The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-05-04
THE PRIsONER'S CHILD.
Il was early morning.

IL this the way to Sing Singl"
"Yes," roughly replied brown faced
countryman, and passed on.
1t was afternoon The child was Eome-
what fragile In her appearance her bon
net was Of broken straw her shoes were
much torn, the sun played on her tender
forehead she walked on an hour longer.
Is this the way to Sing Sing"
"Yes, little girl, but what are you going
there for 2" -,
The child tFudged on, her lips quiver-
ing, not designing to answer the pleasant.
faced. old man who had stopped the jog
ging Of bis horse to note her hurried man
ner, and who liked that little face, anxious
and sad as its expression was.
The day was falling. katy had fallen,
too, almost. A rOugh stone that lay by
the way iInbeddcd in moss. received her
tired little frame. She looked 70 wearied
and eyed, sitting there, her tangled hair
falling on the hands that were ciuSpeduver
her face. BY the shaking Of her frame,
the tears were coming too, and Sh0 was
bravely trying TO hold them back.
Why, what is this dear little girl doing
here H''
The exclamation came from q pair Of
eager young lips.
A curiosity, I declarc!" exclaimed
harsher voice, and Katy looked up sud-
denly. covered away from the sight Of
the pretty young girl and her agreeable
looking companion.
What are you doing here, little girl p
asked Nell haywood, moving little nearer
to the frightened child.
Going to Sing Sing" said Katy in
scared way.
Did you ever, George! this child is
going to Slug Sing; why, It's ten miles
Katy shook her head, and wiped away
the hot and heavy tears one by one.
Why, yes, you poor little goose.
What are you going to Sing Sing Tor !
Have you had your supper. :"
Katy shook her head.
Have you had any dinner"
Again the child shook her head.
d" Nor breakfast? Why, George, the
poor little thing must he almost starved |"
" ] should think So" mechanically re-
piled her brother, just recovering from Q
yAw0 and showing signs Of sympathy.
Look herel What's your names"
"KAty."
swell, Katy, you must come up to the
house and get something to eat Going
to Sing Sing on foot dear me, how ridic-
ulOusi Follow the, Katy, and we'll take
care Of you tonight somehow, and zee
about your going to Sing Sing tomorrow. ="
Katy followed. What Ia glorious vision
burst upon her view. The palace house,
the rocks reddening IN low Western
sun, the shining river; the signs Of lux
ury on every hand.
They walked up wide avenue. Elms
and oaks threw their branches on each
side vines grew around the noble pillars,
twisting up to the glittering windows.
"Susan, give this poor child a good
supper, she Is hungry and tired too,
imagine. After that will see what can
be done for her," ---,.....--.>
Susan wore q mild face. She looked
pleasantly down at the poor tired little
one, and taking her hand which trembled
now, led her into the kitchen.
Meanwhile, her story, or that briefpa
Of il which VIC knew, was being told in
the drawing.rOOIn. The sylph.like figure
in white, lOunging gracefully 10 the midst
of delicate cushions, accompanied her
narration with expressive gestures, and
now and then little laugh.
"I should like to know what she II
going to Sing Sing IOrI We must get
her something to wear; . bonnet, pair
Of shoes, and then maybe, we can manage
10 have her carried some way, if her mis-
sion is Of any importance. Oh ! such an
old looking thingv
Who Is that, my daughtcr?"
"Oh, papa, you have come home why
I was talking about the mite Of child,
she cannot be more than ten years old, il
that, ! saw her out here sitting on moss
rock, the most forlorn object. She says
she is going to Sing Sing"
Z" met her on the ,wGy," said the pleas
ant faced old man " 6he asked me about
il, and l would have stopped her, but she
trudged on. Where Ii shel Il was noon
when I saw her."
" In the kitchen. papa. Susan Is To-
king good care Of her, expect, and when
she has had hearty supper we will talk
with her." .p
A gay trio Of young girls came. The
nettings were put up, the gas burned
brightly, and music and mirlh banishcd
all thought Of care. Suddenly Nell May
wood remembered the little odd figure,
and clapping her hands, cried: "Oh, I've
something to show you, girls" and diSap-
peared.
Susan was picking goOseberrics in the
pantry.
/" Where is the child, Susy," asked Nell
Haywood.
"On the door step, Miss" Susan re-
piled, picking away.
Why no, Susan, there's nobody to be
seen."
"Yes, Miss" Susan placed her pan
down, held her apron up to catch the
stems Of the berries, and walked deliber-
ately to the door, "Why, she sat some
time after supper; thought she was .
very quiet child; bat she's dseP, deep, Miss
Nell; she's gone; let me see-there amt
any silver arOund-l should be afraid She d
took something. they are mighty artful. +"
Why, didn't you tell her she might
stay ell nightt" Nell haywood was peep
ing here and there to spy her II possible.
s' Yes, Miss Nell, and told her what .
good bed there was over the wood shed |;
but she looked go strange out Of them
large eyes Of hers, and never seemed to
hear"
"The poor child is in trouble" said
Nell, quite sorrOwful that she could not
relieve her necessities. "I'de have given
her something to wear, and We could have
sent her to Sing Sing, but perhaps she
will come back again; II so, will you send
her to mef" ..
"If she does, viii, miss" answered
Susan, going at the gOOseberries again.
But little Kate did not come back. She
had been watching Der opportunity to get
OF, and had Already been gone some time.
She slept IN the open feld, crawlcd into
some hay; she would have walksdall night
II she had dared, but she was afraid Of the
dArkness. ~' '"
1 =