The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-09-11
WESTERLY, r. l., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER II, 1856.

what do you want = said the ricl
man, giving her glance.
/ came to tell you, sir, that my mo-
tber wants to see you
Mr.. Griswold set a moment in silence,
and then he drew out his pocket book
extracted number of notes and reached
them to the child, who grasped them
eagerly and with a light bound sprang
to the door but the heavy latch had
closed so tightly that Hettie's strength
was insufficient to open it. Mr.. Girls
void looked for a few seconds on va
cancy and then he arose and lifted the
latch, but he still fingered with the door
closed, and extending his hand he said,
Let me look at the notes again, little
girl
Hettie handed them back, and in
another moment he returned them to his
pocket book, saying
Tell your mother if she wants to see
me she must come here, and l can't
spare any money now
My mother is too sick sobbed the
child but Mr. Griswold didu't seem to
observe what she said, he only wen,
back to his desk and read his newspaptr I
upside down, with a flushed face, and
the office boy rejoiced when the Old
South clock released him at noon from
the sharp tones of his employers voice
and SO the day wore away.
Will you 60, mother p said Albert
looking up earnestly in her face.
Mrs. Griswold sat thoughtfully gazing
into the CRATE for a moment, and then
answered yes, and in short time, with
Albert's hand clasped within her own
sho walked quickly down the street, and
then struck off into narrow alley and
ascended three or four flights of stairs.
Ere Mrs. Griswold reached the top OF
the last flight, she half turned to 60
back, but her boy sprang past her and
threw back the door that closed the in
valid's room.
Mrs. Griswold, unknown to her hus-
band, had often visited the poor, sud
supplied them with many comforts; but
no scene that she had ever witnessed
had equalled this in intensity of wretch
edness; but We will not stop to describe
it, save that the mother lay dying, with
none near her but little Hettie. Mrs.
Vinton's lips were sealed to be unclosed
no mere, but the windows of her soul
was open, and through them she looked
out upon the group, and manifested by
signs the hope that the mother of the
boy would be kind to her child, nor let
her perish with want. Mrs. GriSwold
promised, and week later the orphan
child was furnished with comfortable
clothes, and sent to a kind neighbor's
house to remain until she could be per-
manently provided for.
When Hettie's long curls were combed
out SMOOTHLY, and her feet encased in
neat shoes, with becoming garments
adorning her graceful form, Mrs Girls
void would gladly have adopted the
child as her own, but her husband would
not consent to it, and when she mention
ed the name of the child, he babe her
never speak to him again concerning
her, but let her &c and take her chance
with other paupers.
1t had been several years now since
Mrs. ClaAin had visited her daughter
she knew that she was looked upon by
the husband as an unwelcome guest, and
in her letters she pleaded growing mfr
mites as the cause of her absence -
After Mrs. Griswold had spoken of the
adoption of Hettic, and been so abrupt
ly refused, new idea seemed to enter
her brain, and few weeks after she in
formed her husband that she sh 1uld like
to visit the cottage where she spent her
childhood, and amid old scenes spend a
short time with her mother.
Although Mr.. Griswold seemed rath r
reluctant to have her go, he consented,
aud supplied her literally with money,
for he wished to show the rustics of her
native place, how superior had been her
lot in life. With joy did the rich man s
wife hasten the preparations, and in a
few days she was ready with her idol boy
to visit the home Of her childhsod,-