The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-03-12
Giving away the Baby.
A MOTHERS STORY.

A MOTHERS STORY
1t was the third day after my husband
funeral (said the widow, and | was 6
much stunned by his sudden death that
could do nothing but sit and think over il
and try to realize how it could be So On
tho Sunday before he had been sitting wit
me, watching the baby as he sat in the sun
shine, laughing and cIapping his littl
hands as the shadows of the trees yer
flung across the bare floor and moved b.
the passing breeze Now the child wa
sitting in the same place, the warm Octobs
sun streaming in on his bright curs ant
making him look so pretty-so like bic
ture but his father has gone from us for
ever.
! 1t seemed to me | must see his dear fac,
once more that he would surely life tb
latch and come in, aud take our child up
and say, as he 80 often did Mother wha
would you take for this little brother?'
Even the baby missed him. and would
come and stand at my knee, calling, "Papa
papa!' until | thought my heart wouls
break. The two oldest children were a
school, the rest were out playing SO that
was quite alone. By and by the baby wal
tired ct his play aud came and got into my
lap.
mamma cry-mamma mustn't" h,
llsped out, aud wiped my wet face witt
his little chubby hands but could only
hold BIN closer to me and then cry NOR,
bitterly.
Just then Mr. and Mrs. Lorrine, drove VI
in their handsome carriage. They livet
not far off, and were our richest neighbors
When l had invited them in and dried m,
tears little, they seemed at loss how t
begin the conversation: but Charlie haC
slid away from my side, and went am
stood at the lady's knee, and pointing a
her heavy gold bracelet, said, Pretty
pretty in his childish way. She took II
off and gave it to him, saying:
won't you come to be my little bow
Charlie?'
My heart took fright at once. They ia,
no children, and | seemed to feel as piaipl,
as if they told me that they had come 70
one of mine
NO, no, mother couldn't spare him."
said, quickly snatching him away-almos
rudely, fear.
My dear woman" began Mr.. Lorrimer
''have you thought seriously of the impos
s'biiity OF your getting along with fiv
children under twelve years of age 1t ha
required all your husbands efforts to max
! d living for you-how can you hope to d
without him ?"
owe offer, joined in his WIFE ito tax
the most helpless of your little ones to Civ,
BAN all the advantages We would our owl
| child and surely you must Sc Gods hanc
In 1t, that through us lie intends to hell
YOU"
need not tell you how long withstoo,
their arguments, but at iasl overcome b,
their entreatics, | consented to consider Tia
matter. | never mentioned their visit t
sny at the children, aud had changed m
mind almost every hour since had seer
them. AT last convinced that it WAS 70
the chlid's good, consented to give hin
up. When | ent to dress him to go, IN,
resolution almost failed me. | fingered
over every article put on him, and mad
every dear curl over and over before | couI
get 1t to please me, and I kissed his whit
shoulders until they were all ROSY. A
length he was ready, and | thought he nev
er looked 50 pretty. He was full of anims
ton, for he was old enough to know VIVA
II meant to go riding, and he clapped hi
lands aud laughed at the horses as the
| were drlvin up. | handed him to his new
mother the children supposed he was t
/ come back SOON, and he never even locke
At me. Oh how jealous my aching hear
grew.
When ] came back into the hsuse th
first thing my eyes fell upon was his cradle
could only throw myself on it and so
aloud Then came the trial of telling tn,
truth to the coildren. None of them seeInst
reconcied, and felt that the worst was t
come when the two oldest returned from
school | almost dreaded to meet them es
pecially Willie be was like his father. Q,
quiet and calm outwsrdly, but hiding be
meath his apparent GOODNESS the strongest
deepest feelings. But the others went t.
meet them as they came home, and | wa
pleasantly disappointed in the way tn
oldest one took it. He seemed to feel tina
| had done it for the best. and that he mus
hide his sorrow for my sake He was NOR
thoughtful for my coElfort and gentler tina
ever. only very still and grave.
The day ended, as the longest Wills at last
and 1t came time to go to bed. had take
Willie down stairs to sleep near me sine
his fathers death the other children sier
just above us. Well, when came to Ii
down, there was the empty pillow Bah,
had always laid his little rosy face as clos
to mine as he could get it, and slept wit
one little warm hand on my neck. All m
grief broke out afresh when l thought .
him, Willie raised up at last, and sale
earnestly
"Mother, it's Charlie you are crying fo
isn't it?n
Yes" I answered, 81 know it's for th
best hut it's SO hard to give him up"
Smother" continued the child, s'whe
father died we knew it was for the best, b,
cause God took him from us; but Eve bee
thinking ever since We LAID down how poo
little Charlie must be crying for you, an
how God gave him to Us, to love and kee
him, and now you have given him ava,
Il He had meant him to be Mr.. and Mr.
Lorrimer's baby, wouldn't He have give
him to them at frst?"
The child's words carried more weigi
with them than all the arguments of m
rich neighbors After considering M
ment, | said, impulsively ~r
'Oh if only had him back, he shout
never go away again, no MISTER how po
We might be"
|