Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-24

wiz, VIII, the stranger replied earnest
: y; 'and don't you cry any more; my fatht
Knows the Judge, and hen get you away to
m%olrsoE-Good-bye-keeps % good heArt;" an
She knew her mother to be one of the mos
charitable OF women, and hastened home 10 tel
her the story of Marie, but uufoftupatelv IN,
had Just gonetO ride, ,and would not be- bacI
until near dinner time. slfat w ~ .ai1t6iTTI
hands. -ts.ic' "'''
Il "lhey want coal, and bread, and tea, and &c
nnSly many l9,ngs' and have oply ten cents in my
She sat down on the marble steps and ponder.
ca, All at once her eyes Frightened, and a
beautiful color flushed her face. :
III DO it." she said resolutely; mamma
VIII forgive me when she knows all. Without
1re' without food, nearly naked, quite starved
Oh' she will be SO glad thought 60 far,D And
sho bounded down the street and ruehed around
the corner. st FHT1.i 70 '''1
Pushing open the plate glass of the most
iasniGnaD'e air-dresser 10 tho city, she went
quietly TO the attendant and asked to see Mon
sieur He ushered her into the inner room
saying he would call him . gll' -l7ISa : :
Her heart auttered while she waited. bpt her
resolution did not fail her. d. M,
"An; II is my little Theresa" and Monsieur
D. TOOK her hand kindly. "Good morning,
dear. Come TO have your ringlets dressed for
theball, to-night--no7y as she shook her head,
..,Wny nptfTyou 80, certainly; you are one OF
dear7" 80 ~
For a moment her lips quiverod; then she
spoke up quickly. -.'.....ig -. .''-..-''7
"You said once, sir, you would give me an
eagle for my curls: Will you do It BoW--to-
day7-this minute7" ~, 80
Inc hair-dresser was Astonished What
could the child mean7 To cut off those curls,
long, silken and golden oolored, the pale gold
OK q stray sunbeam, it would have been sacri-
lege almoat FOR mother to have done; to sell
them was surely crime. ,, En- =. go
docs she, your mother, does she know you
come heEe7" t,.. s'- N
ono, air; but she will not blame me when |
tell her how II was. o, no, che is too good"
"And how 10 it, my dear7 Make friend of
me, and tell me how it 10 you ask me to buy
your hair" and he stroked the glossy curls as
tenderly as father might. ~ rr.
She besitated, and then opened her heart 10
him. There was mist on his eye when she
finished her plaintive story He walked the
floor moment as ii irresOlute, then stopping
before her, he pulled out his pocket book, and
handed her two half eagles. She then put them
In her purse, and quietly took off her hood.
"Not now, my little angelo he said huskily;
mot nowj am too busy; to morrow will do as
well; or stay; will come in this evening Till
then do not mention IL to any one. Go now on
your mission, my Sister Of Charity" aud he
| led her to the door. r.----a------
How quickly her little feet few over the pave
ment. She could hardly speak when che had
reached the bakers shop.
- NiKO ll6Vpa. air---loR0o onaa too ~ aha oaap
ed and threw down one of the gold pieces.
The man stared at her curiously. The color
rose to her brow, bus she said nothing, and
hurried away with her Wagm fragrant bundle. 1
"ls it you Marie7" What kept you 60 long,
daughter1 Quick, break me crumb, | am
faint"
Like an angel the little stranger looked to
them as she glided 10, her cheeks like apple
blossoms, and her hair falling over her ehoul-
ders ike ripples Of sunshine.
"Marie cannot come home yet" che said in a
voice that was as sweet as robins in May
time. "But she will return tomorrow; perhaps
this evening. She has sent me with the bread
See the nice loaves I've brought you," and she
tore one in fragments Tears coursed down her
cheeks IS she saw how eager they clutched
them. She had never dreamed of poverty like
this; never known how hungry folks might be,
and live.
81 must 60 now" she said, opening the door;
"but | will come again soon and snake you
comfortable" and she hurried TO the nearest
grocer, and bought basket full Of provisions,
and engaged him 10 send in some kindlings and
some coal. s-
The little boys helped her to build fire in a
coal stove, and when 1t blazed merrily, she put
on the kettles, and soon had o refreshing cup of
tea for each invalid, and a platter of smoking
potatoes for the children.
"Where Is Marie, do you know, little angel2"
10, yes, know" she answered cheerfully
"Didn't say she would be home early to NOR
row. Don't worry; better days are coming.
III bring her in the morning. Good bye"
IL was as though fairy had come and van
ished; kind-hearted fairy too, for besides the
supply of coal and wood, a half eagle lay in the
click fathers hand.
Murmuring to himself all the tender adectives
in the French language, the good hair-dresser
Immediately hastened to the court room. The
Judge was friend of his, too, and he hoped to
save the child from prison She had not yet
been brought in, the court having adjourned for
half an hour. He asked for a private interview
with the judge AS soon as it was granted, he
told oil Marie's Distress and the generous kind.
ness OF little Theresa.
"PoOr child! good childm said his lis,ner
wiping his glasses. "She must 20 to prison
suppose, but it shall be to chamber in nv
own house Go into court, and tell the same
story over, it win be better than a lawyers
plea"
He did so and there was not dry eye in the
audience when he ceased. Even the baker
hung his head, and seemed to muse. Before
the breathless silence had been broken, he look.
ed up and said to the judge, NJ withdraw my
complaint; let her 60 With me and take all she
wants"
The spacious room rung with applause, and
while the enthusiasm was at It its heighI, y
thoughtful old man went about the crowd with
his hat. Peoples fingers found their pocket.
books as if by intuition, and when he poured
the collection into Marie's apron, she scream
ed with joy. No more hunger, no more cold,
no more nskedness that winter They were
rich.
The baker took her home himself. and tol d
her at the door not to worry about bread till
spring, for his wagon would bring them all they
wanted every morning. How lightly she bound
ed up the staircase. II was a birds football, a
singing birds in the time of flowers.
"Have you come, Marie7" Two voices spoke
atonce.
ayes, mother, yes, father, and we're rich,
see" and she emptied her apron on the bed
How merrilly the lsilver and gold coin lin.
gled. II was like the echo of harvest song;
the distant echo brought bsck by the summer
breezes.
"Bless you, my little sunbeam, bless you, my
angel" And two hands were laid upon her
head, and tears and smiles were strangely mix
ed together. ff
"What does it mean, Theresa7" said the
mother looking wonderfully at her beautiful