The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-12-25

mind almost every hour since l had
seen them. At last, convinced that il
was for the child's good, 1 consented
to give him up. When l went TO dress
him to go, my resolution almost failed
me. L fingered over every article /
put OH him, and made every dear curl
over and over before | could get it to
please me; and ] kissed the little
white shoulders until they were all
rosy. But at length he was ready, and
thought he never looked so pretty.
lie was full of animation, for he was
old enough to know whatit meant to
go riding and he clapped his hands
and laughed aloud at the horses, as
they were driven up. l handed him To
his new mother, (the children supposed
that he was to come back soon,) and
he never even looked at me. Oh, how
jealous was my aching heart!
When | came back into the house.
the first thing my eye fell on was his
cradle. | could only throw myself on
it, and sob aloud. Then came the trial
of telling the whole truth to the chill
drcn. None of them seemed recon.
ciled, and felt that the worst was To
come when the two oldest should come
from school. Ialmost dreaded to meet
them, especially Willie: he was like
his father, SO quiet and calm outward
ly, but hiding beneath his apparent
GOODNESS the strongest, deepest feel
ings. But tile others went to meet
them as they came home, and l WIS
pleasantly disappointed in the way
the Oldest took it. He seemed to
feel that | had done it for the best.
and that he must hide his own sorrow
for my sake. He was more thoughtful
for my comfort, gen.ler than ever. onl,-
very sriti TIIu grave.
The day ended, as the longest will
at last, and it came time to 60 to bed.
l had taken Willie to sleep down stairs
near me, since his fathers death, the
other children slept jnst ADORE us.
Well, when came to lie down, there
was the empty piAoac! Baby had al
ways laid his little rosy face as close to
mine az he could get it, and slept with
one little warm hand on my neck. All
my grief broke out afresh when /
thought Of him. Willie raised up at
last, and said earnestly:
"' Mother, it's Charlie you are cry
ing for, isn't it p
"' Yes / answered, Il know it's
for the best; but oh! it's SO hard to
give him un.'
"' Mother continued the child, when
father died we knew it was all for the
best. because cod tooi<-Ail,a fror, ns ::
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 had meant him to be
Mr.. and Mrs. Lorrimer's baby. wouldn't
He have given him to them at first ?
"The child's words carried more
weight with them than all the argu-
ments of my rich neighbors. After
considering a moment, said, impul-
sively:
"'Oh, if only had him back, he
should never go away again, no matter
how poor we might be-
"The moon was shining SO brightly
that it was almost as light as day, and
presently Willie said:
"' Mother, it's only ha'f mile across
the fields, and they won'l 60 L bed fol
a long time at NJ. lol mer's; let IL.
go and get Cha lie Whv. mother,
seem to hear h'in c y9 row
Urged by taec IL sea. eo.es anG
the fond prompts Q. ult o~n ieart
| consented. / tank n-. walked ;
half mile so quickly IN mg lie, ant
neither of us spoke uwI! We reached
the mansion. Then we stoned mo
ment for breath, and sure enough W,
could hear baby screaming at the toI
of his voice. We went round to th'
sn,;ng room door and knocked. The,
seemed half frightened when they saw
vino it was, but asked us in politely
A hired nurse was walking with tn,
child up and down the floor, trying t,
paciiy It. Mrs. Lorrimcr had wearie'
herself out, and was lying on lounge
"' Come TO mother,' Willie said, ,an'
he brought the little fellow to me a
once.
mHow he clpng to me, still sobbina
l yet smiling all the while TO find himse
in my arms.
"' I cannot glue him atp.' said, Z
! last, when could get my voice clea
: you must let me take him home.'
They evidently thought me the 81
iest of women; bnt their cold word
only made me the more determined
and we started back in less than la
an hour after we came, l carrying II
baby; Willie offered to help me, but
! felt as though could carry him in in
arms forever.
"When laid him in bed, now IA
asleep, but still sobbing, and reachin
:, out his little hands to feel if / W;
there, said, God helping me. con
what will, ! will never part with one
8 my living children again. and 4 neo
;, ;, did
"Inecd not tell you how wild wi
INV the resi- of the children were wh'
thew found the baby in bed next NOR
:, ing; they almost fought over the litl
: fellow, and from that day forth 1t W
% their greatest pleasure to amuse Cha
10 lie and have him with them.
Is When the affair came to be ge
Ill, J-oo,yn MANY blon,od mo a,