National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-06-19
Giving Away the Baby.
A MOTHERS STORY.

3 VOC 81 NlhilllNh ijN HIS NutllltII
death that | could do nothing but
sit and think over it, and try to re-
aliZe how it could be so. Only the
Sunday before he had been sitting
with me, watching the baby as he
sat i'll 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 i'll the same place, the warm
October sun streaming in on his
bright curls and making him look SO
prctty-so like picture but his
father had gone from us forever.
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, Papa! papa! until ! tho't
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
got tired of his play and came and
got into my lap.
Mamma crY-mamma mustn't,
he lisped ont, and wiped my wet
face with his little chubby hands;
but | could only hold him closer to
me and then cry more bitterly.
just then Mr. and Mrs. L0rrimcr
drove up in their handsome carriage.
They lived not far off, and were our
richest ncighbors. When | had in
vited them in and dried my tears a
little, they seemed at a loss how to
begin the conversation but Charlie
had Slid away from my knee, and
pointing at her heavy gold bracelets,
said, Pretty, pretty in his childish
way. She took it off and gave it
to him, saying:
Won't YOU come and be my little
boy. Charlie "
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 for one OF mine.
No, no, mother couldn't spare
him. said, quickly snatching him
away-almost rudely, / fear.
My dear woman,' began Mr.. Lor-
rimer, 'haye you thought seriously
of the impoSsibility of your getting
along with five children under
twelve years OF age -! 1t has re-
qulred all your husbands efforts 10
make a living for you--hoW can YOU
hope 10 do without him. 2
I'VE offer joined in his wife, to
/ take the most helpless Of your little
ones, to give him all the advantage
we would our own child; and sure
/ ~ YOU must see Gods hand in it,
that through us he intends to help
YOU
! need not tell how long | with
stood their arguments, but at last
overcome 10y their enteaties. | con
sented to consider the matter. |
never mentioned their visit to any
of the children, and | had changed
my mind almost every hour since
had seen them. Atlast. convinced
/ that it was for the child'S good !
consented to give him up. When
went to dress him to 20, my rcsolu
tion almost failed me. fingered
over every article lput on him, aud
made every curl over aud over be
fore | could get it to snit me, and
kissed his white shoulders unit
they were all rosy. At length hC
was ready, and | thought he never
looked 50 pretty. lie was full O
animation, tor he was old enough tt
know what it meant TO go riding
and he cIappcd his hands ant
laughed at the horses as they were
driven up. | handed him to his new
mother (thc children supposed Ii,
was to come bacl, soon, and he ney
or even looked at me. Oh how
jealous my aching heart grew.
When ] came back into the house
the first thing my eyes fell upon wa
his cradle. | could only throw my
self on it and sob aloud. Thci
came the trial of telling the trutl
ofitto the children. None of then
seemed rCconciled, and | felt tha
the worst was to come when the tw'
oldest returned from school. | al
most dreaded to meet them, cspeC
tally Willie; he was like his father
who so quiet and calm outwardly
but hiding beneath his apparen
cOldneSs the strongest, deepest feel
inGs. But the others went to mcc
9 them as they came home. and | wa
pleasantly disappointed in the wa
, the eldest one took it. He secmc'
to feel that | had done il for til
best, and that he must hide his sol
row for my sake. He was NOR
thoughtful for my comfort, an,
gcntler than ever, only very stiI
and grave.
The day ended, as the longes
will, at last, and il came time to Z
!, to bed. | had taken Willie dow
stairs to sleep near me since his ia
Tiers death; the other childre
;. slept just above us. Well, when
came to lie down, there was th
empty pillow! Baby had alway
laid his little rosy face rs close I
y mine as he could get it, and slel
J. with one littlo warm hand on IN