folks with ye?"
"None on earth"
Were both lone ones" she smiled,
IAN how sad it be there amt no one
to fuss over We. An be keerful Of the
drafts, and keep fannels allus on
your chist; that is good fur the
lungs"
"You are very kind to take an in
terest in me" he smiled; "but /
am afraid. it is too late"
Another night of weary slumber IN
the cramped seats and then the plain
began to be dotted with villages, and
soon appeared the struggling out
skirts of city, the smoke of mills,
the CLEAN of the Platte River, and
net work of iron rails, bright and
shining, as the train ran shrieking
into the labyrinth of its destination.
"This is Denver" said the lad to
her, "and I'll look after you as we'll
as l can"
II won't be no burden" she said,
brightly I've twenty dollars yet,
an that's a sight of money"
The train halted to let the east
ward-bound express pass, there was
an air of excitement in the car, pass
engers getting ready to depart, gath
ering up luggage and wraps, and
some watching the newcomers and
the rows of strange faces on the out
ward bound
The door of the car slammed sud.
denly, and big-bearded man with
eager blue eyes came down the aisle,
looking sharply from right to left. He
had left Denver on the express to
meet this train. His glance fell on
the tiny black figure.
why, Aunt Hannah" he cried,
with a break in his voice, and She
she NIT ont her trembling hand and