Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-07-02

arms, and made inquiries at the corner
grocery, where she bought slice of ham
but no one knew the child. It was grow
ing late, too, and Becky could not leave
it to its fate.
I'll take it home," she said, "to-mor.
row finds its folks"
So, then the cobbler and his children
in their juvenile views of such matters.
opinioned that they had another little sis
| ter.
"It's poor lost child" said Becky
''Pm going to keep it tonight. Its'par-
ents are poorer than we are; you can see
that by its bare feet and only one little
frock-poor thing! Now hold her, Nick,
while cook supper. I didn't beg it,
Nick-so don't fret
And then, keeping her ring-fnger out
of sight, Becky fried the ham, and made
the gravy, and cut the bread, and sent
for two cents worth of milk-which, Judi
ciously diluted, made quart of milk and
water, and tried to be very cheerful.
The lost child cried. but Becky fed it,
and soon coaxed it to talk; then came a
story of a blue dress, and nasty woman.
The youngest who had chewed the red
kid, acted as interpreter. Soon it was
discovered that some person described as
nasty, had taken away the child's blue
dress and other garments, and had whip
ped her.
Becky listened intently.
'That dress was blue, Nick, >" she cried,
II knew it wasn't hers-a tipsy, ragged
woman; and folks that own them don't
come pawning. -
Then she paused-the secret was out.
Nick's eye had glanced toward her we'd
ding ring, and back again to her face.
20, Becky" he cried. Becky, we
didn't think"
DecKy HuSneQ scarlet.
IL IL didn't rnean To tell . she said s.hnt
now it's out; I'm married-all the same,
thank God. 1t was at the pawnshop I
saw the blue Dress"
And she told them of the woman whom
she had watched, and of her suspicious.
ssThe child has been stolen. Nick !" she
said. ''It's genteel child, you can see;
and if we can but find it's name out, we
may save some one trouble we've never
had. Think of one of our little ones be-
ing gone all night, Nick"
The baby's name seemed to be Minnie
Smith-though M. S. might be anything
else; and putting the children all to bed,
all in row, like the little Orges in fairy
tales, save that they had no crowns on.
Nick and his wife started off to the pawn
brokers'.
The man was good -natured, and looked
at the garments. They were marked,
Ms.
"Tm right. then" said Becky. "They
are the child's and they have been stolen.
And if we can find its poor mother we'll
save more than any but mother can tell. !"
but think of all the Smiths" said
the broker. ''There's thousands of
EN-"
"And thousands said Becky. But
these men-meaning the police-they may
know"
And out went Nick and Becky, to ques-
tion the guardians of the night. until, at
last, despairing of an answer, they were
turning homeward, when blaze of light
from an open door fell over them, and
they saw on the steps weeping woman
and tall. handsome man.
"Hush, we will find her if she is alive, I"
said the man.
"My precious little Minnie," cried the
woman.
Then Nick and Becky gave sort Of
cheer in union.
"Ir's them" said Becky; "them certain
sure. Oh, mum, if your name is Smith,
and you've lost little girl, we've found
her,"
And then the cobbler and his wife was
pounced upon. and the story told.
In half an hour the six little Orges,
without crowns, were aroused from their
slumbers by an arrival in their midst, and
the odd baby was taken out, to their dis
tress and CONSERVATION, for they had
counted on keeping her.
=, And Nick and Becky forgot their own
troubles in the parents joy. And Nick
said it was like poetry. and Becky said i,
was like a play!
And so it was-one with happy end.
ling-what did the lady do but beg and