Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-05-14
:, ofse.nairinp pain that thrilled those

1
warm, young hearts.
'What is it?"
"Suppose il should be a child lost in
the snowf'
"stop, john" cried Mrs. Lswton.--
"Come, girls, we will get out and
see."
A child lost in the snowl Aye, a
! little child, crouching down near q de.
serted house, her arms around the neck
of dog, her face hidden in her poor
dress, and her wailing cry growing
weaker with each repetition. They
found her very soon. for the dark stuff
of the dress was distinct as she lay on
the cold white snow bank. Louey's
cloak was off in a moment, and Mrs.
Lawton raised the shivering form from
its cold bed zs9-ka---i - = =
"My child! my poor child how
came you here?"
The little one looked up gratefully
at the kind, tender voice, but only
shook her head sadly.
"She must be foreigner, Mollie,"
said Meta. "Try French"
The question in French was sue
ceeded by one in Italian, but only the
sad negative was answered.
any stock OF German Is very
scanty," said Louey;"but it will do no
harm to try"
One word only fell on the little girls
ear, and the dark eye kindled and the
pale face flushed with keen pleasure.
Eyes, yes, lady," she said eagerly,
in German, maria is German"
"How came you here?"
"Maria walked from New York"
"walkedi Why, It's twenty miles"
"Yes; Maria started yesterday"
"Tske her to the carriage, Louey.
and we can talk on the way home
1 must postpone going to Dayton Till
afternoon, and make this poor child
comfortable. Come, little one."
But Maria cluug to Louise, not
needing the request in a strange Ian
guage.
Louise was but little skilled in Ger
man; yet by dint of attention she made
out the child's story. Her name wss
Maria BerEmann, and she had come
from Germany in the summer, with
her mother, who died on the ship be-
fore she reached New York. One Of
the other emigrsnts had taken Maria
because she could sing, and made her
90 out with hand organ TO sing in
the streets. The little girl showed the
welts on her neck and arms where a
cruel hand had strapped her for any
deficiency in the supply of pennies,
and told how she had run away to
walk back to Germany; but the snow
storm covered the road, and she was
tired and cold, and thought she would
sit down in the snow. and perhaps God
would take her to heaven, to her dear
lost me Ter.
Mollie's generous heart suggested
every comfort, and Louey's imperfect
German conveyed some consolation to
the poor little wsnderer. After q
hearty meal, she was put into warm
bed, and soon forgot her troubles fol
a time in sound sleep.
After some deliberation the ladies
decided to keep her until Rolph came
to see il he could find some clue to hel
relatives or friends, and return
her to them. Everything about thu
child denoted her claim to place in I
good circle. Her beauty was delicate
her hands and feet small and perfect
her accent pure, and her manners gen
tie and graceful. No mark of coarse
ness or low breeding showed any fl
ness for the trade she had pursuet
after arriving in New York, and be
quiet look at the handsome house ant
| furniture, and ease at the well sprea'
table proved that such a home wa
not entirely new To her.
"Rolph will be here tomorrow; s
! let her stay with you, Louey, till b
q comes"
Louey's heart was already open I
the child who came from Rolph'
home, and readily consented to shar
= her room with the poor little strange
. for the time before Rolph arrived.
The next day however, brought Mt
i the expected guest. but letter say
ing that he could not join them unit
o evening. It was nine O'Clock befoI
the train reached Dayton, and Mr.
h Lawton drove over to meet the ne
n conner. Maria was lying in bed tryin
- to mind Louise and to go to sleeI
when the carriage drove up and 81
heard the glad welcome given
Rolph. The tears coursed silent
" down her che Ks, till, as the -sadne
re grew too oppressive, she stole quiet
ut to the window, and sat pondering ov
es her loneliness and troubles. II
re moon shone down through the Gle
,e glass. making the shadows dark, al
be the light wierd and ghastly. and Il
child brought memory to people Il
ou scene till her poor heart seemed bres
ing. Her home, her mother, the s.
voyage. with its trying incidents al
he desolation, all rose viv:dIy before be
n and in sad connection came the u
be certain future. For two long hou
DIS she sat mourning, till suddenly
n. sound fell on her ear that broug
air the flush to her pale cheeks. dried b
nd tears, and started her trembling to b
nd feet. With a rapidly beating be,
Il <<.eI- fnr kax alatLo. :.