The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-25

No, no. she answered, plaintively.-
But will try again and keep up good
hope
There will be plenty out of the oven
now. Yes, plenty she said to herself, as
she buttoned her cloak on the threshold,
plenty, and Ill have some, too. They
shall not starve. Men and wemen forSake
me; God doesn't hear me any longerl-
There is nothing left for me to do but
STEAL
Her face paled as she spoke it, and for
a few moments there was n wild wrestle in
her heart. Then she vent on quietly,
pausing an instant before each bakers
door, and looking anxiously within. By
and by she found large one that seemed
empty.
A whole pile Of steamiRg loaves lay
upon the counter.
She rushed in and seized one, and hiding
it under her cloak, fled madly up the
street But The baker had seen her from
the little sitting room door, and was after
her, crying glustily, Stop thief, stop thief =
A crowd followed her, and the poor child
was soon run down.
"A clear case, said the police officer,
who took her in hand, property found on
her She must 60 to the court room
In vain she pleaded with them and told
her story.
They must do their duty she might
have begged; she might have gone to the
soup house; there was no excuse for steal
ing, at any rate
No excuse and her mother was dying
for food
An important trial was just closing, and
all the avenues to the court house were
tbrOnGed.
They'll be through soon,' said the Of
ficer to the baker; well wait here few
moments No danger of her getting away
while my grip is on her, and he frightened
his grip on the shrinking arm, till the
flesh quivered with pain.
Take me home first, she said, sadly :;
they will worry about me so. My poor
mother i'll die if she thinks I'm lost
They'll soon find out where you are,
said he, gruffly. Bad news is like light
ming, it travels so fast
oh dear, oh dear what will become
of them = and she sobbed aloud.
A little girl about her age was passing
bv-a rich mans child-you would know
it by the embroidered dress and cloak, the
rich velvet hood, and the costly fur tippet
and mutf. But there was no false pride
hidden under the expensive raiment;
warm heart was beating there, and its
sympathies went out far toward the poor
little prisoner For moment she paused
as if irresolute upon her plan of action I;
then laying her mittened hand gently on
the officers, she said politely:
May speak with herr
oh yes; she's not committed yet
Putting her soft rosy cheek to the pur-
pie cold one, she whispered very earnest
iy. Marie told her touching story; and
begged she wonld by the love She bore her
mother, find out her humble home, and
comfort the distressed ones.
Il will, | wiilr the stranger. replied.
earnestly 'and don't you cry any more !;
my father knows the judge, and he'll get
you away tomorrow. Good bye-keep
up a good heart and off she ran.
She knew her mother to be one Of the
most charitable Of women, and FASTENED
home to tell her the story of Marie; but
unfortunately she had just gone to ride,
and would not be back till near Dime"
time.
what can do! she cried, and wrung
her hands.
They want coal, and bread, and tea,
and so many things, and have only ten
cents in my pocket.
She sat down on the marble steps and
pondcred. All at once her eyes brighten
ed, and beautiful color flushed her face
I'll do it, she said, rcsolutely. mamma
will forgive me when she knows all
Without fire, without wood, nearly naked,
quite starved 0, she will be so glad
thought so far; and she bounded down
the street and rushed round the corner.
Pushing open the plate glass door of the
most fashionable hair dresser in the city,
and went quiety up to the attendant and
asked to see Monsieur b; lie ushercd her
into the inner room, saying he would call
him.
Her heart Auttered while she waited,
but her resolution did not fail her.
'Ah it is my little Theresa; and Mon
sieur B. took her hand kindly. Good
morning, dear; come to have your ring
let's dressed for the ball o-night-no!' 2 as
she shook her head, why not ?-you go,
certainly; you are one of MOnsieur'S best
pupils. What IS it, then, my dear?
=. For a moment her lips quivered; then
she spoke up quickly:
You said once, sir, you would give me
an eagle for my curls. Will you do it
now o-day-this minute?'
The hair drtsS was astonished. What
could the child mean ? To cut off those
curl$, long silEen, and gold colored, the
pale gold of stray sunbeam, it would
have been Sacrilege almost for mother to
have done it; to sell them was surely a
crime.
docs she, your mother, does she know
you came here? Z?
No, sir; but she will not blame me
when tell her how it was, o, no, she is
too good
And how is it, my dear? Make n
friend of me, and tell me how it comes
you ask me to buy your hair and he
stroked the glossy curls as tenderly as a
father might
one HeSlthleu anu lueU OpeuSu hct heaII
to him. There was a mist on his eyes
when she finished her plaintive story
He walked the floor moment as if ire
solute, then stopping before her, he took
out his pocket book and handed her two
half eagles. She put them in her purse
and quietly took off her hood.
Not now, my little angel" he said,
huskily; not now. | am too busy, to-mor.
row will do as well (; or stay; will come
in this evening. Till then do not mention
it to any one Go nOw~eR. your mission,
my Sister.of Charity and he led her to
the door.
How quick her little feet flew over the
pavement. She could hardly speak when
she had reached the bakers shop.
; Two loaves, sir,-large ones, too she
gasped, and threw down one of the gold
pieces.
The man stared at her curiously the
: | Il ,.a,.a 40 H., -, III