Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-08
GIVING AWAY THE BABY
A Mothers Story.

1t was the Sd day after my husbands fu-
neral, (said the widow,) and | was so much
stunned by his sudden death that l could do
nothing but sit and think it over, and try to
realize how it could be so. Only the Sunday
before he had been sitting with me, watching
the baby as he sat in the sunshine, laughing
and clapping his little hands as the shadows
of the tree were flung across the bare floor
and moved by the passing breeze. Now the
child was sitting in the same place, the warm
October sun streaming in on his bright curls
and making him look so pretty--so like a
picture; but his father had gone from US Tor
ever.
1t seemed to me | must see his dear face
once more: that he would surely lift the
latch and come in and take our child up, and
say. as he so often did Mother, what
would you take for this little brother?"
Even the baby missed him, and would come
and stand at my knee, calling, q" Papa papa"
until | thought my heart would break. The
two oldest children were at school, the rest
were out playing. so that ] was quite alone.
By-and-by the baby was tired of his playand
came and got into my lap.
Mama cry--mama mustn't" he lisped
out and wiped my wet face with his little
chubby hands but | could only hold him
closer to me and cry more bitterly.
Just then Mr. and Mrs. Lorrimer drove up
in their handsome carriage. They lived not
| far off, and were our richest neghbors.
/ When | had invited them in and dried my
tears little, they seemed at loss how to be-
gin the conversation; but Charlie had slid
away from my side, and went and stood at
the lady's knee and pointing at her heavy
gold bracelet, said " Pretty, pretty" in his
childish way. She took it off and gave it to
him, saying
won't you come to be my little boy,
CharlieW
My heart took fright at once. They had
no children, and seemed to feel as plainly
as if they told me that they had come TO
one of mine,
No, no, mother couldn't spare him."
said, quickly snatching him nway-almos
rudely, ! fear.
My dear woman began Mr. Lorrimer
4" have you thought seriously of the lmpossl
, bility Of your getting along with five childrel
under twelve years of age2 1t has requires
all your husbands efforts to make living 70
you--how can you hope to do withou
, him ?"
I'VE offer" joined in his wife, " to tax
the most helpless of your little ones, to CIV
!, it all the advantage we would our own child
q and surely you must see Gods hand in j
y that through us lie intends to help you.'
!. | need not tell how long | withstood thei
\ argument, but at last, overcome by their Ell
\. treaties consented to consider the matte
- | never mentioned their visit TO any Of II
4 children, and had changed my mind almo
- every hour since had seen them. At Las
IA convinced that il was for the child's good,
,e consented to give him up When went
dress him to go, my resolution almost iail'
me. fingered over every article | put {
him, aud made every curl over and over b
er fore could get il to suit me, and kiss
b. his white shoulders until they were all ros
= At length he was ready, and | thought
nd had never looked so pretty lie was full
u. animation, for he was old enough to kno
a what il meant to go riding and he clapp'
to his hands and laughed at the horses wit
sh they were driven up. | handed him to }
ur new mother, 1.-THE children supposed he was
ul come back soon,) and he never looked at N
he Oh how jealous my aching heart grew
N, When | came back into the house, the iii
IS thing my eyes fell upon was his cradle.
Id could only throw myself on il and sob alot
Then came the trial of telling the truth
the children. None of them seemed reeo
oh cied, and | felt that the worst was TO col
lst when the two oldest returned from school.
,al almost dreaded to meet them, especially W
ad lie; he was like his father, who was so lu
at and calm outwardly, but hiding beneath