Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-08-20
From PetersOa's National Ladies Magasae.
I HE LITTLE MILK-M AID.
ny ANNIE ARNOLD.

Mrs. AUSTIN was, with her son, taking he
afternoon drive. The day was very cold
But wrapped closely in furs, the occupants o
| the luxurious carriage felt not the chilling
blast, and cared not for the light cover Of
snow upon the ground. They were returning
from the city, after making purchases, to Their
own home. 1t was growing dark, but before
them was the prospect OF the dining-room
awaiting them, supper spread, and fire ready
to comfort them after the long ride.
" Mamma 7, said Harry, suddenly, /" heard
somebody calling. Stop, John,' and he gave
the check string u violent pull, Sc listen"
Above the noise Of the wind came the cry,
+" Help, for the love of heaven.''
Mrs. Austin and Harry left the carriage and
followed the voice. They had not gone far
before they found the speaker. 1t was a wO-
man, young and pretty, but meanly dressed,
who, now senseless, lay stretched out on the
road. By her side stood little girl, some two
or three years of age, sobbing and wringing
her baby hands, crying, '' Mamma, open your
eyes, manma.''
There was no time for hesitation. John, by
his mistress directions, placed the woman in
the carriage; the others followed, and they
were driven rapidly home.
Reader, would you like a description OF oul
characters We will step into the chamber o
Mrs. Austln's house, where tho Arvsi
carried, and there we ind;
Illpt5 Nllo. AuStln, u wealthy WluOM Ol hDOu
| thirty. Married at sixteen, she was at nine.
teen left widow with large fortune and {
son two years old, the same lad is now beside
her. Still young, she is very handsome. Hel
figure is tall and stately, her eyes large and
dark, her black hair glossy and abundant, and
her features delicately cut and regular. She
is bending over the stranger found on the
road, and trying to restore animation. Harry,
now eleven years old, strongly resembles his
mother. Kneeling now beside her he is trying
to comfort the child, who still weeps bitterly.
The little one is beautiful. Her rich, dark
curls cluster in pretty rings round small,
wcll-shaped head, her eyes are large and of a
dark, hazel-color, her complexion is slightly
tanned by the sun, but the round, white shoul-
dcrs show how fair it naturally is. She is
dressed in print frock, has coarse, clumsy
shoes, and no stockings; and for u mantle this
cold day in winter, has only coarse apron of
her mothers, while cape-bognet covers the
pretty curls.
Mrs. Austin tried in vain to restore the poor
woman TO life. The doctor was sent for, and
pronounced the cause of her death to be dis
ease of the heart, added 10 exposure to the
cold and extreme fatigue. Her feet, blistered
by walking, showed the distance she had trav-
elcd.
Mrs. Austin paid the expense of decent
funeral, and then turned her attention to the
child. Neatly and warmly clothed by her
care, the little stranger, who gave her name as
4" Kate" was a pretty picture, and in the two
days before the funeral SO won Mrs. Austin's
kind heart that she concluded to adopt her,
much to Harry's delight.
As time passed on, little Kate won her way
so completely to her benctactress' heart, that
she seemed TO divide it equally with Harry
Aunt Lizzie, Mrs Austin allowed her to call
her and the three were united as ii of ono
blood. As Kate became old enough, aunt
Lizzie herself undertook her education, and
was we'll repaid Tor her trouble by the quick
ness and intelligence of her little pupil.
When Kate was hut ten year old, Mrs. Aus
tins health became very feeble, and being ad-
vised by the physician TO travel, she concluded
to spend year in Europe. Her little protegee
now gave her some uneasiness. She had
concluded to take Harry, now fine lad of
as a protector in her travels, but it
was not convenient to add Katy to the party.
At length she determined to leave the little
girl in the care OF Harry's old nurse, Dame
Carey, and providing suitable sum for her
maintenance during her own absence, she
placed it in the hands Of DR.. Porter, true
friend of the ehild's, and then left her home
for her travels. Poor little Katy suffered dread
fully in this parting from her best friend. 1t
was her first sorrow since her mother died, and
she felt it keenly. The little cottage of Dame
Carey was not nearly so pretty, to her eye, as
little country village OF hi, in the heart of
Massachusetts. Dame Carey, an old but ener-
getic woman, was disposed to be kind to the
little girl but her ideas of education were
different from Mrs. Austin's. Kate
was DOW obliged to rise very early, make her
OWL bed, sweep her room, and assist in get
ting breakfast. In the many household duties
required from her by her new protectress, she
found little time for the studies Mrs. Austin
had left her. DR.. Porter grieved by the COM
planning tone Katy took whenever she spoke
10 him, tried, and succeeded in maSing her
more contented. His commands to Dame
Carey were sufficient to obtain some hours for
Kate's studies every day, and anxious to please
amt Lizzie the child eagerly availed herself
of them. In three months after Mrs. Austin
left her, her blithe voice sang as gay songs in
the little cottage as they had ever sung in the
Sc great house,"
6 6 You mustn't, you mustn't. Aunt Lizzie
never told you to-"
Was that Kate's sweet voice raised TO such
harsh pitch by passion?
DIR. Porter paused on the landing, and then
loud sobs, and Dame Carey's voice In stern
remonstrance was heard.
eel am your mamma nov, remember that
Stand stlll''
| DR.. Porter went into the little parlor. No
| one there. The dining-roOm. No one there
| Then into tie chamber above. There stood
Katy, weeping as if her heart would break, and
all her rich, daik curs lying on the floor be
| side her, while Dame Carey, armed with large
pair of scissors, was severing the last one iron
\ her head.
az nh Dr porfar - ,,;a Irot,. sor;noin0 IN