The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-11-22

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Of him. Willie raised up At last, en- sa.ndl ! said,
earnestly.
! "'Mother, IL. Charlie you are crying Tor
isn't itr -
"Yes, answered, 4 know it's for the
best; but Oh it's 50 hard to give him up.'
Mother, continued the child. when
father died, we knew it was ali for the best
because God took lin from US; but have
been thinking ever since we laid down how
poor little Charlie must be crying for you.
and how God gave him TO Us, to love him
and keep him; and now you have given
him away. If He bad meant him to be Mr..
and Mrs. .Lorriruer's baby, wouldn't He
have given him to them at Hrstr ss 30
...The ch;ld's words carried more weight
with them than all the arguments Of my
rich neighbors. After considering a.mo.
ment. said, impalsivoly: as III.
.Oh, il only had him back, he should
never 60 away again, no matter how poor
we might be- i
"The moon was shining 10 brightly that
{ was almost as light - day, and presently
Willie said: IS.
e Mother, It's only half . mile across the
fields, and they won't 80 to bed for . long
time at Mr.. Lorrimer's ; let u 60 and get
Charlie. Why, mother, | seem to hear him
crying now
"Urged by the child's entrs,ties and tho
fond promptings of,ny own heart, consen-
ted. Think never walked half mile 80
quickly in my life. andrneither Of us'spoke
until we reached the mansion. Then we
stopped moment for breath, and sure
enough we could hear baby screaming at
the top Of his voice. We went round to the
sitting room door aud knocked. They
seemed half frightened when they saw who
it Was, but asked US in politely. A. hired
nurse was walking with the child up and
down the door, trying to pacify it. Mrs
Lorrimer had wearied herself out, and was
lying on lounge.
"'Come to mother Willie said, and he
brought the little fellow to me 1t once. &
/ "Ffow De cinng to mo, still sobb,ng. We,
smiling all the while to find himself in my
arms.
81 cannot give ham up said. at last
when f,.could get my. voice clear. you
mast let me sake him, ,hnme.' s. i
.sThey evidently. Thought me the silliesl
Of women; battheir cold words only made
me the more determined, and wc started
back in less than hr!f an hour after VIC
came. I carrying the babyi Willie offered
to help me, but felt MS though could car
| ~ him in my farms forever. ;fee ,g, Z,
"Wheu had laid him in bed, now fas,
asleep hut still sobbing, and reaching out
his little hands to feel i'll was there, I said,
God helping me, come what will. viii
never part with one Of my living children
again, and I asper did,
81 need not tell you how wild with Joy
the rest Of the children were when they
found the baby in bed:nsxt morning they
almost fought over tho little fellow, and
from that day forth it was their greatest
pleasure to amuse Charlie and have hiu
with them.
'When the affair came to be general,
known, many blamed me, and many favor.
that my rich Rsishdors might have done M
they withheld, ] think, for my folly. ..
they called It. But q few poor women like
myself. that had always nursed their own
children. SAID did right. We had many
trials. and often scarccly crust Of bread il
the house; but our hardships bound us ths
more cosely together. s1 !.
"All my children proved comforts and
blessings to me God took care Of ono fol
me as Willie said, we knew that was FOR
the best. The.rest married ip the couvss Of
timc and ieft me; bat the tho prop Of my
old days, the one whose industry and man
agement gave me this plentiful comfortable
home. has never left me since the day CAV.
him away. - vaN
ZA.