AN UNCUT DIAMOND.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1150, 8 November 1879, Page 2

AN UNCUT DIAMOND.

* [From the Detroit Advertiser."}

He wasn't one of these shiny, g o Ilviokiiiif chaps that I see every d<y han» r .ng about, ihe dopoi, dressed m h l.>ng overcoat sind plug hat, aud wit.h seemingly no other business f han >o swing- a dandy cane and -tare ar. the ladies. He didn't wear his hair parted m the middle. To tell the si rice truth, I don't believe it was Darted at ali, for it stood out all over his head m every direction, «nd rem nded one strongly of a bush on fire. That he wus from the country oue could see with haif an eye j the evideaoes of rural life were too plainly masked. His great; round, good-natured face had been kissed by the sua until it was the hue of a peony dud vm studded with freckles, as thick <s spots on tho back of a speckled hen EU hands were so large that one of them would hrtve made two good-sizsd ones for h dan ly, and left <some to spare. He wore number four teens patent , no, T m^in cowhides, with his pan's tucked m to show their yello* tops. Hi-» coat fitted j him like a schoolboy's j <cket, and was of a variety of colours now, owing to long usage and exposure. Wisps of straw protruded from the pockgb* and hung from every catchable place about him. Iv one band he carried his hroad-brimraed straw hat, and m the other an o'd carpetbag, which had lost the lock, being faster.cd together with a uu'CH of wool twine, and though great pains had evidently been taken with this, it failed to conceal stray glimpses of nether elements and something that looked immensely like a red flannel nit*ht-cap. S^atiny- himself by the ai le of an elegantly-dressed lady, and puitiu^ the aforesaii bag be wren his feet for sate keeping, he drew out his red banianna and mopped off his forehead. The lady drew away her rich silks impatientlj, and with a frown which said plainly, " You are out of your place, sir." But he didu't seem to notice it m the least, for very soon he tamed to her and remarked g iodhuinoredly : "An all-6red h>t day, marni ! Going fur ?" The lady.deijnel no reply. Supposing himself unheard, he repeated m a louder tone : 11 A.n all-fired hot d.y! I say, mann, goin^ fur ?" No reply, but a look of supreme indignation. " Why," he exclaimed, evidently for the benefit of the whole crowd, " the poor critter's deaf." Bending forwaid, he screamed, " I'm sorry you're d>af, marm. How long have you bin so ? If you waru't born so, maybe 'tis only ear-wax what's hardened m your ears. I know what.'ll cue that, sure as guns. It cured my^ Uncle Ezra. I'll give you the ••ecip», mm-m, an' welcome ; perhaps yot'd better wri eit down. Take a M« ?oa|i m$ waters—," • :

"Sir." said ths lady, rising, her eyes bl«zing with wrath, "do you intend to insult nic ? I shall complain of you to the police !" and she swept haughtily out of the depot. " Waal, I never !" he exclaimed. I'm b^at ! What struck her ? I'm sure I was jest a-speakiV for her trood. T wan on'y a-goin' to say: Take a leetle soap and water, warm, and syringn it into tho curs, three • imes a d*y. It's snre ; and I'll bet my beat he fer on it, if she had only heord to a feller, it would have done the business for her. Bit some folks never like t-> hear their uuf.irtu'iiifctes spoke of, 'and I s'p^se I hadn't oner of look any notice on'G," and he relapsed into silence. Presently the western t.rain cam*flue, and a tired-looking womau came m with two children hanging to her skirts and a b»iby m her arms, beside a band-box and a satchel. If was the only seat vacant. She sank iuto it with a weary sigh, and tried to hush the fretlul baby and keep watch of thw two other restless, fluttering budgetM, who were also tired and fretful, and kepo teasing for this and thai until the poor motherlooked ready to sink. " Pre-ty tired, marmp" remarked Jonathan. " Going far ?" " To Bosfpi, sir," replied the lady, courteously. " G.»t lo wait long V* " Until three " (glancing at me). " Oh, dearies, do be quiet ; and don'i tease mother any mure!" " Look-a-here, yon young shaver*, and see whai I've «ot m m.i pocket," and he drew out a handfu; of peppermint; drops. In a lew muiutes they were both upon his knees, eating their candy and li-iten-ing eagerly while he told them -on drtrlul stories about the sheep and Ctilves ai; home. But the baby wouldn't; go to sleep. He was quite heavr, and wanted to be tossed the whole time Jonathan noticed this ; and finding a string somewhere m the depths oi His old carpet-bag, he taught thr children a game which he called " Oats Oradlr." Soon they were sea;ed on the depot, floor, as hap,iy •»s two kittens. " Now let me take that youngster, mann," he said, " you looh clean beat out. I guess I can pleas*him. 'Tin a powerful hwnd with oabie-," and he tosse i the grea lump of flesh up until it crowed w'ub dwligiit. Bv-aud-liye'ic dropped it.head upon his shoulder and went i sleep Two hoara afterward' I peered through the window, as he helpe' her ami her belo gings aboard Ch' cars, and I don'r. believe if it hat been the Czu- of Russia she coul h-ive looked any more grateful or thanked him an\ sweater. "'lain?, nothin' at all, m rm," I heard him s^.y bashfully, but i ku-.»w site thought diflerendy, ai>d so did I. He came n»«:k, r- -sumed his sui-. and buying a pint of penuuts frou. a thiu-faced little girl — givi.i. twelve ceuts instead of ten f t them — sat munching uw .y in hnar' > Pnjoyment an il the northern trai c^rne due. Then he snatched hi dilapidated car et- bag and that o^ hi old lady's near by, who vva* .struggling feebly toward tbe door. "Lean ri^ht on ma, mann; Fn sse yon a.ife chrongb," he said, | cheerfully. j The conducter shouted "AI aboar ) " and rhe train moved away As I looke»l around at the eraut-. seats I thought, "Something brigu has gone out of this depot that do.' not c >rue m every d iy — an HjNest HEART."