Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-01-04
The Lost Family.

Cl . AllCu lIlO lOOlls udu UCClI 1Oi
some time in a brown study over my
mothers last letter, trying to read her
hidden meaning in the few brief par
agraphs relative to my return home,
when my eyes wandered to the book
shelves and nestled in among the dus-
ty old tones. wondered if the judge,
the lamented husband of my kind hos
tess, ever had found time in the course
of his busy life to read a tenth part
of the printed matter before me.
| heard a strange mans voice, and
turning suddenly saw a white hat, a
red neck tie, a broad round face, a
black satin vest, and brown coat in
the doorway.
ais Mrs. Wilmot in? ?"
"She is not. Is there anything !
can do for you ?"
mo. That is, | suppose | must
gee the lady herself. The servant
who opened the door, told me she was
in the library. l hope to be excused
for the intrusion"
The manner of the man with his
high hat standing upright upon bis
head, was so comically respectful that
| smiled.
Will you leave your name and
message for Mrs. Wilmot?"
How soon will she get home do
You think?"
About twelve o'clock"
He drew from his pocket a watch
about the size of one of my grandma
theirs pewter porringers, and regard
ed it with intense interest.
" Il is only half past nine now
When body is starving, two hours
and a half are pretty much of a long
spell"
Starving! Who is starving p
Where ?"
A woman who lives in the next
room to ours. She's pretty bad now,
and don't know what she'll be by
noon. She's got four Youngsters,
nice, well behaved, and quiet like
We gin them some crackers and mo-
lasse8 this morning to keep them from
crying, but the mother wouldn't touch
a bit, cause she knew | was out Of
work, and said we needed it all our
selves
sprang to nv feet. l forgot my
last autumn'S experience, when q beg
gar's story was so well told that
cried myself sick out Of sympathy, and
cOaXed Mrs. Wilmot out into a cold
northeast rainstorm to be dragged
through the mud and water nearly two
miles to find a place which never had
any existence. | never once thought
of the possibility Of my being a sec.
ond time imposed upon. l inquired
hurriedly where the sufferer was to
be found. The address was given me
in quiet matter of fact way.
Il will 90 and see her at once, with.
out waiting for Mrs. Wilmot."
"Very good, Miss, but l think it is
about the children that Mrs. Whipple
is wanting to see the good ladies
afore she goes-something about a
! place for them"
Yes, | will be there in a very few
minutes"
As my queer looking visitor turned
on his heel, flew up stairs and was
bonneted and shawled before he had
got around the corner. l jingled my
purse to assure myself that it was not
empty, and dropped it into my pocket
as | ran through the corridor on my
way down. To my surprise l met
Mrs. Wilmot coming in the house as
| opened the outer door to pass out.
l stopped on the threshold to acquaint
her with the import Of the mans mes,
sage, and WINGED under the cool Gym,
ical smile with which it was received.
Your enthusiasm will get very
much tempered when you have my for
ty years of experience among the
poor, she said, at the same time start.
ing off by my side at brisk pace.
But you always answer my call
under all circumstances"
eyes, true, my principle is that il
is better to come in contact with fifty
imposters than miss one of the real
deserving. But | have no tears tc
spare for imaginary woes"
We crossed the park under the
shade of the beautiful elms, for the
sunshine wasvery bright and dazzling
and in about half an hour arrived at ar
old fashioned ediice in the centre of
smart, well to do tenement houses
The door was Hospitality wide open
and we entered and groped our way
through a somewhat dark rear hall
and knocked at the door of the apart
ment designated by the messenger
1t was opened by pale littlesgi of
six years.
"Mother's SICK" she said, in timid
feeble voice.
| | glanced toward the bed and en-
countered pair of dark, lustrous eye
set deep in face that once must hav,
been wOndrously beautiful. A ricl
mass of hair waved over a classic
we'll shaped forehead, and skin OF
alabaster whiteness was drawn tight,
over sharp and emaciated features
A tiny hand, with delicate taperinj
fingers, was extended to give US wei
come.
The room was barren of everything
that would tend to make existenc
tolerable. A plain bedstead and tw,
chairs were the only articles of fur
niture. The bed itself was misera
BILE pallet of straw, and pile of oil,
newspapers answered for a pillow
-Four children were grouped on tn
floor in the corner playing dominoes
The two Oldest were boys of the age
of eight and ten, the youngest girls Q
six and four. They were all ragged
but scrupulously clean. Indeed, ther
was an air OF refinement about tn
poverty stricken mother that was i
harmony with the exquisite neatnes
of everything in the apartment. Mr.;
Wilmot advanced to the bed and spok
gently to the suffering one.
You are very kind" she replied
"to come to me. wish to make fol
NAL application for the admission o
my children to the Foster Home"
Her voice was almost inaudible an
she seemed fainting. Mrs. Wilmo
hada me hurry tn a restaurant in tn