The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-01-05
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III the stove, ana as the room began to
warm beneath its influence, the generous
man turned towards the poor woman
he was befriending.
Come, my dear woman he said,
set you down here by the stove and
warm yourself, for you must be sadly in
need Of it. will tx the food, for am
used to such things Come"
The man placed his hand upon Helen's
arm as he spoke and led her to the fire,
and after she was seated he procured
tin dish of water which he set upon the
stove.
| s'pose you wonder who | am,' said
the stranger, as he took off his thick pea
jacket and began to take from the pock-
cts thereof the bread he had bought.
Helen gazcd up into his face with an
earnest, wondering look.
L know you must be a friend,' she
said
More than that returned the man,
throwing his jacket across stool, and
then turning towards the milk-can, said,
Havn't you any idea of who l am p
Helen was silent
Don't you remember wild reckless
fellow who used to give you nuts and
candy, and who used to trot you on his
knee when you were laughing frolick-
ing girl =
Helen started up from her seat.
Don't you know me now = con-
tinued the man.
My Uncle William p tremblingly
uttered Helen.
Yes, yes-you've hit it. 1 am Bill
Fairfield, your fathers own brother.
They used to say that no good would
ever come of wild Bill, tut thank God
he's got enough to save you and yours.
So cheer up, my little Nelly"
Is it any wonder that Helen bounded
forward and rested upon the stout mans
bosom' Is it any wonder, either, that
her rough, kind-hearted uncle kissed her
over and over again Mr.. gives raised
himself upon his elbow and blessed God,
and In moment more, Uncle William
had lifted the child from the bed, and
brought him to the fire. Then he sat
down and told how many long years he
had been knocking around upon the
great ocean, and how he had been led
to the city of New York. He was the
only brother of John Fairfield Helen's
father-there having been only two
brothers and one sister. That sister, as
the reader knows, was the first wife of
Solomon Lowton; but. she had been
dead several years.
AS soon as Helen became calm, and
her uncle had related few simple facts
of bis life, the water upon the stove had
become hot, and the old sailor went to
work to fix up some nourishing drink,
for the sick man and the child. After
partaking of the food and drink, Albert
gives felt stronger, the child sank
gently to sleep, and Helen began to
look more like herself She drew her
seat nearer to the side of her uncle, and
again she blessed him for his kindness.
But my task isn't half done yet
said he. I'm afraid there's going to be
deep villany brought above board. Your
father was crazy, you say
Yes sir
'And Lowton had him carried off to
a mad-house y
TO hospital he said'
And then what became of him =
'He died, sir said Helen, while
tear started to her long lashes.
But you didn't see him.
'No sir-he was too far off,
THAT'S what Lowton told you, sup
posc;'
Yes sir
'Then I'm afraid the villain liedr
Helen looked mp into her uncle's face
with startled expression of wonder,
but before she could speak he continued
'NOw IN tell you exactly what
brought me home. In Rio came a.
cross man who had escaped from
private mad house in this city. He
happened to fall into my company one
evening, and he told me how he was
kept there in that house by men who
had an interest in keeping him out of
the way. He made his escape, but he
dared not remain in the city, so he fed
to South America. He told me of 9TH
er men who who were confined there.
Some of them were really mad, but one
or two of them were not. Of one man
he told me in particular-a man who
had stolen chances to converse with him
That man, he said, was far from being
mad, and yet he was kept there in chains.
lie had tried to escape, but he could
not From the mans description fear
ed it was my brother John.
My father !'gasped Helen.
Yes. But L have the exact directions
to the place, and -