Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-11-20
NUMBER 45.
her husband. "What were yon

Whoie iength OF his handsome parlors /.
then returned to the window again
from which his wife had not moved
1t may be what, Andrew?' Fin
ish the sentence" Mrs. Christian
drew her arm again within one Of her
husbands and locked her hands, held
him with his face turned to the street
and his eyes on the solitary child,
who still remained sitting on the mar
Ole steps of the house opposite.
That, in Gods Providence, this,
child has been led to us. She lifted
her gaze to mine, AS | passed her q
! little while ago, aud looked at me
with such sad, wistful eyes, that
have been haunted with their express
ion ever since. And, now, she is sit
ting over there, as if waiting for us
to take her in." . ....a ....
We will take her in.' Mrs. Chris
tian's voice had the fulness of q
strong purpose. Stepping back,
quickly, she rang the bell, aud then
returned to the window. \ servant
came in. .....# 80
Here She beckoned with her
hand, and the servant came to where
she was standing. .. .....a
There's child sitting on Mr..
Longs steps. Do you sec her 2"
" Yes ma'am." ..4
" Bring her to me. wish to see
her" .... s.s
Again Mrs Christian turned to the
window, and strained her eyes through
the murky air to look at the child.
The servant spoke to her, and she
arose, Instantly, following without
hesitation. ...s
" Take her into my sittiDg-room,"
said Mrs. Christian, looking from the
parlor door into the hall, as the child
and servant came in; and to the sit.
ting-room she followed with her hus-
band. ..... ..... .. .sasF5
That will do, William. III send
for You in little while" Thus dis
missed, the servant left the apartment.
The child was scarcely four years
old slight of form, and with delicate
symmetrical features. Her eyes
were large, soft and brown, and her
mouth half budding with tenderness
which had been SO chilled that it could
not break into flower. She stood.
where the servant had left her, still
holding on to her basket, and looking
with a hall-timid, half.contiding air.
wonderingly at Mr.. aud Mrs. Christian
Have you 4 mother 2" 1t was
the hrst question tnat came 10 Mrs.
Christians lips.
No, ma'an," answered low, ten
der voice, aud the eyes that looked
into the child's face saw an instant
change of countcnance
Is your father living ?"
No, ma'am."
WHO takes care of YOU 20
This question seemed to puzzle the
little ones mind. She looked down
upon the floor, and then up again at
Mrs. Christian.
"What is your name ?"
"Tilly"
"Tilly what ?" s
"Tilly Dean"
"Was your mothers name Mrs.
Dean?"
Yes, ma'am.'
How long is it since your mother
died2"
IL don't know
Do you remember your mother ?D
T" Yes, ma'am." The large brown
eyes grew moist.
"Iou loved her ?"
Tins feeling down. into the heart
of this child, Mrs Christian touched
the chord she wished to vibrate. The
moist eyes ran over.
fonr mother was good ?"
oh yes ma'am 7; she was good! !"
" Where do you live 2" .....
Round in Jones' alley.'
DO you like to live there 2"
No. ma'am." ..
Whyg"
" 1t isn't a nice place and Mrs.
Brown gets drunk sometimes, aud
bsats me- ..-.-.t.
"You live with Mrs. Brown?n
4" Yes, ma'am." ..-~.
" Is she your aunt ?" .... .s-...
" Oh no. She isn't a relation
Have you an aunt 2" -
"I don't know H..t......
Why do you live with Mrs.
Brown?" -.
She took me when my mother
died"
q" What is in your basket ?"
Something like an expression of
shame passed over the little girls
face. -.
If didn't beg, we would have
nothing to eat" she answered. ,...,,
- Mrs. Brown sends you out beg
ging ="
Yes. ma'am." -g
" Do you like to beg? 2"
No, ma'am." -,......
/" Why not ?"
"Oh, dear. They seold at inc and
drive me of, aud talk SO wicked, some.
times"
Would you like to stay here to-
night?"
Mrs. Brown would whip me-
But suppose wouldn't let Mrs.
Brown whip you 7"
You couldn't help il. She'd do il
as soon as get home. She'd knock
me. so ; and call me such wicked
names." ba
" What wicked names does she
call you 2" as
4" | don't like to say EN-. My moth.
cr never talked SO. She was good,
Oh, dear Ii only had mother TO
live with.'
The artlessness and pathos of these
last brief sentences broke down all
hindrances in the mind Of Mrs.
Christian. Taking both the chiIds
soiled hands, aud holding them in that
magnetic pressure which only low
ing impulse can give, she said, speak.