Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-01-15
Good Investment.
"No home, no home 2"


There was something very plaintive iu
the intona,ions Of the voice, and the words
fell sweelly, though sadly, upon my ears.
"No home"
1 was burrying along Randolph Street
in the city Of Chicago. Perhaps 1 sboult
not have stopped, only that the voice re
minded me of little girl Of my own, who
was at the time fifteen hundred mile.
away. felt slight twich at the heart, a.
tho words Came pleadingly on the nigh,
air.
mo home, no home!'
These words we're all repeated at inter
walls, and the one speaking them could no,
have been more than seven years old. She
stood in dark place, few we're passing
the night was threatening, no policemen
appeared to be within hearing; it was
somewhat chilly, aud as late as hall.pas.
Ten in the evening.
What should oo?
l bad been accustomed to dismiss from
| sight aud mind all meudicants; ragged
children, poor widows, old men, and the
Whole disgusting crew, as cheats. l walked
few PAGES past this little girl.
mo home
How the words smote me. What If a
little girl of mine should some time be thus
desolate and alone, aud should cry out in
her anguish TO passing strangers unheeded.
The thought went to my heart like knife.
l stopped, almost by impulse. 1 could
see no person in sight. could hear no
foot fall on tue pavement. It was i:npossi.
ble that her cry was genuine, as some good
souls by strange circumstances get drifted
in with outcasts from society. Perhaps,
also, this little girl was uttering an honest
cry among the thousand false voices.
thought then, that it was better to be
deceived once in whic, than never to
make an effort to assist the unfortunate. 1
thought SO, and yet cannot tell why l
thought 80 at that particular time, since
had been accustomed to think directly op.
posite. I suppose it was the loneliness Of
my house during the few days preceding,
wife and chld,en absent, had something
TO do with it.
"Wbat is the matter, my little one," I
said. kindly.
She shruuk bnck as if afraid of the as.
slstance she bad invoked. Perhaps did
not speak as kindly as imagined. had
not experience in addressing children under
such circumstances.
"Where do you live DEAR" said.
. away off,"
"Dont cry, now, my darling, and will
lead you home.''
81 don't want to. ban't got any home,
sir. Mamma died, and aunty whips me
SO cant stay"
swell, thought I, this is the old story,
and the little one is unworthy, after all. She
is provoking and disobedieDt, and runs
away from kind aunt, who wishes to cor.
rect her.
turned to 60. The child sobbed. No,
1 could not leave her in the dark street
alone. to suffer, worthy or unworthy.
"Will youteIl me your name, little one ?"
asked"
"Luty, SIR"
"Well, Luty, dear, I am going With you
to your auuts. guess she won't whip
you any moro. II she does, I will take you
to my home. Come, now, don't cry anv
more. We must walk a. fast as We can.
and you muat show me the way.'
! gave her otime to reply, but took
her by the hand and LED her along the
pavement.
@Down this way, SIR" ......-
/ followed, where she led the vay 10
among a roz of small wooden houses. set
90 Posts. The housss we're not old DOR
riolkety, but they were small and cheap,
With mud 10 pomeasprabls quantities all
around and underneath them. I had
pretty much made mp my mind ths. I
would tsss the truth Of the little, giI's
story, thso leave bsr OF take her home! with
me according A. the story shoald proYs
true or false. ~: go,
.This g where sunty lives, i,ir;" she
sald. :stopping bseors hqass which Looked
Iospesssbls, 81 saopg n ieIlo~s, . s1os- -. 1
I doabtsd shs Truth 81, ,hsr secount aors
than ever, II ihs ss.ns iins ! Il rrsaraeab.iinF
aAas cruelty ssisss IN soaasstioa wish soss