The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-30
NEW SERIES.---VOL 6, NC. IA.
'DyingP The face of Mrs. Watson grew

yes. Poor woman she's had hard
time in this world, and I hope she'll find
better one on the other side OF deaths dark
river
'What is to become Of her little Ellen =
Heaven knows replied the neighbor.
HAS she no relatives to whom the child
can be sentp
None that ever heard Of. think she
stands entirely alone in the world. But time
is passing, Mrs. Watson, and the fckering
candle of her life may 60 out at any moment
'Wait moment, until l get my shawl and
hood.' And Mrs. Watson left her neighbor
and ran up stairs. She was back in a min.
ute, and the two women repaired to the hum
BILE abode of their dying neighbor. Ellen,
the child to whom reference has been made,
was only three years old. She was the wild
ow's oil in this world. They found her
nesting close to her mother, whose white,
shadowy hand was toying with the golden
curls that lay in masses about her face. 1t
was plain, Ut glance. that only few sands
in the glass OF life remained, and that the dy.
ing mother was SO far awsy from mortal con-
sciousness as to be freed from tie pangs Of
separation. And so she died-ded with ut
one appeal for love and protection for the
tender, precious being she was leaving be,
hind her alone in the world.
There. was no attempt to remove Ellen
from the arm Of her mother until life ceased
to struggle for mastery over the heart. Then
Mrs. Watson iited her tenderly away; and
as she did so, the child put her arms about
her neck and laid her head down, trustingly,
on her bosom, through which motherly i'm
pulse ran Ike q new vital warmth.
Poor, motherless child = sobbed the really
tender. hearted woman. Poor, motherless
li,lle one =
What shall we do with her ! asked the
neighbor, in tone Of doubt.
i will run home with her and keep her
for to night replied Mrs. Watson.
you've q housefull Of your own.'
Il know but we can make room for one
more"
1T will be true charity said the neighbor.
So Mrs. Watson ran home with the little
girl in her arms. Ellen was already asleep
when she entered the room where her hus.
band sat moodi|y before the CRATE.
Poor Mrs. Jenkins is deod ! she exclaim.
ed, in low but excited tone.
Dead! Her husband repeated the words
in half bewildered manner.
yes she pissed, just now, to the better
world, and We brought this mo'herless lit
tie one home to keep her until tomorrow.
! Oh, John it would have mpde your heart
ache could you have seen what did-thit
child lying upon the bosom Of her dead mo-
ther.' And tears fell over Mrs. Watson,
cheeks.
WAS there no one but you to take her
1t seems to me, that of oil o,hers, you shoul,
have been spared this part Of the business.
|, Mr.. Watson's voice was cold and Iretful.-
We've trouble enough with cur own chill
dren.'
Il shall only keep her for tonight wal
replied to this ungracious welcome Of the lit
tie orphan.
TO night! Yes I see. Pray what viii
you do with her tomorrow morning? MIR
Wu,son's thoughts, ever suspicious Of some
thing wrong, were pushing q1eries as to th'
disposition of Ellen, already, into the future
There's no time TO think Of to. morrow
John.' Mrs. Watson rej,ned, with SOM
, feeling. Our duty, tonight, is to sheIte
this child, and let Us do that duty as cheer
) fully as possibe.' And saying this. sh
8 went up stairs with the unconscious sleepe
in her arms, aud placed her in bed alongsid
, of one OF her own children. She then stoo
3 looking down at the calm. sweet face, O.
, (which not q line Of sorrow had yet bee
d drawn, until her eyes were blinded BY tears
/ who's taken the child = she heard aske
u. of one neghbor by another, as she re.entel
ed the chamber where, little while befor'
a spirit had arisen from its mortal investurt
r MRS. Watson,' was the reply that can
to her ears.
-. I'm glad Of that. She's kind.hearte
8 woman, and the little orphan will get goo
home
r Il don't suppose that she means to kee
her. She has house full OF her own.'
.One more will make little difference.
e know something of Mrs. Watson's heart
and if she has the child for tonight, my wol
for ii, she has her for good and all. VIII
e else is there to take her -! No one in tn
o town.
ID The room was filled with women, who h'
come in on hearing Of Mrs. Jenkins death
is and so, seeing that her presence there won
e be of little use, Mrs. Watson quietly retire
and ran back to her home. The neighbor
Or conc lusion in the case weighed little hea
s, ily on her mind. Nothing could have be'
,e further away than the thought of adopti'
ht the child but what was she 10 do with h
in on the morrow! She could not be se
or back to remain in her old home, for she al
IN her mother had been it's only inmates. VIII
~ was to be done with her on the dsy after
'is morrow, and on the dsys after that! The
h. was the Poor House. But even the reno
th suggestion Of that came like shock to
feelings of Mrs. Watson. She found !