Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-05-20
geieEt Sturu.
A Mothers Management.

A Mothers Management.
The dismal December night was clos
ing, with starless gloom over the spires
and chimney tops of the city-the blind
ing mist of snow-fakes was wreathing its
white pail over all, and the wind MUIR
muring sadly through the streets, seemed
to have an almost human wall in its
moan.
Its an ugly kind of night muttcred
Mr.. Terryn to himself, as he buckled his
fur closer around his neck, "and a wind
fit to cut one in two. Halo! what's
this {?
He had very nearly stumbled over
something that looked like bundle,
crouching at the foot of a fight of steps,
in the shadow of a ruinous old brick arch
way but as he checked himself abruptly,
the bundle erected itself into something
human in shape and looked at him
through wild, human eyes.
Who are you ? he demanded, on the
impulse of the momcns.
Only me, sir-little Tess
Please give me penny, sir.' cried
the child, suddenly subsiding into the
regular professional whine of the trade.
Only penny
Where do you live ?
L don't live nowhere, sir-I skdlks
round in the alleys
'Oh, you do, Ell? and who takes care
of your
odd Tim Daley used to, but he's took
up
Took upY
Sent to the island sir
Are you boy, or girl?'
Cor the creatures tangled locks and
ragged garb gave no clue to its sex.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself,
begging in the streets, said Mr.. Terryn
severely. why don't you go to work !?
As he approached his own door bright
child's. face peeped out between the cur
tains, and as Mr.. Terryn entered the
CHEEKY sitting room, he could not but
think with remorseful pang of the shiv
ering bundle Of rags under the brick
arehway beyond.
But Mr.. Terryn's conscience was less
adamantine than he had given it credit for
being. 1t pricked him sorely as he sat
toasting his slippered feet before the bright
embers-it whispered to him as he listen
ed to the lullaby whsrewith his wife was
lulling the babe to sleep upon her breast,
had little Tess ever known a mothers
care, or heard mothers cradle song :?
And she could scarcely have been six
years old, either.
Where are you going, my dear?' ques-
toned his wife, as he rose up suddenly.
Out into the street. There was "a
child there--a little girl, crouching on
some steps,
"A child? Homeless And on such a
night as this (? Oh, Herbert, you should
have brought her here
Five minutes afterward Mr.. Terryn was
out in the driving whirlwinds of snow
bending over the small stray child who
was huddled up, just where he had left
her.
Here child where are you?
But there was no answer. Little Tess
| was benumbed and stupefed with the
cold.
lie aifted her up, poor little skeleton,
wrapped in q miserable thin coating of
rags. and feeling strangely light in his
arms and carried Der home. Mrs. Ter
ryn met him al the door.
oh Herbert wha.. poor little starved
wretch! Her hands are linz birds claws
Charley looked on in breathless interest,"
at the process of feeding, warming
and restoring some vitality to che torpid
object.
When little Tess opened her eyes, ii
was to the glow Of warm FIRE and the
mellow sparkle of gaslights.
sAm dead? cried the child, and ii
! this Heaven
Poor little creaturep said Mrs. Ter
ryp, bursting into tears.
.Tesora,' her name proved to bel
-l-Awset Italian synonym for the word area
~ sszspre she w, II gentle