Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-07-21

some one should come. She had not to
wait long; for every one knew the little
blind girl. and was willing to help her.
What are you doing here, Rosa. and
what has become Of Silverhair?' asked her
chosen friend Lily Raeburn. who could
scarcely believe when Rosa told her the
dog was sold; and she gladly offered to
lead her home.
But first" said Rosa. ''take me to
Stewart the butchers, and to groeer's;
for [ must take home some beef and some
wine"
The poor child's spirits rose after she
made her purchases and in the triumph
ant JOY of giving them to her mother, the
loss of her favorite was, for the moment,
all forgotten. She had not made the sac
rifice in vain, as her father soon began to
improve, and before very many wee ks was
able to resume his work.
Bouncer was kind, merry little dog /;
and after while Rosa could once more
venture to walk beyond their garden un-
der his care.
One lovely Autumn day she set out to
visit her grandmother, who lived about
mile distant from tleir cottage. The road
lay along the river. side, and the reapers
were busy in the fields above it. The air
was laden with perfume, and the singing
of birds and humming of bees mingled
with the snatches of song that burst every
now and then from the harvest fields.
Rosa tripped cheerfully along and both
she and Bouncer seemed to share in the
general rejoicing. Just then a rabbit
crossed their path, and, alas Bouncer.
forgetting altogether that he was now the
sober guardian of a blind child, made a
wild spring in pursuit of it. The sudden
jerk Of the cord from her grasp precipita-
ted poor Rosa over the brink, just where
there was dark, deep pool. In a mo-
ment the waters closed over her: but al
most Immediately one of the reapers had
dashed in after her. and succeeded in res
cuing her from their dark depths. A
crowd had gathered round her when be
laid her on the bank but they made way
for Mr.. Stenhouse, who had left his car
riage to inquire about the accident.
''She is pretty little thing" he said.
"How could her parents trust her to such
a dog as that p
Ibid you not know, sir" said John,
"that Master Arthur had bought little
Rosa's dog, and this one is not half so
sensible creature 2"
Mr.. Stenhouse had never inquired into
the history of Silverhair; and Arthur,
having some idea that it was better not to
tell it, had said little about the dog to his
father.
Mr.. Stenhouse ordered John to put the
child into the carriage and to drive as fast
as possible to his house. There she was
stripped of her wet clothing. and rolled
in warm blankets; but for time it was
impossible to restore her to consciousness.
1t was not until the faithful Silverhair
came and liked her white cheeks, and
whined piteously beside her, that she at
last opened her eyes; but they closed a.
gain almost Immediately.
Arthur was in real distress-so great
that his father did not speak of his selfish
coveting of the poor blind girls favorite !;
and when Rosa was able to 60 home, it
was bis own wish that Silverhair should
60 with her.
From that time much kindness was
shown to Rosa by every one in the house,
and one day Mr.. Stenhouse begged leave
to take her with him to the city. as he
thought it possible that an eminent oculist
there might be able to cure her. So Rosa
went with her kind friend; and two
months afterwards the carriage once more
stopped at the cottage gate, and Rosa, no
longer poor blind girl, sprang into the
arms of her parents.
1t seemed as if she could never gaze
enough at their dear faces, the stranger
faces of her beloved parents; but at last
she found time to turn to Silverhair. who
was trying in every way to attract her
attention.
Il can see you now, my beautiful,
beautiful Silverhair p she cried; land
when you get old. l will nurse you; and
when you get blind, l will lead you, and
never, never part from. you again.
And so ends the sweet story of Silver
hair.