Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-03-22
4 popular 5torp.
ROBERT GREY'S DARLING
BY 8. ANNIE LEE.

w new u Is DUCT night
DR.. Grey drew his cloak closer round
him, bent his head forward to avoid the
wind which tore madly up the street, and,
crunching the snow under his firm, man
ly tread, strobe forward. 1t was bit
ter night; dark. clustering. and terribly
cold. There was no snow falling, but
the ground was covered with white
mantle, frozen, even in freshly-made
footprints
Hank The Doctor paused in his rapid
walk. He was standing in front of the
entrance to narrow court, which, light
cd by one lamp on the street, looked dis
NAL and dirty-a very kingdom of power
ty and wretchedness. Hark A low,
wailing cry such cry of concentrated
misery and agony as makes the blood
thrill with sympathy for even an unknown
cause. Again aud again that bitter wall,
not loud, but, oh ! heartrending in its
anguished tones. The Doctor turned up
the court, following the sounds. At first
it seemed utterly empty. 1t was after
midnight, and even these abodes of squalid
poverty were preferable to the street on
such fearful night; so the inhabitants
Of the wretched houses were all within
doors. All? No; there was one outside
Guided by the cry, DR.. Grey found
crouched down by the steps of one of the
houses, tiny figure.
" My child And gentle hand was
laid upon this outcast.
The child started to her feet, and would
have darted away, but the same gentle
hand detained her, firmly, but kindly,
too. The rays of the street lamp fell
across the entrance to the court full upon
the child, and the Doctor shuddered to
see bare feet, arms, and head, on this
cold winters night--a calico dress and a
thin shawl were the only protection
against the biting air.
+" My child, what are doing out
here in the cold?"
A repetition of the cry which had at
first attracted him was the only reply.
What is the matter? Tell me !"
I" want mamma oh, | want my NAM
MAJ And, the grief once expressed in
words, the child broke forth into bitter
sobbing,
Where is she r.
They took her away in box in a
cart. Oh, | want her SO bad p
"Where do you live 2"
I" Nowhere -
"Where did your mother live p
In here"
DIR. Grey knocked loudly at the door
of the house indicated by the child's fin
ger. He repeated the summons twice,
and then voice from an upper window
called, Hilloo! Who's there ?"
"How came this child in the street
on such a night 2"
Il don't know. She's no child of
mine. Mother died yesterday, buried
to-day--pauper funeral. Somebody else
took her room That's all know about
it, Why don't somebody take her to the
almshousc Take her yourself" And
the head was withdrawn from the win
dow.
You will perish here in the ccld,"
said the doctor, to the child. who had
crouchcd down again in her old position.
"Will you come with INC ?"
where? To mammal?
Should you like nice warm supper,
and to go to sleep by fire ?"
The child seemed awed by the magni-
ficence of the proposal but, after mo-
ments hesitation, said, Yes"
DIR. Grey took her hand, and led her
from the court. She was SO tiny that
the sight Of the red feet running over the
frozen ground, trying, in spite of the
evident stiffness Of her whole body, TO
keep pace with the Doctors long strides,
was too much for him. He stopped
down, lifted the poor little figure in his
strong arms, and, regardless Of her dirty
rags, he held her like babe across his
breast, folded the large cloak closely
round her, aud then resumed his rapid
walk towards home.
Who was DR.. Grey? thought you
would ask that question.
DR.. Grey was, to use his sisters
phrase, one Of .he leading physicians Of
Philadelphia, although, at the time my
story opens, he had only just completed
his thirty-nintb year JFe followed his
profession because he loved il, for bis in
come, Independent Of his professional
fees, was more than sufficient for his
wants. DR.. Grey lived in handsome
house on W Street. with a house
keeper aud one servant. He was
widower. For six years there had been
with him, companion and wife, gentle,
quiet woman, whose love was the Joy Of
his existence, aud whose loss, mourned
now for three years, was irrcparablc. A
little, blue eyed girl, his only child, fol-
lowed her mother iD few weeks, 90 her