Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-03-10

| Shc iSn uSeu 10 CHiIulcI.
10 no, indeed" said bustling Mrs
Worthington. "r;c had Iour child: cu
and | know what it is To take care oI
them. To be sure Eve always had 4
nurse for oich child. and never slept with
one night; You know my nervous
system would not admit of my having
the care of them. | love them dearly,
but my nerves are too weak To have them
with me much OF The time ; but see that
they have good nurses. and | can't help
the rest"
Yes said Mrs. IIartwell, who hadn't
any children, and hoped she revcr would
have, you have been married ten years,
Mrs. Morton, and are such nice house
keeper, and So precise in your living that
baby would turn everything topsy trvy
and you would have to work across the
grain all the rest OF your life. never
could take other pc, pies children"
What will they do wi h il Mrs. Allison P
asked another lady who had stood by
silent, and always coneurrcd iu every.
body's opinion.
The mother of thirty years ago was
/ this good old lady. She had brought up
six children in the days when mothers
were old fashioned she had never had a
nurse Tor one of them. Her own han,ls
made all their little garments. and her
nerves were firm enough TO bear all their
childhood grievances, and TO adjust all
their young hearts troubles and differ
ences. She had heard this conversation,
aud her good, warm, motherly heart felt
troubled
What coald she answer? If it had
been years ago she would have taken the
little waif intn her own nest, made il
welcome. and called it her own. But
she would not advise her daughter; she
must act according TO Tho dictates of her
own conscience. Mrs. Allison was too
old to share much in the care, though
she would gladly do what she could il
the baby stayed.
Tie ladie, discussed the question at
home, in each Others houses. aud dow n
shopping. Meanwhile baby slept on.
slept rs sweclly as in its own cradle, at its
own home, with loving mother watch
ing over it. ale givcth His beloved
sleep" The Father was watching with
loving eyes over the little one whom no.
bod owned. staying where it was SO un.
welcome.
Mother" said Mrs Morton, alter the
ladies had gone out, what will we do
with it? Do you thiak it is our duty TO
keep this baby ?"
Daughter" she replied. "have YOU no
misgivings about sending it away? 1t is
one of Christ's little pncs. Feed my
lambs" she continued. rs she left the
room to ask God what they should do
with it.
After Mrs. Allison left the room Mrs.
Morton was left To her own thoughts. To
take baby was serious matter. She
had often been asked 20 adopt child :,
but she always said that she never would
do il-but this has been sent in such a
strange manner. She began TO weigh
the tors and againstS about Keeping it.
The against scale seemed 10 go down 4
great deal further than the other. John
would not want the additional expense
of hiring nurse; if baby stayed she
would have TO take care OF it herself.
This would debar her from so many
pleasures she had hitherto enjoyed. But
is it right to live only to ourselves? Did
not the Master command us TO work in
His vineyard? and if she sent baby away
would hc not say 10 her "lnasmuch rs yc
did it not to one of the least OF these yc
did il not TO MG?n
Mr. Morton came homo earlier than
usual that night. He found baby still
there He did not seem much surprised {;
he too had been pondering all day wheth'
er it was right to send baby away. AT
all events they would not send it away
that night, and when morning came the
decision had been made. Baby was to
stay. They named her Faith, because
they trusted the Father that He had sent
her there Tor good, and not Tor evil.
For days the neighbors in the block
could hear the ccascless music Of Mrs.
Morton's sewing machine, and it they
had looked in they would have seen nu'
merous garments of soft muslin and
warm Hannel. under process OF cor pie
ton into sundry little garments.
Some OF the ladies said Mrs. Morton
did not know what piece of work che
had undertaken; others that she was SO
foolish to confine herself at home 50
much. taking care of somebody else'a
baby, whom nobody knew anything
about.
Baby did bring Il great deal of care
with it, more than Mr.. and Mrs. Morton
had any idea of, but they never said OF
felt thlt they regretted the step they had
taken. There were SO many stitches to
take for baby that Mrs. Morton Lad to
take Il great many less for herself, and
garments that used TO be trimmed and
cmbellishcd. had TO go almost plain-bu'
what matter. There arc no ruffles ard
puffs on the white robes up there. Christ's
! rnhn wns without even seam. There