The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-09-15
THE ORPHAN,

while, he had broken his china do9s, pulled
the fringe off from the table cover,ysnired
the varisatcd birds worked on the footstool
until he turned it over; had crawled to the
patch of sunlight resting on the roses on the
carpet. and clutched at the golden rings, and
played with his transparent fingers. Still no
one came. lie fretted, then looked with a
sudden quiet and vague expression into the
fire, magneticaly drawn by the bright Goals
shining through the high fender, into an ad-
miration of beauties. Thena as the loneliness
of his situation recalled itself to his mind, he
cried again softly, with large tears running
down his plump, rosy cheek.
Josey was cold, hungry and frightened-he
had never been alone before and the first
formed word his little tongue had ever utter
ed, passed moanr j. his pouting lips-"mam-
ma" "mamma."
Poor little Joseyl lie did not know that
she, who would have caught him In her arms
and covered him with kisses at this first token
of intellect, couldn't longer hear him; that
she rested on her stately couch pale rs the
snow-drops they placed beside her, hands
calmly folded upon her meek bosom, and
deep solemn sleep settling upon her sweet
young face.
He did not know, little lone orphan, how
her hand had been clasped in prayer, and that
when her soul went on that long journey, it
carried with it prayer for him TO the throne
of grace-that the thought OF him was the
only cloud upon her breast as she hastened
to join the beloved one who had gone before.
No; Josev knew not this. He cried sill
piteously, until strangers came with kind
words and sad faces, and carried him down
stairs As he passed her door, he instructive
" murmured the new word, ''mamma," ""mam.
ma" until they hushed him. Then, bewil-
dered, frightened and weary, he cried, and
hiding his head among the pillows of the fa-
miliar cradle, sobbed himself TO sleep.
Smiles dimplcd his flushed face in that
sleep. An angel mother led him in her arms
soothcd his trembling lips, and whispered
words of love into his car. Still he did not
know that he was an orphan Alas! poor
child, he learned it soon enough.
The fine house was sold and all its elegan-
cies. Expenses were paid, and the small sum
remaining put in trust for the boy into the
hands of man of integrity. Josey lived in
his family. There were other boys and girls,
but they were all "to the manor born" Jo-
scy was an intruder.
He was always shy, quiet boy, and grew
still more so amid this childish throng He
sought out dark corners, and glided into them
unperceved. He talked to himself, when
alone, and shared no joys or sorrows. He
was unlike other children; they had mothers.
He would watch the mother as she impul-
sively caught to her heart some little prattler,
and turn away sadly. No one kissed him.
No one looked with pride on his copybook.
No one tied his tippet about his neck with
care. No one stole on tptoc at night TO his
bedside, to see if he were comfortably and
happily sleeping. No one saved cakes and
candy for him in the bureau drawers, or stuff
ed his dinner basket with favoritc morsel.
No; he was ''one set apart" He must take
what comes and be thankful.
Poor little Josey Even the teachers knew
he had no mother and neglected him, or re.
membered him in long tasks, so hopelessly
hard that none but mother could have made
easy And when his head or heart ached
there was no breast to bear all his troubles
no hand to cool the fever of his brow with
its gentle, caressing touch. Poor Josey
A change had gradually passed over Josey.
He had grown thin and pale; his eyes were
large and naturally bright; his form fragile
and shadowy. Friends whispered when he
passed, and boys made room for him by the
winter fire. Little girls shared their dinners
with him. Everybody was so kind that he
could never do enough for them.
One day as he sat by the fire sad and dis
pirted, the tears ,0ouh roll down his cheeks
"Why does Josey cry!' said a little child to
her mamma
",The poor boy has no mother" returned
the parent.
ayes" cried the child with eager voice and
manner; Eyes, Josey has mamma, she is an
angel in Heaven" The lady took the child
in her arms and kissed her, while thesewords
sank deeply into Josey's heart.
81 hare mother" he whispered perpetual.
" TO himself. 81 will find herr
The sun rose proudly up one bright Christ
mas morning, and shone in upon Joscy's bed,
tinging his brown hair with gold, and calling
him sluggard, lighting up temptngly the
dark corner where hung the full stocking.
Doors opened and closed. Merry laughter
rang through the hall. A gay throng came
dancing in.
"Josey, Josey, ] wish you merry Christ
mas"
They crowd around his bed. lie sleeps so
deeply and lies so still. His face is white al.
though the thin lips wear n smile. They
shudder and cry loudly
~Josey is dead"
Yes, Josey has found his mother, and the
angels in Heaven are singing: "A happy
Christmas to Won. Josoy" .