Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-01-14

before his eyes Baby was dead then
the little creature he had hoped wOuI
grow into as sweet woman as he
dead mother, while she waited for hin
to come back and claim her.
ffWeQ 20 said he, slowly, "that's tn
last on t but / may as well 90 t.
work. - and he did. Nothing more wa
heard of him in Hillvale, and he neve
knew that the paper Bill Decker hac
seen was an old One,-so old that
/ was his Wife's death in the register
not his child's.
In the mean time good Mrs. Moore
not receiving any money, or hearing
| any news from Sam Sylvester, still
took care of the lovely little child as
| il had been her own. It had found it,
/ place in her great tender heart, anC
though she was poor she would never
give Polly up. The child was six years
old when Mrs. Moore died suddenly
| and being childIess widow, with nc
property to leave behind her, Polly
Sylvester was sent to the selectmen o1
the town and by them bound out to
Mrs. Tarbox. Two long years ago, and
six months beside, had Polly taken her
place in this new Sfamily,-fOr 1t was
not a new home. When she came there
she was a plump ard rosy child, with
rows of shining chestnut curls, eyes as
brown, clear, and large as flying
squirrels, and neatly dressed. To-day
long drudgery, unkindness, improper
food, and no care had made little Polly
a fOrlorn sight. We left her driving
the COWS with Viohly.
Say, Polly, what makes you shiver
so ?" inquired the other little girl.
80, I'm dredful cold; seems as if I
should freeze, Vii"
~ anti the coffee was real warm. y
fsBut didn't have any coffee, be-
cause didn't get up quick"
Well, why didn't you get up? you
most alters do.''
so ViobIy, [ had such a splendid
dream Don't you know we had that
picture-paper Miss Slater let US take
one time, and it had about Christmas
in it, and how children someWheres
hanged up their stockings, and you
said it was real splendid, md you wish
your folks had a Christmas md said
I guessed if my father and mother
wa MT dead Ishould have one, because
Mother Moore always told me what
clever folks they was? And then don't
you rex lect that queer picture of-let s
see, what's his name ?-ohi Santi.
Claus film the stockin's2 Whey,
Rain bow !''-shouting to a COW that
left the line of march tempted by a
turnip field with the bars down. 'Well,
I dreamed that Santi Claus came down
the chimney right there in the garret
great big red stoekin' you ever did see
clost to the foot of my bed; md when
looked at him he kinder laughed and
said, Get up, Polly, and look in your
stockin'; it's Christmas day So l
looked in and the stOckin' grew bigger
nd bigger, and there was a most splen-
did kind of a wagon or somethin'
drawed by two white horses, and in it.
70 Viohly, whatsdo you think ?-my
own really truly father and mother
holdin' out their arms to me,--O dear y
The tears streamed down those little
pale, hollow cheeks, and Polly sat down
on a stone sobbing bitterlyi for she
had driven the cows into the lot and
put up the bars while she told her
story. 6e
Viola was not bad child, and she
0GS child; a certain dull sympathy
filled her heart for the poor little thing
who sat there trying not to sob, and
mopping her face with the corner of
her ragged calico apron.
''Say don't ye cry no more, Polly.
I'll give We a real soft apple to stop
1on't no more, now"
''I can help it; Xiohly, I'm so tired;
ind sometimes Pm so scared up garrett |
nights, and the boys do poster me the |
whole time. I XTaszE5 q 10 -gzish,I |
lad a real live father and mother!- |
seems as if 1 couldn't stand it no long
sr. Miss Slater, sometimes she talks
10 me about heVen' a Father up in the /
ky; but I expect he's forgot about me, T
le has such sights of thing to see tor
Poor tiny soul! He had not forgotten 1
7oui
Day after day went by, and Polly
greW yet more pale and pinched. Au-
umn had brOughtits still harder work |
han summer, and when winter came, I
With drifts of pitiless snow over noun
aims and valleys, and the fierce winds
)lew more and more keenly upon Pol
VS. half-clothed body and poor pre-
hrink away daily; there was no place
or her by the fire at night, no warm
nd nouFishing food by day, and when
he was worn out with hard work she
rouched and shivered under her scan
Y bUdclothes at night, falling asleep
rom fatigue, without being warm.
One moFning-it was the day before
but Polly did not know 1t,
or no record of any holiday but /
was ever kept in the
Tarbox familV-she was found in her
,arret so drOWsy and stIH with cold
hat Mrs. Tarbox took alarm lest some
Law her bound girl might be unbound,
nd leave her for the house of that
Father whom the poor child thought
lad forgotten her.
So they told her she might bring her
ed down at night and spread 1t in a
orner of the kitchen, if 1t was. done
MY after the family had gone to bed
nd removed before they got up. mat
light the moon shonefulE and clear up
is drifted piles, and streamed into the
Iarkest depths of the valleys. By its
light Polly erept up garret and loaded
Ier trenobIiDn shoulders with the husk
mattress and cotton comfortable.-l
Everybody IN the house was warm in
,ed and lust as she flung her burden
IL 1-1FdIIEsI7 here came a
oud rap at the door. Polly was fright
ned. and Mrs. Tarbox called from her
l.
'IOpen that are door Poll, petty quick; |,
ont stand gawpin' round as eff you
vas city folks !''.
vas bid; and there on the doorsteps
TODD man, while beyond him, in a
leigh heaped with furs, the moon now
Inning like day, showed to Polly a
ady muf1ed to her throat, and just
OIding aside a silvery vel to look out;
nd the lady saw slender, pallId child |
With large soft eyes and head of tan
led curIs shivering on the doorstep be-
pre- the strange gentleman. Ihls took
mt one instant's glance, and the
tranger asked. if Mrs. TarboX lived
here.
The man seemed choked with his
64b 9uH6tlN4Ag II Cdt4AAG pam anu
o sloW,--1 Rs8s
s'What-is your name, child ~
"PoIIy Sylvester, sir ~
t'My own haby!" was the deep low
nswer; and Polly rested right in her
ather's arms, sebbing so herself she
ould not hear the answering throbs
f his heart though herpoor tired head
ay upon it. j,
sPolly, shut that doorl" screamed
Grs. Tarbox; but there was no answer.
Tut she hoped from her bed, fully in
ending to give Polly trouncing, and
anne upon the sight we have seen.-
Welll [ should like to know
You SHALL y interrupted the stran-
,er. Mrs Tarbox, I am Polly Syl-
-ester's father; you have treated my
title darling, whom I believed dead
ong ago, worse than dog, and she
hall not stay another minute in your
louseP' taa
FI guess there's two folks to settlel
hat bargain. Fustly, how do know
rOu be her father 2"
''Look at me y said he, lifting his
ap.
snow vou have committed your own
elf, Mrs. Tarbox. have MT changed
90 much in nine years to be known