The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1920-07-15
For Sallie
BY AUGUST S, SHERWIN


Copyright. 1870. Western Newspaper Union)
Sallie was an institution of Brook
Hollow Everybody knew her; every.
body loved her; n friend to all man
kind.
At ten Sallle was motherless and
grew up with a father who allowed
her to run wild. She rOamed the
woods verltable nOmad, she knew the
favOrte haunts OF game and fish, she
was familiar with every shrub and
flower. When her father died the poor
furniture of the lowly home had 10
be sold to pay his debts. She had left
only two relatives in the world that
she knew of--a half uncle in the city,
John Traynor and Mark Randall, her
dead mothers brother, old and infirm,
who eked out bare living working
for small brick plaat.
Her first thoughts turned to the lat
ter. He was simple-minded, gentle
hammered person whom twice Sallle had
nursed through severe spells Of sick.
ness out Of sheer pity, and to whom
she carried mile away a part Of her
regular Saturday baking of bread aud
cake. Salie was taken in temporarily
by kind.heartGd neighhOr. Two days
later there appeared the rich relative
from the city and the poor one from
Brook Hollow.
Facts" proclaimed John TraynOr at
once. - have come to scan them ard
make decision. We are blood rpla-
tions, child, hut YOU have 10 particular
call on my charity"
Have asked t?" demanded Sal
lie, reScntfully. ~ would not accept
II from you or anybody else"
l.. 'NcH, I can give you home and
! q good one, but ! can't he expected
to dress you as l do my daughters,
or waste a LOT Of money In educating
you. You'll he comfortable, but
you've got to earn that comfort"
Don't 90 with him, Salllc!" plead
ed Mark Randall brokcply. at isn't
much down at my poor old shack, but
your being there would make 1t n pal
nee to me. The little I have will he
gladly shared. Come" and he opened
his arms, and SallIe ran into them and
glarcd defantly at the shocked and
angry John TrNynor
Thus It was that Sallie chose hen
new home and was happy In It. She
had scrubbed and calcimined and reno
waited until the interior was snug and
sanitary and the little garden the envy
Of more opulent amateurs. She had {
genius for mnklng things grow, ant
air md sunshine kept her checks
abloom and her eyes bright, until now
grown to maiden quite, Salle haC
half the youth Of the village adornl
her.
4 ~ have no time to waste owe
Il heaux," she told them bluutly, all hn
Ellis Doahe He was shy, retiring
young fellow, but true rs steel. II
did not seek to "spoOn," or act romar
tic, and seemed content to follow Sa'
lie about the place when he called
!. busy MS herself with spade and rake
She liked his quiet, practical ways an
missed him when he secured clerl
ship In the town. Next to the Randa
place n man had built n perfect dreai
Of a bungalow. Failing health ha
taken him TO another part of the cOnl
! try, Just before Sallle's father ha
died. 4 sign had been tackled to
neat. ornamental fence surroundin
10 the place reading "Bor Sale, by Wat
q, & Ellis" and if Sallie had been askc
Of to express the one dearest wish of h
i'd heart II woull have been % posses
ty Brier cottage, as 1t was cal ID. The
(. were few applicants for the purcha'
tn Of the place. It was finally offert
I'd for half, and then for considerably lie
y, than one-third of its original cost.
lie "Oh, Uncle Mark" it was thus tn
lie she called Mr.. Randall, cant v
,e. npd some way to earn and save mon