Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-12-12
Giving Away the Baby.

bands funeral, said the widow, and
was so stunned by his sudden death tba
| could do nothing but sit and think owe
it, and try to realize how it could be so
OnIy the Sunday before be had been sil
ling with me watching the baby, as be
sat in the sunshine laughing and clap
ping lis little hands, as the shadows o.
the trees were flung across the bare
hcor, and moved by the passing breeze.
, Now tho a-ahild was sitting ia tho SOM.
spot, and the warm October sun stream
ing in his bright curls, and making him
look so pretty-so ike picture but
the father was gone from us forever.
1T seemed to me | mu t see lis dea
face once more-that he would surely
lift the latch and come in, and take our
child up and say as he often did-'Mo-
tber, what would you take for this little
brother ?
Even the baby missed bin, and often
would come and stand at my knee, cal
ling Papa papa ? until ! thought my
poor heart would break. The two eldest
children were at school, but the rest were
out playing, so that was quite alone
By and by the baby was tired OF his
play, and came and got up into my lap.
Mamma cry mamma mustn't ) he
iisped out, and wiped my wet face with
his little chubby hands but l could only
hold him closer to noe, and then cry
more bitterly.
Just then, Mr.. and Mrs. Lorrimer
drove up in their handsome carriage
They lived not far of AMI were our rich
est neighbors. When had invited them
in, and had dried my tears a little, they
seemed at a loss how to begin the con-
yersaiion, but Charlie had slid away
from my side, and went and stood at the
Iady's knee, and pointing to her heavy
gold bracelet, said-'Pretty, pretty ? in
his childish way. She took it off, and
gave tito him, saying+
Won't you come to be my little boy,
Charlie 2
My mothers heart took fright at once.
They had no children, and l seemed to
feel as plainly as if they had told me,
that they had come to ask me for one Of
mine.
No, no-motber couldn't spare him.
l said, quickly snatching him away, al
most rudely, fear.
My dear woman began Mr.. Lori
mer, have you thought seriously Of tie
jmpossi5ility of yeur getting along with
i've children under twelve years Of age !?
1t has required all your husbands efforts
to make living Tor yon--hoH can you
hope to do it without him ?
we offer joined in his wife, 80 take
the most helpless of your little ones---to
give them all the advantages We would
our own child-and surel you must see
that Gods hand is ia it--ihat through u,
he intends to help YOU
need not tell you how long l with
stood all their arguments. But at last
overcome by their enlreaties, | consented
to consider the matter In two days they
came for my answer. l never mentioned
their visit to any of the children, and /
had changed my mind almost every Lour
since | had seen them. AT last con
vnced that it was for the cbld's good, ]
consented to give him up. When ]
went TO dress him to 60, my resolution
almost failed me. fingered every arii
Gle | put on him, and every dear curl
over and over, before | could get it to
please me and kissed the lit.le white
shoulders until they were all rosy. Buj
at length he was ready and Thought lie
never looked so pretty. He was full Of
animation, for he was old enough to-
know what it meant to go riding and
he clapped his hands and laughed aloud
at the horses as they were driven up. I
| handed him to his new mother, the chill
dren supposed that be was to come back
soon.) and he neveReven looked at NE.
Oh, how jealous my aching heart grew ?
When came back into the house the
FIRST thing my eye fell on was bis cradle.
could only throw myselfon It and sob
aloud. Then came the trial of telling
the whole truth to the children. None
Of them seemed reconciled, and l fell
that the worst was to come when the
two oldest should return from school. ]
almost dreaded TO meet them, especially
Willie he was like his father, so quiet
and calm outwardly, but hiding beneath
his apparent GOODNESS the strongest aud
deepest feelings. But the others went to
meet them as they came home, and ]
was pleasantly disappointed in the way
the oldest took it. He seemed to feel