The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-07-28
An An Angel in Disguise.
BY r. S. ARrnER.

Ii
SO Y BYr. s.. ARrHER. aavoi y ao
Idleness, vice, and intemperance had
done their miserable work, and the dead
mother lay cold and stark amid her wretch
cd children. She had fallen upon the
threshold of her own door in druken ct,
and died in the presence of her frightened
little ones. =
Death touches the springs of our common
humanity. This woman had been despised,
sccffed at, and angrily denounced by near
ly every man, woman and child in the vii
lages hut now as the fact oi her death was
passed from lip to lip, in subdued tones,
pity took the place Of anger, and sorrow of
denunciation. Neighbors went hastily to
the old tumble-down hut, in which she had
secured little more than aplace of shelter
from summer heats and winter cold; some
with grave-clothes for decent interment
of the body; and some with food for the
half starved children, three in number Of
these, John, the oldest,,a boy of twelve.
was stout lad, able to. earn his living,
with any farmer. Kate, between ten md
eleven, was bright active girl, out ofwhom
something clever might be made, if in good
hands; but poor little Maggie, the young
est, was hopelessly diseased. Two years
before, fall from window, had injured
her spine, and she had not been able to
leave her bed since. except when lifted in
the arms of her mother.
"What is to be done with the childrenp'
That was the chief question now. The
dead mother would go under ground, and
be forever beyond all care or concern OF the
villagers. But the children must not be
left to starve. After considering the mat
ter. and taking it oyer with his wife, farm.
er Jones said that he would take John and
do well by him, now that his mother was
out Of the way; and Mrs. Ellis who had
been looking out for bound grl. concu-
ded that it would be charitable in her to
make choice of Katy, even though she was
too young to be of much use for several
years. sa
4 could do much better. know saic
Mrs. Ellis; 'butas no one seems inclined to
take her, I must act from sense of duty.
| expect to have trouble With the child for
she's an rndiciplined thing used to having
her own way iBre is't 3ags :
But no one said, sT'll take Maggie 7asi
Plying glances were cast on her wan and
wasted form, and thoughts were troubled
on her account. Mothers brought cast Off
garments, and removing her soiled and rag.
ged clothes, dressed her in clean attire.
The sad eyes and patient face of the little
one touched inany hearts, and even knocked
at them for entrance. But none opened TO
take her in. Who wants q hedridden
childG u =
Take her to tie poor house, said
rough man to whom the question What's
to be done with MaggieT was asked No
body's going to be bothered with her.
The poor-house is a sad place for sick
and helpless child answered one.
For your child Or mine said the other
lightly speaking; but for this brat it will
prove blessed change She will be kept
clean, have healthy food, and be doctored,
which is more than can be said of her past
condition.
There was reason in that. but still it
didn't satisfy. The day following the day
ofdeath was made the day of burial A
lew ne:ghbors were at the miserable hovel,
but none followed the cart as it bore the un.
honered remains to its pauper grave Farm
er Jones, after the coffin was carried out,
placed John in his wagon and drove away
satisfied that he had done his part. Mrs.
Ellis spoke to Kate with hurried air -. Bid
your sister good bye and drew the tear
ful children apart ere scarcely their lips
had touched in a sobbing farewell. Hastily
others went out, some glancing at Maggie,
and some resolutely refraining from look,
until all had gone. She was alone! Just
beyond the threshold, Joe Thomson, the
wheelwright, paused, and said to the black
smiths wife, who was fastening off with
the rest
1T is cruel thing to leave her so.'
Then take her to the poor.house; she'll
have to 60 there answered the blacksmith's
wife, springing away, and leaving Joe be-
hind. e's' ri 2 'tli s fsf.'1ff q ~
For little while the man stood with a
puzzled air; then he turned back and went
into the hovel again. Maggie. with pain.
fnl effort, had raised herself 20 an upright
position, and was sitting on the bed, strain
ing her eyes upon the door out OF W hich all |
had just departed. A vague terror had
come into her thin white face. ~ Z
'Oh, Mr.. Thomson!' she cried out, catch |
ing her suspended breath, don't leave me |
here ali alonel' '''" '.s's'' ss1s''e -
Though rough in exterior, Joe Thomson,
the wheslvright. hada heart, apd It was |
very tender in some places. He liked chill !
dren, and was pleased to have them come to |
bis shop, where many sled aud wagon |
were made or, msnded for the village lads |
without draft OR their boarded sixpenoes. |
No dear be answered, in kind voice,
going to the bed and STOPPING down over
the child 'you shan't be left here alope.'-l
Then he wrapped her with the gentieness
almost ofa woman, in the clean bedclothes
which some neighbor had brought; and
lifting her in his. strong arms. bore her out