The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-07-01

GOWN Il Tree tlulih
aud barked saucily at Grandpa Ath-
erton there in the mellow glow OF the
May. morning, The patriarch shook
| his cane and the nimble jdckanapes
| turned tail and scampered TO the
crotch of the catalpa tree where ne
stuck his head through the fork ana
scolded yehemently.
"You young rascal" retorted Grand
pa Atherton, waving his stick feebly
in the air, you are making sport OF
me with your lusty antics-of me, an
old dried up yellow leaf that almost
any spring zephyr might blow away"
The squirrel responded in staccato.
like tones, clever imitation Of boy
with a discOrdant watchman's rattle.
Old Man Atherton did not reply
He was misunderstanding OF the
DAYS of his youth, the days OF fire
and manhood' heat, the days OF ac'
ton and of dreams, when his guild
ing star was Mercury, and Venus
thrilled him with rosy Pushes of love.
And then she came'
A tear trickIed out of Grandpa Ath-
erton's eye and ran precipitately down
his nose as he fumbled in the Inner
rocket of his waistcoat About him
the birds sang their matin songs the
breezes toyed with the corymbs Of the
elders and the laden bees hummed dill.
igently by with a song OF the honey
harvest.
And then the patriarch's vision
shifted to a cottage in valley of
contentment. to broad acres blooming
in the sunlight, and a baby's crib at
home with her lowering above II.
How happy they were! How the
meadowlarks caroled to them in the
early morning-and the soil was
springing sweet beneath his willing
feet
Grandpa Atherton was weeping
softly now. Down the road he saw
again the slowly winding cortege, the
quiet churchyard. His deafened ears
heard as with the keenness OF the
hunter the falling clods upon his
hope. his all!
With a little cry of pain, Grandpa
Atflerton clutched his cane, straight.
ened bit IN his chair and relaxed. A
catbird from the deutzla bush called
sweetly to her mate, the bees hummed
on in monotone above the budding
phlox. the squirrel ventured down
from his emerald heights and sat
peering wonderingly at the silent
figure in the great arm chair. Grow
ing bolder he came nearer the form
of his old friend, ran lightly up his
trousers leg and pcered into the ca
paclous pocket of his coat Suddenly
the squirrels head darted into the
aperture and appeared with "a nut.
Slipping backward down the arm of
the coat, the plundcrer struck the
hand lying upon the cane, and az
the stick fell gathering to the ground
fbe squirrel chartered in triumphant |
alarm. But Grandpa Atherton made
no answer. His head was resting
peacefully upon his breast. his life
less hand was hanging Imply on his
knee.
They found him there in his chair
the sunlight glinting on his withered
locks. In his lap. face up, lay the pic
ture of a beautiful girl. young and
fair. with the glory Of her hair about
her temples and her brow.
when he's forssk n,
withered and shaken,
What can an old man do but die"
o q %
-.Tiekle Grass.
Swearing to the truth does not make
truth any stronger.
Reformers should not be too particu-
lar about their bedfellows.
a woman may be too young to marry,
hut she is nevss 20 old to repent.
have always wanted to be rich |
long enough TO wear out my old |
clothes.
A bridal veil often comes in handy |
as mosquito bar to keep the flies of |
Of baby.
Progress is a chain in which every |
man who does his best is an impor |
tant link.
z 4 2
The man without money who tries |
n be an aristocrat Is apt TO become !
/ joke instead.
{. . {.
So They Are!
Some men are bound 20 have the upper /
and. even though they deal IL from the ]
,ottarn Of the deck China, Glass and q.
amp %
BYRON WILLIAMS.