Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-14

her in return, he walked on in unsuspecting
silence After proceeding short distance in
this manner, the lady observed to him that she
was under the necessity of making brief call
at the house then at hand, and, if he was dis
posed to continue his kindness, he might take
her basket along with him, and deposit it in the
hall of his hotel and throwing an anxious
and troubled look on the other and his charge,
she Immediately disappeared.
Proceeding directly to his hotel, Captain Lo-
ton deposited the basket in the hall, as request
ed, and repaired to the dinner table, where the
guests were already assembled. and where he
soon related his adventure with the unknown,
jovially remarking that, when she called for
her basket, he thought he should attend her
home, and try to improve his acquaintance. The
landlord, better acquainted with the manners
of the town, and recalling the impositions that
had sometimes been practiced on strangers by
wanton females, in palming off their offspring,
smiled, and began to rally him on the posibili-
ty the basket in question might contain some
ting for which the owner might not be likely
to call very soon, and advised him to examincit.
AT that moment the cries of a child were heard
issuing from the basket, and roar of laughter
burst from the gentlemen at the table, at his
expense. Though greatly surprised, and not
little chagrined, at this sudden proof of what
his host had just suggested, Captain Lotion yet
bore the laugh and merry jokes of the company
with unrufiled good humor, and, rising from
the table he cooly proceeded to the basket,
opened it, and found it did contain, sure enough
an infant,-a pretty and healthy-looking fe-
male infant-in whose features he could clear
ly trace the lneaments of that pale and sor
rowful face which had 80 won upon his heart,
and which, one hour before, he supposed be-
longed to one as excellent in virtue as she was
lovely in person. And he could not now feel to
condemn her, dupe as he knew he would be
considered of her artifce, or bring himself to
believe that this seemingly unnatural act was
committed by her except under some peculiar
exigency. But however that might be, he
knew he was now fairly saddled with respon-
sibility which he little coveted. Still he had too
much independence of mind and benevolence of
heart to suffer the ridcule Of his acquaintance
to drive him to neglect his charge, as much as
he was at loss what to do with it,
"Oh, don look so serious about it," said
one Of his acquaintance. " This city provides
for such cases send it to the almshouse."
"Never replied the other, " if money will
procure it better situation"
And, in pursuance of his benevolent resolu-
and he was soon fortunate enough to find a
good one, with whom he made satisfactory ar
rangement to take the child to her house and
keep it till she saw him again. He then went
on hoard his vessel, weighed anchor, and set sail
for home.
Soon after his return to Boston, Captain Lo-
ton was promoted to the command of an India
man, and made two successful voyages to the
East. But his bosom had been touched, and, in
spite of his endeavors to Danish thoughts wl.ich
his better judgment told him he had little reason
to cherish, the image of one soft, speaking coun-
tenance continued to haunt him, and his heart
secretly yearned to resume an intercourse with
that sunny garden of the ocean with which those
thoughts were associated. As will be anticipa-
ted, he conceived distaste for the East India
voyages, and resigning his post to another, ac-
cepted an offer he had received to take command
of fine vessel fitting out for the West Indies
and was soon on the way to the scene of his
former adventures, which he reached after an
absence Of nearly three years.
As soon as the duties connected with the
landing of his cargo would permit, Captain
Lotion went in search of his protege, whom he
found in the care of the same poor but worthy
woman to whose trust the child was at first con
signed and of whose fathfuness to that trus
sufficient witness was seen in the neat ant
healthy appearance of the child herself, now
grown from the helpless and unconscious infant
he had left her, to beautiful and interesting
little prattler.
"She recalls to my mind more and more o.
her mother looks, every time turn my eye
upon her face" observed the captain, with q
half sight, after musingly gazing at the objec
of his remark, during II moment when she res
ted from her childish pranks, and turned to
wards him look of wondering innocence
sc But what do you call her!" he added, ad
dressing himself more directly to the woman
Mary" .. PA.
"Mary what!"
"Mary Lotion, to be sure" replied the wo
man, with queer, meaning expression.
"Why. you don't suppose this to be m
child, except by its coming into my possession
by finding, as the lawyers say in their writs,-
do you asked the captain, in surprise.
"There are Others who will have it SO, at an
rate," answered the woman.
"Well, | hope you have not believed them
at least so far an to prevent you from trying t
discover the mother, as requested you to do.
"No, have not believed them, for kno,
your character, and have taken much pains i
endeavoring to find out the motter.''
And with what success "
Little or none. No inquiries have ever boo
made for the child and think the mother,
not an irretrivably lost character, must hay
left the island Immediately perhaps with SON
one of the many families that come to wint,
here from England or the American coast; PEE
haps she was herself a foreigner, and came hel
, with them"
Probably you are right,-for an abandon
J ed woman will never believe her.,
81 hope she was not; but whatever was Il
mother her bahe has uroved ma r. .to s,oo4