Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-02-17
A MOTHERS MANAGEMENT.


over all, and the wind, murmuring sadly
through the streees, seemed to have an al
most human wall in his moan.
Its an ugly kind of a night" muttere
Mr.. Terryn to himself, as he buckled his fur
closer around his neck, land wind fit to
cut one in two. Halo what's this p
He had very nearly stumbled over some
thing that looked like bundle, crouching
at the foot of fight of steps, in the shadow
of a ruinous old brick archway; but, as he
checked himself abruptly, the bundle erect
ed itself into something human in shape and
looked at him through its wild, human eyes,
''Who are you'll" he demanded, on the
impulse of the moment.
Only me, sir-little Tess
'Please give me penny, sirl' cried the
child, suddenly subsiding into the profess
ional whine of her trade. 'Only penny 4"
Where do you live?"
in the alleys"
''Oh, you do, eh and who takes care OF
you?"
''Cld Tim Daley used to, but he's took
up
Took up?''
''Sent to the Island, SIR
Are you boy, or girl?"
(For the creatures tangled locks and rag
ged garb gave no clue to the sex.)
I'll girl, sir"
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself,
begging in the Streets" said MIR. Terryn, Sc
verely. why don't you work ?''
As he approached his own door a bright
child face peeped out between the curtain,
aud as Mr.. Terryn entered the CHEEKY sitting
room, he could not but think with re-
morscful pang, of the shivering bundle of
rags under the brick archway beyond.
Its none of my business" he thought
II dare say the police will pick the poor
little elf up, and take her where she Il be
better off -
But Mr. Terryn's conscience was less ada
mantine than he had given it credit for be
ing. 1t pricked him soreIy as he sat toast
ing his slippered feet before the bright en-
bers-it whispered to him as he listened to
the lullaby wherewith his wife was luiling
the baby to sleep upon her breats. Had
little Tess ever known mothers care, or
heard mothers cradle song? And she
could scarcely have been six years old either
Where are you going, my dear?" said
his wife, as he rose up suddenly.
l. I
;here-a little girl, crouching on some
steps"
"a child? Homeless2 And on such a
night as this? Oh, Herbert, you should
have brought her here! -
Five minutes afterwards Mr.. Terryn was
out in the driving whirlwinds ofsnow, bend
ing over the small stray who was bundled
up, just where he had left her
Here, child, where are you? ?''
But there was no answer. Little Tess
was benumbed aid stupefed by the cold.
He lifted her up, poor little skeleton
wrapped in a miserably thin coating of rags
and feeling strangely light in his arms, and
carried her home. Mrs. Terryn met him
at the door
"Oh, Herbert, what poor little starved
wretch Her hands are just like bird s
claws"
Charley looked on IN breathless interest at
the process of feeding, warming and restor-
ing some vitality to the torpid object,
When little Tess opened her eyes, it was
to the glow of warm fire and the mellow
sparkle of gaslights.
Am dead?' cried the child, ''and is
this Heaven?"
Poor little creature - said Mrs. Terryn,
bursting into tears.
''Tesora," her name proved to be-a
sweet italian synonym for the word treas.
ure, - and a treasure she was, in the gentle
Mrs. Terryn eyes, especially after her little
babe was dead and buried
How Tesora grows" said Mrs. Terryn
as the beautiful girl came in, rosy
and sn ling, from walk. why she is as
tall as grown woman"
How old Is she?"
Sixteen, day before yesterday"
rs it possible, " said Mr. Terryn, thought
fully. "How time slips away Tesora six
seenl Why, then Charley must be TWEEN
tyi"
1T is true, my dear, said his wife. "We
are getting to be old people, now p
II wonder what will become of Tesora,"
'aid MIR. Terryn, musingly. ''She would
make capital governess, her education has
been so thorough-or"
Father" said Charles Terryn, resolutely,
Is he walked up in front of his father and
tood with folded arms, II can tell you what
will become of Tesoral She is to be my
wife el''
Nonsense calculated Mr.. Terryn.
Charley" said Mrs Terryn, when the
Indignant father had jerked himself out of
he room, don't waste your breath in ar
,uing with your father. Argument never
yet, in such case as this.
''But what am l to do?''
Have you spoken to Tess yet ?''
"No."
"Wait then-let matters rest. will man
ge it2''