Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-08

ways laid his little rosy face as close to mine
as he could get it, and slept with one little
warm hand on my neck All my grief broke
out afresh when | thought Of him. Willie
raised up at last, and said, earnestly:
Mother, it's Charlie you are crying for,
isn't III"
"Yes," / answered, "I know it's for the
best, but It's 20 hard to give him up
Mother" continued the child "when fa-
ther died we knew il was best, because God
took him from u.s. but I've been thinking
ever since We laid down how poor little Char
lie must be crying for you and how God gave
him to us to love and keep him, and now you
have given him away. II He had meant him
TO be Mr.. and Mrs. Lorrimer's baby, wouldn't
lie have given him to them Of first ?'
| The child's words carried more weight with
them than all the arguments Of my rich
neighbors. After considering a moment,
said, impulsively:
"Ohl if only had him back, he never
should 60 away again, no matter how poor
we might be-"
The moon was shining so brightly that it
was almost as light as day, and presently
Willie said
Mother, it's only half mile across the
fields, and they won't go to bed for long
time at Mr.. Lorrimer's, let US 90 and get
Charlie. Why, mother, seem to hear him
crying now
Urged by the childs entreaties and the
fond prompting Of my own heart, | consented.
| think never walked a half mile SO quick
ly in my life, and neither Of us spoke until
we reached the mansion. Then we stopped a
moment to take breath, and sure enough we
could hear baby screaming at the top Of his
voice. We went around at the sitting room
and Knocked They seemed half frightened
when they saw who it was, but asked US in
politely. A hired nurse was walking up and
down the floor, trying to pacify it. Mrs.
Lorrimer had wearied herself out and was
laying on a lounge.
=" Come to mother" Willie said, and he
brought the little fellow to me at once.
How he clung to me, still sobbing, yet sml-
ing all the while to find himself in my
arms
81 cannot give him up" | said at last
when could get my voice clear; "you must
let me take him home"
They evidently thought me one Of the sill
Hest Of women, but their cold words only
made me more determined, and we started
back in less than half an hour after we came,
| carrying the baby in my arms all the way
When had laid him down in bed, not fast
asleep but still sobbing, and he reached out
his little hands, to feel if | was there |
said
God helping me, come what will | will
never part with one of my living children
again!' And l never did
have no need to tell how wild with JOY
the rest of the children we're when they found
the baby in bed the next morning; and from
that day forth it was their greatest pleasure
to amuse Charlie and have him with them.
When the affair came to be known, many
blamed me, and many favors that my ricl
neighbors might have done me, they Withheld
/ think for my folly as they called it. But
n. few poor women like myself, who had alway
en- nursed their own children, said did right
do We had many trials and often not a crust o
to bread in the house; but our hardships onl,
av bound us the more closely together.
no All my children proved comforts and bles
ne sings to me. God took care of one for Inc
rs but Willie said, we know that it was for tn
or best. The rest married in the course of tim
he and left me; but the prop of my old days
I'M the one whose industry and management CAV
rIs me this plentiful and comfortable home, ha
a never left me since the day gave him away,