The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-16
MRS. RYLAND'S NIECE.

NJ EARLY twenty years ago an English
IN lady and her little boy were crossing
the Atlantic in one of the CunaId steamers.
The lady was going to Canada, where her
brother lived. She was widow She had
lost her husband very few years after
their marriage. Her name was Helen
Dunraven, and she had a sweet, gentle
somewhat melancholy face, as / think a
woman named Helen ought to have. Her
little boy was bright haired, blue-eyed,
creature. His fair hair clustered about his
forehead and fell upon his shoulders. This
was about the time when KnickerboclSers
first became the garb of small boys in Eu-
rope and little Eustace Dunraven wore
black velvet Knickerbockers and looked
like tiny prince.
1t was summer weather. The sea was
really for once "like glass" One could
hardly be sick, even if he tried.-Nlrs.
Dunraven was sitting on deck, one day,
with her boy, when she heard the patter of
little feet, and q child came scampering up
to her knee and caught her hand. The
new conner was little maid some eight
years old, with pretty head covered with
iet-black hair, and a pair of deep black
eyes, lustrous and lambent The little
girls complexion was of almost topical
darkness. She was lovely little creature,
indeed, who might have stood as an
infantile impersonation of Night, while the
sunny-haired boy near her would have
passed for the living symbol of Day.
"And what is your name, my little
dear?" asked Mrs. Dunraven, who did not
remember to have seen the child before.
"My name is Desiree," little Night re-
piled, promptly and clearly and then went
on: "I saw you on the deck, and | ran to
you because love you"
"Do you, my sweet little creature? ! am
sure shall love YOU" said Helen, kissing
the child tenderly.
"Oh yes, love you and love your lit.
tie boy" a.
The little boy was holding off rather
sheepishly, after the manner of his race.
In very early life the girls make all the adj
yances, if any are made. This little girl
stood fearlessly before the boy, and gazed
at him in tender innocent frankness, while
he was somewhat shy, and looked at her
timidly out of his great blue eyes. At his
mothers bidding he went near the child,
and gave her his hand but she put her
aims around his neck and kissed him.
Before the day was half over they were
firm friends. They ran all over the deck
together, and tried to play that game (what
is it called?) which people play on board
ship with round pieces Of wood and thing
like crutch, and number of squares and
and figures chalked on the deck planks--
They ran into all manner of holes and
corners they sat side by side at meals, and
shared the oranges and apples captured at
desserts.
Mrs. Dunrayen saw nothing of Desiree's
mamma. An elderly mulatto woman came
and looked after the child now and then
but the mother did not appear, and seemed
quite content that Desiree should DO left
entirely TO Mrs. Dunraven's care. Practi
cally this was so. The little girl chung t.
Helen and her boy all through the voyage
as if she belonged to them; and indeed
people often wondered at the English LADY,
two children-the one so fair and the othe
so dark.
Only on the last day of the voyage die
the lady whom Desiree called her mammi
make an appearance on deck. She was al
invalid, apparently she walked with diff
Guilty. She was wrapped in shawls, thougl
she weather was warm.
Her face was indeed somewhat like tha
of Desiree, but was sallow and yellow.
was prematureIy wasted and old. 1t wa
lighted by the cold fire of two storm AM
dark eyes that burned with penetrating
painful keenness.-The mulatto woman, o.
whom she leaned, brought this lady up +
Mrs. Dunrayen.
lam deeply grateful" the lady said