Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-04-12
WHOLE NO. 277.

have something to relieve her hunger, and
then we will question her."
The little creatures tears we're seen to
start in her eyes at the sight of the food,
for she was famishing with want The
meal ended, once more she was conducte
to the presence Of the ladies'. Lady
G, with much gentleness, commen-
ced ber interrogatories. After having
kindly. but in way suited TO the eapaei-
ty Of the poor, untaught girl, endeavored
to impress on her mind the duty as we'll as
the importance to herself Of speaking the
truth.
The following particulars were artlessly
narrated:
The child began by saying that she
was born in Bath. Her father was in
business in that city; she told his trade.
Her mother in-law treated her so harshly
aud unkindly that on some gipsies coming
into the neighborhood, as she was allowed
to run neglected about, and glad to be out
of sight of her severe s,Sp mother. she got
acquainted with them, and was finally in
duced by their persuasions to run away
and join them. With these gipsies she
had lived two or three years, going about
the country with them. She did not know
if her father had made any inquiry con-
cerning her or not At length, not liking
the way OF the people among whom she
she had fallen, she determine to leave them
on the first opportunity. She had stolen
away from them, taking nothing with her
but one Of their old pots, with view to
cook for herself turnip. or anything she
could get to support her, so that she might
not die for want of food She bad wan.
dered about the roads and waysides, beg
ging, ever since she quit the gipsey camp,
and with the very few half.pence she had
picked up in this manner had bought a
penny loaf at village she might pass in
her ramhles. She did not at all know
where she had been wandering, but at last
she had reached the common where the
young ladies' found her that morning.
Lady @ had little or no doubt
that the chid's tale was true; aud thinking
that to cast out so young and so unfriend-
ed creature again on the wide world
would be to give her up to destruction,
she resolved to afford her present shelter,
at least until she could ascertain by in.
quiry that all she had stated was correct
Having obtained from the child the name
and address OF her father, she determined
at once to write to Bath, begging an imme-
date reply.
In the interval, the poor little wander.
er was attired in better clothes, and placed
under the especial care Of steady female
servant, with a charge TO keep strict eye
upon her. In a few days an answer came
from Bath confirming the girls story, and
expressing an earnest wish for her to re-
turn home to live with her father. But
little Mary evinced 50 much terror at the
thought of going back to her mother.in-
law, that Lady O. forbore to urge
her to return home.
She had been greatly interested by the
simplicity of her young charge, and The
servant TO whose more especial care she
had been committed spoke very favorably
Of her. Lady c. proposed, there.
fore, to keep her in the family and try 10
make servant Of her, beginning with some
humble duties in the household. The
child's gratitude was one of the liveiest
kind; there was nothing bad in her; indeed
her natural disposition seemed docile aud
umiable. But she had received no instruo-
ticn; all her good qualities must, therefore
be inherent. She was very promising, and
Of probation, finding that she might be
trusted among the other children, seut
little Mary TO tho village school. There
the child showed so much aptitude for
learning, reading, writing, etc., that she
soon became the head Of the class, and
much such progress that, on leaving the
school, two or three years after, she was
promoted in tho household, and became
lady's maid 70 her bcnciactrrss. In this
situation she had continued for several
years, rcpayng the kindness aud penci :
osity Of Lady t. by the most assiduous
iulGllment Of her duties, aud the warmesi
attachment TO her person.
Fiually-and few theories Of romance
conclude ~ satisfactorily IN this tule OF
real life the trustworthy aud respectable
house steward Of the family took her to
be his wife. Lady c., with an uu.
weariod interest In hor we'll being, fur
nlshed the house for the good people very
handsomely, and made the bride the mis-.
tress OF the village school, where she had
been fostcred and educated. Greatly was
that excellent lady pleased to see that
when her iayorile attained the height OF
her good fortune cherished by her su-
periors, beloved by the poor and respected
by every onc-thc full grown woman IN
her prosperity preserved the old pot as q
precious relic % tho lowly ahd afflicted
state from WHICH, by n good Providence
she had been 80 mercilully rescued, when
as the fororn little Mary, she prepared tC
boil her turnip on heath in Kent, on th'
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