Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-04-19
Take this to your MOTHER he said,

oh yes. You shall have a good
place. But stay; you havn't told mt
where you live ?
AT No.-Mellon street.
Very WE'LL Mr.. Frazier noted dowr
the street and number. And now take
that note to your mother
The merchant did not resume hi:
newspaper after the lad had departed
He had lost all interest in its contents
For long time he sat with his hand.
shading his face, so that no one saw its
expression. If spoken to on any matter
he answered briefly, and with nothing Of
his usual interest in business. I h e
change in him was so marked that one
If his partners asked him if be were
not well. L feel a little dull was eva
sively answered.
Before his usual time Mr.. Frazier
left the store and went home. As he
opened the door of his dwelling, the dis
tressed cries and sobbings of a child
came with an unpleasant shock upon his
ears. He went up stairs with two or
three long strides, and entered the nur-
sery from which the cries came.
What is the matter, darling? he said
as he caught the weeper in bis arms.
What ails my little Maggie" "
20, papar said the child cIinging to
his neck, and laying her wet face close
to his.
Jane, said Mr.. Frazier, looking at
the nurse and speaking with some stern
ness of manner, Why is Maggie crying
in this manner?
The girl excited, but pale, replied
She's been naughty
No, papa I amt been naughty
said the child Indignantly. 1 didn't
want to stay here all alone, and she
pinched me, and slapped me SO hard, O,
papap And the child's wall rung out
again, and clung to his neck sobbing.
Has she ever pinched and slapped
you before 2 asked the father.
She does it most every day. answer
ed the little girl
Why havn't you told me2
She said she would throw me out of
the window if I told O, dear don't
let her do it, papa?
It's a lie ? exclaimed the nurse, pas
sionately.
just look at my poor leg, papa The
child said this in hushed whisper, and
her lips laid close TO her fathers ear
Mr.. Frazier sat down, and bareing the
childs leg to the hip saw that it was
covered with blue and green spots, and
above the knee there was not less than
a dozen of these marks. He examined
the other leg, and found it in the same
condition.
Mr.. Frazier loved that child with a
deep tenderness. She was his all to
love. Her mother, between whom and
himself there had never been any sym
pathy, died two years before, and since
that time his precious darling-the apple |
of his eye-had been left to the tender
mercies of hired nurses, over whose con-
duct it was impossible for him to have
any right observations. He had often
feared that Maggie was neglected-often
trouble himself on her account-but
suspicion of cruelty like this never came
into his imagination as possible.
Mr.. Frazier was profoundly disturbed;
but even in his passion he was calm.
Jane he said, sternly, wish you .
to leave the house Immediately
Mr. Frazier
'Silence = He showed himself so
stern and angry even, in his suppressed
uttorance of the word, that Jane started .
and left the room instantly.
Mr.. Frazier rang the bell, and, to the
waiter who answered it, said:
See that Jane leaves the house at
once. l have discharged her. Send
her trunk wherever she may wish it ta-
Ken. Here is the money that is due. l
must not see her again.
As the waiter left the room Mr.. Fra
sier hugged his child to his heart tightly
again, and kissed her with an eagerness
If manner that was unusual to him. He
was fond but quiet in his caresses. Now
he sleeping impulses of strong heart
we're all awake and active.
In small back chamber sat a pale, e,sweet
aced, patient looking woman, reading a
etter which bad just been left for her by
he postman.
Thank God ? she said, as she finished
'eading it, and her soft brown eyes were