The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-06-11
KAIIDA PUTNAM oUNTY OHIO FRIDAY, JUNE ii, ls4z

single tallow candle to sew for herself
This, in her estimation, was more like recre
alton than work was what she daily perfor
med as means of obtaining money will
which 10 buy food and clothing for hersel
and her little ones. All the time she coult
gain from this necessary toll, 10 make ant
mend her own and her chldren's clothes
seemed to be like holiday, and was enjoy
ed quite as we'll and even better than some
persons enjoy their hours ofrecreation.
The widow Oliver, though poor and will
small means, had woman's heart. She Low
I'd her children and worked for them will
as much earnestness and far more real pleas
ure than merchant works for the wealth HI
seeks to accumulate. While her affection
prompted her to do all in her power 10 sup
ply their wants, it also prompted her TO teacl
them to be contented with what they ha,
and TO love one another.
She had finished her days work as WI
have said, and had drawn her chair close Il
the small light emitted bya poor candle, il
order TO sew for herself, as she called it,
This sewing for herself was making some
coarse aprons for her children, TO cover ant
protect their clothes. She had not noticed
until now that it was slorming. The DAY
had been cloudy, but snow had not begur
to descend until after night-fall A rustlnl
against the windows first gave her notice Of
the change that had occurred without. A
slight shiver passed through her frame, more
from The idea Of GOODNESS than from any reaI
change in her bodily sensation, and she mo-
we'd her little workable closer to the fire ol
wood that was burning cheerfully upon the
hearth.
Thus alone the widow sat and piled her
busy needle, no sound falling upon her ears
except the murmur of the blazing fire, the
clicking Of her thimble, and the occasional
rushing Of the storm against the windows, or
its deep hollow moaning, as it swept around
her humble dwelling. She had been sew
ing for nearly an hour, when she stopped
suddenly and listened; she laid down her
work, and taking the candle in her hand went
up stairs into the room over the one where
she had been sitting and her children lay
asleep. Two were in bed upon the floor,
and the third, who was little more than a
babe, lay in the middle Of her own bed
She held the light close to the face of this
one and saw that he was not only sound
asleep but had not moved since she laid him
there. She then looked at the other child
rem for moment or two. After this she
went down stairs and resumed her work.
She had not taken many stitches before she
paused again, and this with something like a
start. The low cry of child had fallen up
on her ear with distinctness not to be mis-
taken. Again she ascended TO the chamber,
but all remained as she had left it but a min
ute before. The children we're fast asleep,
and evinced no sign of reslessness. Mrs.
Oliver stood and listened in the chamber for
some time, but all remained quiet. She then
went below and sat down beside her work.
table TO resume her sewing, but ere she had
taken her work in hand the CRY of child
was again heard, but from whence the sound
came she could not tell. It seemed near TO
her, and yet not in the room, nor in the
chamber above; nor was the voice like that
ofone of her own children. Breathlessly
she listened, with lips apart and every sense
alive. In few moments the cry was re-
pea,ed, loader and more prolonged. She
arose to her feet, listened again, and then
sprang to the door, unfastened and opened
it. As she did so, the cold air, thick with
large flakes of snow, rushed in Apon her, and
for moment took away her breath and
blinded her eyes. As soon as she was able
10 see, she perceived that a basket had been
placed by some one upon her doorstep; at
the same instant the cry that had before fall
len upon her ear rose from the basket, and
explained the mystery. The truth flashed
over her mind-seme heartless mother had
her newborn babe!
"Bless me!" exclaimed the widow, seizing
The basket eagerly and lifting it within the
room, al the same time that she closed the
door and locked it. Enveloped in many
folds ofa fine soft blanket and entirely pro-
lected from the cold and snow, she found
A male infant, apparently not more than a
week old. Several changes of clothes were
n the basket, and paper containing small
paper containing small sum of money
But there was no message from the cruel
mother to her to whom she had consigned
ler babe--not even the simple request that
he helpless one should at least receive kind
,ess for its own sake. Fully and entirely
lad ii been abandoned, seemingly without
hought for its welfare.
In the morning, it soon became known
hat ar infant had been left, on the previous
light, at the door Of widow Oliver, and
he neighbors came in one after another to
Zee the babe and to talk over the strange in
;ident.
"What are you going to do with III" was
he universal question, and
uHoar :. :, mas tho unvarvinO renlv