The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-22

Libtie Naflil Hdliu Gu my iieCh. AL my SIiel
broke out afresh when I thought of him.
Willie raised up at last, and said, earnestly:
| "Mother, it's Charlie you are crying for
| isn't it P ..-s-.a. d. ... ti q.
| @' Yes' 1 answered, Il know it's for the
| best; but oh it's so hard to give him up
"t Mother continued the child, when
| father died, we knew it was all for the best,
because God took him 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 had meant him to be Mr. and Mrs. Lori
mer's baby, wouldn't He have given him to
them at first p
The child's words carried more weight
with them than all the arguments of my rich
neighbors. After considering a moment, I
said, impulsively- ~
aa'Oh, if I only had him back, he should
might be !.rass e t-aosa
"The moon was shining so brightly that it
was almost as light as day, and presently Will
lie said H.--s... ---- ~
"'Mother, it's only half mile across the
fields, and they won't go to bed for a long
time at Mr.. Lorrimer's-let us go and get
Charlie. Why, mother, seem to hear him
crying now.' ef q aar.s
"Urged by the childs entreaties, and the
fond promptings of my own heart, consent
ed. think 1 never walked half a mile so
quickly in my life, and neither 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 and knocked. They seemed half
frightened when they saw who it was, but
asked lis in politely. A hired nurse was
walking with the child up and down the floor,
trying to pacifyit. Mrs. Lorrimer had weari-
ed herself out, and was lying on lounge.
'f Come to mother Willie said, and he
brought the little fellow to me at once.
How he clung to me, still sobbing, yet
smiling all the while to find himself in my
arms ! h. -t# sE" .at.E a
'''I cannot give him up said, at last,
when could get my voice clear. 'Youmust
let me take him home
They evidently thought me the silliest of
women; but their cold words only made me
the more determined, and we started back in
less than half an hour after we came, car
rying the baby. Willie offered to help me,
but felt as though could carry him in my
arms forever.
.5 when had laid him in bed, not fast
asleep, but still sobbing, and he reaching out
his little hands to feel if / was there, 1 said
God helping me- come what will, will
never part with one of my living children
again. And l never did.
" " need not tell you howwild with Joy the
rest of the children were when they found the
baby in bed the next morning; they almost
fought over the little fellow; and from that
day forth it was their greatest pleasure to
amuse Charlie and have him with them.
When the affair came to be known, many
blamed me, and many favors that my rich
neighbors might have done me they with
held, think, for my folly, as they called it.
But a few poor women like myself, that had
always nursed their own children, said 1 did
right. We had many trials, and often scarce
ly aacrust of bread in the house; but our
hardships only bound us the more closely to-
gether. .-...
All my children proved comforts and
blessings to me; God took care of one for
me; but as Willie said, we knew that was
for the best. The rest married in the course
of time, and left me but the prop my old
days, the one whose industry and manage
ment gives me this plentiful and comfortable
home, has never left me since the day gave
him away ...E 4...