Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-11-27

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found her very soon, for the dark stuff
dress was distinct as she lay on the
cold white snow bank. Louey's cloak
was off in a moment, and Mrs. Lawton
raised the shivering form from its cold
bed.
My child my poor child how
came you here ?"
The little one looked up gratefully
at the kind, tender voice, but only
shook her head, sadly.
" She must be foreigner, Mollie,
said Meta. Try French"
The question in French was succeed,
ed by one in Italian, but only the sad
negative was answered.
My stock of German is very scan
ty," said Louey but it will do no
harm to try"
One word only fell on the little
girls ear, and the dark eye kndlcd,
the pale face flushed with keen pleas
ure. Yes, yes, lady" she said in
| German. Maria is German"
How came you here ?"
Maria walked from New York"
Walked Why, it is twenty
miles"
Yes Maria started yesterday"
Take her to the carriage, Louey,
and we can talk on the way home. |
must postpone Dayton till afternoon,
and make this poor child comfortable.
Come, little one"
But Maria clung to Loucy, not heed
ing the request in strange language.
Louey was but little skilled in Ger
man yet by dint of attention she
made out the child's story. Her name
was Maria Bcrkmann, and she had
come from Germany in the summer,
with her mother, who died on the ship
before they reached New York. One
of the other emigrants had taken
Maria because she could sing, and
made her go out with hand organ
10 sing in the streets. The little girl
showed the welts on her neck and
arms where a cruel hand had strap
ped her for any deficiency in the sup
ply of pennies, and told how she had
run away TO walk back TO Germany
but the snow storm covered the road
and she was tired and cold, and
| thought she would sit down i'm the
snow, and perhaps God would take
her to heaven, to her dear lost mother
Mollic's generous heart suggested
every comfort, and Louey's imperfect
German conveyed some consolation tc
the poor little wanderer. After &
hearty meal, she was put into a warn
bed, and soon forgot her troubles foi
a while in sound sleep.
After some deliberation the ladies
decided to keep her until Rolph came
to see if he could find some clue 70
her relatives or friends, and return
her to them. Every thing about the
child denoted her claim to a place in
a good circle. Her beauty was deli
cate, her hands and feet small and per
feet, her accent pure and her manners
gentle and graceful. No mark o
coarseness or low breeding showed
any fitness for the trade she had pur
sued after arriving in New York, anC
her quiet look at the handsome hous,
and furnitue, and case at the well
spread table proved that such hom,
was not entirely new to her.
"Rolph viii be here tomorrow, 81
let her stay with you, Louey, till h
comes"
Louey's heart was already open t
the child who came from Rolph's home
and she readily consented to share he
room with the poor little stranger tol
the time before Rolph arrived.
The next day, however, brough
not the expected guest, but a lette
saying that he could not join them III
til evening. 1t was nine o'clock be
fore the train reached Dayton. an
Mrs. Lawton drove over To meet tn
new conner. Maria was lying in be
, trying to mind Loney and go To slecl
; when the carriage drove up and sh
heard the glad welcom given to Rolpl
: The tears coursed silently down h.
checks, till, as the silence grew to
! oppressive, she stole quietly to ii
window, and sat pondering over he
loneliness and troubles. The moo
shone down through the clear glass
making the shadows dark and tn
light wierd and CHASTITY, and the chII
brought memory to people the seen
till her poor heart seemed breaking
. Her home, her mother. the sea voyag
with its trying incidents and desola'"
. all rose vivid.y before her, and IN sa
connection came the uncertain tutur'
, For two long hours slte sat n"us"lh
E till suddenly a sound fell on her ca
{ that brought the flush 10 her pa
r cheeks, dried her tears, aud starte
n her. trembling. tn her feet With
i rapidly beating heart, SAC Sroped il