Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-20

CDdrge OF him. Is that se''
81 believe il is answered Mrs. Mullins,
"but divil a much mssslf knows anout it. But
don't throuble the boy-poor little fillv, the
thribulas hin is keen on him!-ask Naggie-she
knows"
"Oh. yes, Maggie, My dear little Maggie
exclaimed the doctor, with affected tenderness,
a. he approached the child-"she will tell me
all + bout IT. She Will come and live with me,
nov. L guess. She won't want TO stay here
aitr hey take away her playmate! Won [
you come wih me. Masaie!''
mo, wOntn' exclaimed the child, with a
shredder, anc at the same tine she crept close
10 Mr.. Mullins, and seized tightly hold on tina t
gooo womaD's apron as though she fea-rd the
doctor might seize her fo-cibiy and bear her
of.
And why not, my little Gear!" asked the
doctor with great b,apdness.
"Because don't like you,'' replied the chIld, /,
with great candor-s'I rather 90 aud live in
that dark dungeon where my father died than
TO go home with You. I'm afraid OF you.''
Now, that Is hard. isn't it, Mrs. Mullins!'
s saia ths doctor sppsslingiy That is really
reasonably all through his many fits of sick
ness without charging him one cent, and now
When l want TO continue my kindness by
giving her home, shs won come near me
dare say the boy is Just like her. 1 attended
his mother professionally. also, without re-
ceiNing any pecurlary recompense save a few
trInkeis, and don't suppose he has any more
gratitude than Maggie has. VIII You come and
learn TO be doctor, Charley!"h he continued
addressing the boy.
the gri.f-stricken youth, turning his tear-swol.
len eyes upon the questiOner.
NO." said Maggie, "Charley and l will go
together. wherever he goes, Will go. If Mr.
seymour takes HIM, i will beg Mrs. seymour
to take me-
Dr McNab had good reasons for feeling IN.
tere sted in the chIoren, and what those rea-
sons were will appear in the course Of our
story.
IL was one morning about a week after the
events Just narrated took place, that Mr.. and
Mrs Seymour sat az the breakfast table. the
gentleman reading the morning paper and sip
ping ms coffee by turns, while the lady re.
m aimed silent, apparently in deep thought
ABOUT something.
emptying his cup a. a draught. MIR. Seymour
said. with a sigh
Il never take up paper of late, my dear,
that i do not come across the details of some
horrible case OF destitutIen and Misery
Il have noticed, Andrew said Mrs Sew
mour, ''that OF late you seem more than usual
Iy Interested IN the sufferings OF the poor. My
attention, too. has ben much attracted TO such
cases since heard of your praseworthy action
IN reference 10 that unfortunate woman who
dieo OF starvation. Although / must admit
tnat yonr conduct was commentaries, cannot
understand why you have taken such an IN
terest IN her orphan boy. After superiutend-
ing the funeral, and paying all the expenses,
you bling tw destitute children here to your
own home, one OF them the unfortunate wo-
mans SON..
Mrs. Seymour paused, fn order to give her
nuSDdnu an opportunity 10 say something III
txpIahation bnt he remained silent, aud she
continued:
"Ano another singular phase of this most
singular matter Is, that YOU seem less inclined
10 conNelse about the boy than you do about
the girl. Without any inquiry upon nv part,
You told me all yOu knew about the girl, but
when i venture 10 question you concerning
The boy, you eyinced palpable dis inclination
to convene ON the subject, ana would not give
me the slightest satIsiactIun."
We'll. my dear, SAID Mr.. Seymour, appar-
entity with great reluctance, at true that |
have all along tri' d 10 avold This subject, but,
as you have forced me to II. L Will admit that
there is q my st@ry about the boy ard his moth
era mys;rIy winch l have reasons of my own
for Eot wishing To explain. and which could
you nothing. even / should do So
Let me IIDpioIe yCu then, As you value our do
m-stIc quI-I. not 10 alIude To tue subject again.
ne 10y " Ill be out OF the house shortly, and,
at er be is gone, let 10 talk OF the past
l sYCkr 10 an employ ing silversmi,h about him
yesieI day. Mr.. Barak .lefir,es, aLd Charley is
ahCu' S"nT h'lle pr, 'sgs, Maggie, Have you
found place for her Yet, or 90 you Iatend 10
acc + bel 80
~ ~OuId willingly adopt her" replied Mrs.
S'ymouI, y h" saw a. once that it would be
useless 10 attempt 10 peEetr;te ner islands
secTe', and who assumed sal faction she bv
no means lel,, '.If 1 could reconcile such a
course with my conscience, but 1 fear | am
growing too fond OF her, and we should not
place our affections upon things OF this earth
The fact that our heavenly Father has never
biesstd d us with children is the best proof that
lie TENDED should devote myself entirely TO
HIS service. She Is a sweet child. ana l am
happy III having been able TO pluck her as a
brand from the burning, (this was a fayorite
expression with the lady,) but cannot make
up my mind 10 assume the entire care OF her.
ana 30 1 think / VIII permit Mrs. Docket
ho has made application to our society tor a
little girl 10 adopt. TO take her. She seems a
very pious kind " woman, and has promised
10 bring Maggie up IN the faith"
Poor Maggie. she little knew the fate that
awaited her. And had Mrs. Seymour been
aware OF II, her phiianthropic heart would
have thrilled with horror, ard she would as
soon have thought OF placing the helpless little
one III the keeping of Il wild beast.
An hour later, after Mr.. Seymour had left
the house TO attend 10 business, Mrs. Docket
made her appearance, wishing 10 consult with
MIS-. Seymour about taking charge of Maggie
"How CID did you say he was ~ asked Mrs.
Docket, after some preliminary observations
bad passed between herself and Mrs. Seymour.
alt Is impossible To- say. exactly" replied
the latter lady, ''fOr the Cnild does not know
her age. should suppose her, however, to be
about nine years old
The dear child :" exclaimed Mrs Docket.
with iervOr; sand " hat Is her rame, mem -
''Of that We are also ignorant" answered
MIS-. Seymour-.she rs a poor little waif, OF
whose history We have been able to learn but
liitle. About three years ago her father. a be-
sot,ed creature. who was not fit to have the
charge OF a dog, much less tender child, hired
a room IN the house from which we took her.
He died miserabIy IN PRISON not long after ward
of de}iruia trenseEs, and from that time Till we
found her, he little unfortunate picked up her
living by running errands Tor the tenants.
Maggie is the only name by which she
present known.
The poor darlin, unfortnit little soui!'' ex-
claimed Mrs. DOckett- applying her handker-
chief to her eyes. "Oh, Mrs. Seymour, must
nave that child! feel like could eat her up
now without even seein' of her. l wanted to
get some poor little waif, as you call it, with
ont no IA ner or mother, or any friends to care
for n and lam so glad i applied to your
Die ssed, Heavenly Society, you don't know it!''
Had Mrs. Docket known how inextncaDle in.
fortunate with her own she would not have
been SO perfectly seif-possessed as she contem-
plated taking charge OF her. But she did not
know II and she was happy in he ignorance.
"Y.u will treat her in all respects as If she
were my child, end had placed her with you
10 board, will your asked Mrs. Seymour,
delighted with the fattering allusion which
had been made to TIE Society.
Mrs. Docket looked up toward Heaven, as
Though calling the Sacred Hosts to witness her
then lwiped her eyes energeticaily,
she sighed heavily. and then said alphabetically
won't 1, thouRhr'
"And yen will bring her up in the faithl',
continued Mrs. Seymour; "you will studiousiy
teach her TO renounCe the pomps and vaniries
of his wicked world and all the sinful lusts of
the flesh! You Will see to II that she listens
only 10 sound doctrine.'
Mrs. Seymour" responded Mrs. Docket,
hall reproachfuliy but ecstatically, III I
thought there was one hair in my head that
wasn't Episcopal, I'D have my head shaved
clean on purpose TO get rid Of that one, and
wear borrid cap tor the rest Of my days!'
MIS-. Seymour wanted no further proof Of
her visitors fitness for any work which she
mi ho n<3r IN dn ffnVsh sho hsA>