The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-09-15


reckoned healthy place, and though
we live in humble way, compared with
what | see round me here, are quite
comfortable"
This assertion was the following day
satisfactorily proved to Mr.. Templeton,
who, according to previous arrangement,
went home with Mrs Dilling, who had
in charge his nephew, the little Alfred,
her own child being taken care Of by her
sister, who accompanied them for that
purpose. The child recommended him
self to his new nurse by being as quiet
all the way, as profound slumber could
make him, and when she transferred
him from her mothcrly arms to the hand.
some cradle which had preceded them
by different conveyance, he only for a
moment Enclosed his eyes, so as to give
a glimpse of their cerulean hue.
The room where the cradle was placed
was cool aud quiet, and the air which
came in at an open window was rendered
delicious by the perfume of sweet briar
reaching quite to the caves, through
which it stole.
The appearance of Mr.. Dilling pleased
Mr. Templeton far less than that of his
wife, and there could not in truth have
well been u stronger contrast, than that
exhibited by his sharp, angular and
somewhat swarthy face, with its keen,
restless eyes, and the rosy, good-humored
looking countenance of Mrs. Dilling.
"I shall come once before l leave
home probably in about a week, to see
how you are getting along" said Mr.
Templeton, a." and if previously to that
time the child should be ill, or anything
should be needed, be so good as to let
me know"
Mrs. Dilling promised, and Mr.. Tenn
pleton took leave with feeling of per-
feet confidence, that the child was in
excellent hands.
At night, when Mrs. Dilling undrcssed
the little Alfred, she noticed on the back
part of his neck, close to the roots of his
hair, four bright red spots, so arranged
as to form an exact diamond. She
thought it a rather singular mark, and
mentioned it to her husband, who replied
to her in a surly manner, saying that it
was nothing more than was to be ex-
pected that child belonging to such
rich, gentecl people as the Templetons,
should have something wonderful about
it, to distinguish it from other children.
For the next fifteen minutes, however,
he was silent and thoughtful, when he
said to his wife -
"Don't say anything about it to any
body"
"Do you mean the mark on the
child's neck :"
Yes"
"Well, 1 won't, unless mention it
to Mr.. Templeton."
/" You must not mention it to him."
1T is likely that he knows it. The
nurse would naturally show it to him."
"She may not be like you-feel
bound to tell everything she knows"
4" | am sure j ohm, if it were necessary,
| could keep a secret as well as you, or
anybody"
"Then see that you-Leep this a
secret"
cit is no more than fair that you
should give reason for your,command."
"Then let it be unfair, for l shall
give none at present. Some future day
day | may; and in the meantime, set
strong guard over your tongue"
cit appears to me, John, that what
ever reason you may have for such a re-
quest, no good will come of it. But
have your own way; l shall not mention
the matter-even to my own sister,"
BY this time, Mrs. Diling had put on
the child's night-clothes, and, in min
ute or two, it was fast asleep. As she
placed it in the cradle, her own child,
lying in one beside it, walked up. 1t
was bright, chubby little fellow, about
four months old, and reached its fat,
dimpled hands towards its mother, for
her to take him.
He will grow to be finer lad than
ever the other one WILL" said bis father,
his dark countenance assuming pleas