Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-17
Q0lortester 9ailp spy.
THE PRIsoNEm's CHILD.


broken straw, her shoes much torn, the sun
played hotly.on her forehead She walked on
and on an hour longer.
"ls this the way To-"
ayes, little girl, but what are you going
there for 81
The child passed on, her lip quiyering, but
not deigning to answer the pleasant faced old
man, who had stopped the jogging of his horse
to note her hurried MANNER and who liked that
little face, anxious and sad as its expression
was.
The dew was falling Katy had almost fall
Ell, too.
a rough stone by the way, embedded in
moss, received her tired little frame. She
looked so wearied and aged, sitting there, her
tangled hair falling on the hands that were
clasped over her face. BY the shaking of her
frame, the tears We're coming too, and she was
bravely trying to hold them back.
"Why what is this deai little girl doing
here 2"
The exclamation came from pair of eager
young lips,
"a curiosity, 1 declare !" exclaimed a
harsher voice, and Katy, looking up suddenly,
covered away from the sight of the pretty
young girl and her agreeable looking compan.
ion
"What are you doing there, little girl 90
asked Nell haywood, moving a little nearer
10 the frightened child.
Going to" said Katy, in a sacred way.
Odd you ever, Gcorge this child is going
tc-; why its ten miles off. Child did you
know it was so far off z"
Katy shook her head, and wiped away the
hot and heavy tears one by one
"Why, es, you poor little goose! What
are you going to---ior Have you had
any supper :"
Katy shook her head.
"Hage you had any dinner 2"
Again the sad child shook her head.
Nor breakfast! Why, George, the poor
little thing must be almost starved p
81 should think so, mechanically replied
brother, just recovering from a yawn, and
showing signs Of sympathy.
"Look here; what's your name o.
"Katy."
"Well, KATY, you must come up to the house
and get something to eat Going to---on
foot, dear me, how ridiculous Follow me-
Katy, and well take care OF you onight some
how, and see about your going TO --- t.
morrow"
Katy followed What a glorious vision
burst upon her view the palace house, the
rocks reddening in the low western sun the
shining river, the signs of luxury on every
hand.
They walked up a wide avenue, elms and
oaks threw their pleasant branches on each
side here and there flower bush might be
seen, vines grew around the noble pillars,
twisting up, up TO the glittering windows.
Sasan, give this child good supper, she
is hungry. and tired, too, l imagine after
that will see what can be done for her.
Susan wore mild face she looked pleas
anty down at the poor tired little one, and
taking her hand, which trembed, now, led her
into the kitchen.
Meanwhile her story, or that brief part of it
which we know, was being told in The draw
ing room. The sylpL like figure in white,
lUussaS sszs~f'sny IA tile tnlust "a uetiC'sso
cushions, accompanied her narrative by ex-
pressive gestures and now and then laugh.
81 should like to know what she is going TO
- for" she said, leaning languidly back.
eve must get her up something to wear;
bonnet, a pair OF shoes, and then maybe we
can manage to have her carried some way, if
her GRAND is of any importance. Oh, what an
odd looking little thingP'
"Who is that, my daughters"
s'Oh, papa, you are come back why was
liking about mite Of a child she can't be
up IRE than ten, if that. | saw her out here
sitting on moss rock, the most Torn OBJ
ject She said she is going to -
81 met her on my way" said the pleasant
faced old man. "She asked me about it, and
would have stopped her. but she trudged on
Where is she now 1t was noon when saw
her."
"In the kitchen, papa. Susan is taking
good care of her expect, and when she las
had hearty supper We will talk with her"
gay trio OF young girls came in. The
needle work was laid aside, the gas burned
brightly, and music and mirth banished all
thoughts Of care. Suddenly Nell Haywood
remembered the little odd figure, and clap
ping her hands, cried, ooh, I've something to
Show you, girls p and disappeared.
Susan was picking gooseberries near the
pantry in the kitchen.
"Where is the child, Susl 2" asked Neil
haywood.
Susan placed her pan down, held her apron
up to catch the stems of the berries, and walk
ed deliberately to the door.
"Why, she was here some time after sup.
per. turned and came in she was sitting
there, looking up-at the Stars, l expect. l
thought she was mighty quiet child, but she's
deep, deep, Miss Nelly. She's gone Let
me see there ant any silver about-I should
be afraid she'd took something they're
mighty artful."
"Why, didn't you tell her she might stay all
night?'' Nell haywood was peeping here
and there, to spy her, il possible.
eyes, Miss Nell, and told her what good
led there was over the wood shed but she
looked strange out of them large eyes of hers,
and never seemed to hear"
"The poor child is in trouble" said Nell,
quite sorrOwfully, that she could not further
relieve her necessities. I'D have given her
something to wear, and we should have sent
her to -; but perhaps she will come
back again. ESQ, will you send her to me 2"
AT she do, l will Miss" answered Susan
going into the go0seberries again.
But little Katy did not come back. She had
been watching her opportunity to get off, and
had already been gone for some time She
slept in an open tield-crawled into some hay.
She would have walked all night if she dared,
but she was afraid OF the darkness.
y
"lIr. Warder, there's queer case over at
my house, said bluff looking fellow, meeting
one of the officers of - prison. Owe
found her last night in some out-of the way
place, and nothing would do but my wife must
take her in. We can't find out her name, ex-
cept that it's Katy, and l think that she wants
to see somebody in the prison; we can't get
ANYTHING out OF her-wlere she came from, or
anything about it"
i'Bring her over here" said Mr.. Warder
''my wife wants little girl 10 help her with
the housework- be she's just the one that
will suit"
So Katy stood trembling more than ever, in
few moments, in the presence of Mr. Ward
er. Katy was pretty child her large blue
eyes wore an expression of intense melancholy;
her hair had been nicely combed and cured,
and some one had put pair Of shoes on her
feet.
"Well, my little girl" said Mr.. Warder
kindly, for he was prepossessed in her favor
'where have you come from a.