Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-01-21
MISCELLANY.
A Mothers Management.

The dismal December night was closing,
with starless gloom over the spires and chimney
tops of the city-the binding mist OF snow
flakes was wreathing its white pail over all,
and the wind murmuring sadly through the
streets. seemed to have an almost human wall
in its moan.
"It's an ugly kind Of night" muttered Mr.
Terrvn to himself as he buckled his fur closer
around his neck, and 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 flight Of steps, in the shadow of ruinouS
old brick archway but as he checked himself
abruptly, the bundle erected itself into some
thing human in shape and looked at HIM
through wild, human eyes.
"Who are you?" he demanded, on the i'm
pulse of the moment.
"Only NE. sir-little Tess
"Pleasc give me penny, sir" cried the
child, suddenly subsiding into the regular pro-
fessional whine of her trade. "Only penny"
"Whcre do you live? ?"
al don't live nowhere, sir-I skulks round
in the alleys"
"Oh. YOU do, ch? and who takes care OF
you ?"
cold Tim Daley used to, but he's took up.
"Took up?"
"Sent to the island, sir.
"Arc you boy, or girl?'
For the creatures tangled locks and ragged
garb gave no clue TO its sex.l
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself beg
ging in the streets" said Mr. Tcrryn severely
"Why don't you go to wOrk?'
As he approached his own door bright
childs face pcepel out between the curtains
and as Mr.. Terryn entered the CHEEKY sitting
room, he could not but think with remorse-
full pang of the shivering bundle Of rags under
the brick archway beyond
But Mr.. Terryn's conscience was less ada
mantine than he had given it credit for being
It prickcd him sorely as he sat toasting hi'
slippered feet before the bright embers-it
wbspered to him as he listened to the lullaby
wherewith his wife was lulling the babe tc
sleep upon her breast, had little Tess evel
known mothers care, or heard mothers
cradle song? And she could scarcely have
/ , - =. ..a.-. o1J o;ibnr
"Where are you going, my dear? ?" ques-
toned his wife, as he rose up suddenly.
"Out into the street There wasa-a child
there-a little girl, crouching on some steps
"A child? Homeless? And on such
night as this? Oh, Herbert, you should have
brought her here"
Five minutes aiterward Mr.. Terryn was out
in the driving whirlwinds of snow bending
over the small stray who was hudded up, just
where he had left her.
Here child, where are you?'
But there was no answer Little Tess wa:
benumbed and stupefed with the cold.
He lifted her up, a poor little skeleton, wrap
ped in 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 a poor little starved
wretch Her hands are like birds claws"
Charley looked on in breathless interest al
the process of feeding, warming and restoring
some vitality to the torpid object.
When little Tess opened her eyes, It was tc
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 swec
Italian synonym for the word treasure, anc
a treasure she was, in gentle Mrs. Terryni
ewes. especially after her little babe was deac
and buried.
"How Tesora grows" said Mr.. Terryn sud
denly, one day, as the beautiful girl came in
rosy and smiling from walk.
"Why, she is as tall as grown woman.
"Sho i, grown woman" said Mrs. Terryn
with smile.
( How Old is she -