The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-08-19

and carried her through the streets
to his wretched garnet. Then tax
/ ing off his coat he wrapped her in it,
and commenced rubbingthe icyhands
| and feet. After some time the child
opened her eyes, and from that mo-
ment the strong bond between them
was sealed forever.
She never left him. He soon Law
ished upon her all the devotion of an
undying nature. In return, the poor
little healthier, who had never enter
ed a church in her life, thought moth
| ing on earth soworshipful asTom, and
adored no other Deity. A new life
had dawned upon them both, great
mine of wealth had been opened.
They were no longer poor, lonely,
ldesolate. Callit infatuation, or what
lyou will, it was a wonderful power
(which could thus transform want in
ito plenty, cold into warmth, comfort
ilessness into luxury-one fthose few
linexplicable powers which combat
ana conquer OeaCn,
| It can now be understood what
twas the old mans despair when the
jPostmis Tess sent for him and pro-
Iposed to adopt the child. She had
taken fancy to the little thing, and
having learnt the destitute, condition
| in which the two lived, never doubt
ed her charitable offer would be &C
cepted. The old man could not re-
ljoice. He could only realize the one
miserable fact-she must go. He
hastened home very detected and
when in sight of the house, thought
it had never looked so poor. The
roof was broken in several places
and states wanting. The window in
which a faint light glimmered, was
patched with paper, the walls were
discolored with damp, and the door
was low. As he CROPPED his way up
the rickety stairs, he sighed invol-
UNFAIRLY:
'Oh, Dot, Dot, I'd like to take all
THE warmth and shine out of that
house before / ever tell of it to you.
| On entering he peered through
1.-THE darkness for the one object that
made the room light to him. The
child knelt close to the fire, sewing
some coarse garment. Her eyes
sparkled with pleasure on seeing the
old man, but she greeted him with 6
comic pretense Of anger.
! 4 was hoping she said, with dig.
nifty, sit wasn't you. I thought
you'd have stayed outside all night
rather than come in and look me in
the face Perhaps you've forgotten
what told you yesterday
Tom hung his head with happy
consciousness Of guilt, and could not
RESTRAIN a chuckle of enjoyment.
! No he said, meekly; 4 remem-
iber it was not to be late again.
The very words replied Dot,
sternly. And yet here you are.
What did you think I'd do? Weren't
you frightened Of me2'
No said the other, submissively.
We'll, 1 wonder you WEREN'T she
continued, with cruel determination.
I've been thinking and settled what
to do. First, l hit upon no fire, but
that's too common to be any punish
ment at ALL And then l said no
supper, but that wasn't hard enough,
So now I have it-dry bread, and
nothing to eat with it, I've put the
beer, butter and bacon into the
Ipress,
At this, unable to keep up her
part any longer, she looked at him
and they both laughed gaily. The
fact was, the three last-mentioned
ARTICLES were dainties never seen in
poor Toms cupboard from years
end to years end. Enough was tru
Ily feast to them, and one ofvery
rare occurrence. This grand stretch
of imagination fully supplied the ab-
sence of these luxuries. Tom was
enchanted.
4 don't wonder continued she,
gravely, you think the supper bare.
But my minds made up, and how
ever much you beg, I'm not going
to give in
There was no doubt the table was
bare. The assortment of glass and
china was anything bat magnificent.
1t consisted of one cracked jug, one
tumbIer, two saucers, and a clumsy
poeket-knife, rather the worse for
wear. Nor was the palate tempted
by much variety. In solids they
had the choice between two things
bread or nothing-and in liquids,
water or nothing.
The old mans face clouded. All
his former misery returned, and his
mirth was gone, Dot observed the
change.
/ see, she Sad, quietly you're
discontented, and I'm glad. Its
well you should feel uncomfortable
for a little-just what l want
They seated themselves, but he
could not take mouthful. His eyes
were fixed on the child with long
devouring gaze. She, indeed, was
his sustenance and refreshment.
How could he live without her?
SDot,' he whispered, with sud-
den effort, don't everything look
poor? Wouldn't the floor be warm
or to tread if it had a carpet? and
the room feel less cold if the CRATE
had all the Goals it could hold? and
wouldn't curtain at the window
help to keep out the wind? Say,
don't you feel it poorY
She opened her eyes in silent as
tonishment and looked around her,
After a few minu+es' scrutiny, /
should say she replied, there amt
no doubt you're the pleasantest
thing in the room to look at
And in truth that was not saying
much.
Tell me- repeated Tom, anxious
ly, lis it poor, very poor?
The child nodded assent.
',Ahn he sighed, 1 knew it, then
added gently, How would you like
to be always warm and well-fed-to
have everything soft underfoot, and
no wind to keep you awake at night:
Could you fancy it for momentT
She shook her head. No, she
could not.
Shut your eyes, said the old
man, tremblingly, and try. | shall
describe it to you as we'll as can
Cl L.--o1 onI I,o loid tho ,1ip