The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-05-07

had Iailen from MS sHou1ucrs, anu nc
stood supporting with his single arm the
trembling old form before him. With
frame conyulsed and a sob like that Of
child, be exclaimed =
i am James Harding y
James p
'Mo,hcrn
And the strong Elan bowed over the
senscless weight in his arms, and wet
her old cheeks with wealth of long pent
up tears.
Joy seldom kills. Old Mrs. Hard
ing'S dreams were fulfilled She return
cd to Consciousness, aud on the neck Of
her long lost boy, poured out with her
tears her thanks 10 God.
james Harding threw his cloak around
his mothcr,an hurried her in to the car
iiage which had been standing at the
door. She found others iu the carriage
lat communcd with her own thoughts
as they passed around to the house Of
Michael Palmer.
Darkness was without, and no light
hut the firc-hamc shonc on the windows
the Christmas supper was untasted --
Stopping before the door, Harding took
bis child from it., wrapping Of furs and
knocaed at rbe door. Mrs. Palmer OPP
cnci 1t, aud Harding asked for shelter
for the nieht, for himself aud child.
No 10, stranger, answered the old
man, 'we are poor ana cannot keep you.
The tavern i, just ahead
But answered Harding the child
is cold, and the night is dreadful, with
out. You can keep the child surely
The mothers heart had answered to
fac first appeal, and had olready un-
hooked the childs cloak and hood and
was hoifng his hands towards the fire.
The child instantly placed confidence in
The old lady, ana turned it, face, wond
rinqly to hers.
BE you my grandma ? he asked, af-
ter "a long look at the aged face.
so, my little one. Have you got a
grandma =
Yes, hayc-way of in the States
l'm ooiug to see her-I be-
Who is your grandma =
Don't kuow-grandma, | guess"
What is your name, little one =
Michael Palmer Harding is m,
name
Mrs. Palmer started 1t was strang
that the boy should have such name
and she looked long and steadily into tn
innocent face
Don't you know my pa and ma ? tn
child continued.
The old lady still looked, and SCENE
lost in thought.
'Bell's eyes and hair for all tn
world: = she murmured. Strange
STRANGE
whats that, Mary asked the hus
band, who's got Bcll's cyes;'
The child Aud look at him Mi
chael. He says his name is Michac
too =
The old gentleman put on his glass;
and peercd into his child's face.
Is you name Michael, little man
he asked.
Yes, sir, I was named after grandpa
BE you him >
The old man passed his hand acros
his brow, looked again, and made tn
clild repeat the remark, A though
struck him, and he returned to tn
stranger, who stood still, as if forgot
ten.
Whose child is this, may we ask 20
hr, and what is his name =
lie belongs TO his parents, his nam
he has told YOU
But, SIR continued the excited oil
man, you must pardon us old people,
we ask you who are his parents =
james and Bell Harding. she wa
once Bell Palmer =
What do you say !" both the old PEI
pie exclaimed in breath, moving cage
ly nearer the stranger.
Say The truth, was The brief answe
'Our Bell &"
Yes, your Bell
In Gods name, sir, tell US where
is Bell Palmer living?
'She is.'
Say that again, sir~-say it TO me
exclaimed Mrs. Palmer, grasping th
strangers arm almost fercey.
4 thousand times, if 'twould gratif
you he answered,
Where =
Here y
You triAe, sir, she was our girl
And would she be forgiven were sh
TO c)llo back = the stranger slowl!
asked
God have mercy J exclaimed the o.
man could see her and before
! 1 4 L Il.
his claspcd hands, in speeches. agon
You SHALL see her, Michael Palmer
was the reply. Even while say