The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-09
preston, and half extended his hands
But Mrs. Bradley instantly exclaim-

preston, and half extended his hands
But Mrs. Bradley instantly exclaim
ed:
"Willie, dear, come to mamma
The child turned to her stretched
out his little hands, was received, and
then laid his head upon her bosom, re-
peating the word:
"Mamma mammal"
1T is enough" said the justice
"The child belongs toMrs Bradley,
and Mrs. Avery is evidently insane
Remove her, for upon that question
we must have further hearing"
Stay" cried the poor woman, "and
| will give further proof that you arc
mistaken. Permit me to take the
child in my arms for o few
m ,ments, and | will convince
you. During his weeks absence from
me, he has almost forgotten his
mother, but will soon remember her.
pray you, let me take tho boy onl =
fora few mcmcnts.'
"Give her the child"
She took the boy in her arms, and
seated herself: She carcsscl him
tendcrly, spoke few simple words,
such as children are accustomed to,
and then said. .
"Gecrgic, sleepy-by, and sing,
The little fellow dropped his head
upon the womau's bosom, and com
menccd a murmering sound, adding
plainly the word, "by-by-by."
Say, stop that" repeated tho
mother.
"Stop a.that," answered the child.
"Say, Ella. -.
"Ella," came in distinct articula-
ton.
"What do yon hcar?" asked the
mother.
clark harkl" repeated the child
With tears standing in her eyes,
Mrs. Avery sprang up, placed the boy
in seat, caught u bit Of paper from
the table and wrote few words upon
it. This she handed to the justice,
who read it, and nodded assent.
Then the mother, turning to her
boy, said:
"Georgic, mamma is going to
pray.
"lnstantly the boy closed his eyes,
and folded his hands across his breast.
And the mother repeated, in slow and
earnest words:
"Oh, thou Father of the orphan,
and the widows God, protect this
mother and her child"
There was quite pause before the
little fellow opened his eyes and un-
folded his hands. Then he extended
them to hi> mother, and clung to her
with all his strength, refusing to be
removed. from her. Those words had
brought back recollection, and all was
with him as if he had never been sep
aratcd from that parent.
The justice held up the paper, and
his utterance was choicd, as he
said:
"Mrs. Avery wrote upon this slip
just what the boy would do wh she
poke Of prayer. He done 1.-THE
child belongs to her"
There were few dry eyes in that
court room. aud while the true
mother smiled again with joy, tho
lsi,lnappers were thoroughly crushed.
They Sunk from the place, and to
avoid further investigation, they
left the city, and all traces Of them
was lost
But the wl.ole facts Of the case
aftcrward trauspired. Mrs Bradley
had married against her fathers
wishes, and that father had sworn
a solemn oath that he would disin-
hcrit her. After q time he relcnted,
but would not break his oath. And
TO "whip the devil around the stump"
he had made provision that the first
child should.have very large annual
income, and ut his own death, that
c.i!d was to receive a splendid for
tune. But eleven years had passed
since the marriage, and still the wo-
man was without IN heir. The hus-
band and wife visited Europe, and
were gone three years. During this
absence they had sent word home
that the old gentleman was u grand.
father. This was not the case, but
one of povcrty'' children, of the suit
able ag-, had bccn adopted by them,
and was to be pa|med off rs their
own. This was necessary. for power
ty was staring item i" the face, and
only tho will of her father would
enable them still. to live in affluence.
Or the passage over from England
the child died. 1t became necessary
for them to find another, and on the
very day Of their rrrival, they had
stolen that of Mrs. Avery.
This is 4 strange world, and events
stranger that anything in fiction are
occurring every day, all around lis.