Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-14
Tatfs aud Sketthes.
, TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF.

were sleeping. unconscious that they were
| motherless. ats shame that nobodyll
take them"
| "Yes-a bitter shame !' replied a neigh
Dor, who was also getting off as fast as
she could, SO as to shift responsibility on
some other shoulders.
We'll, somebody'll have to answer for
it," said Mrs. Fogg ''As for me, I've got
young ones enough of my own"
1--WE left Mrs. Cole in the room. See
has only one child, and her husband is we'll
to-do. l can't believe she'll have the heart
to turn away from them"
She's get the heart for anything. But
/ we'll see.''
Mrs. Cole did turn away from the sleep
| ing babes, signing aloud with forced sigh
that others might hear, and give her credit
for sympathy and concern she did not
feel
At last they were all gone-all but a
man named Wheaton, and a poor woman
not able to take care of herself.
"What will become of these children p
said Wheaton.
Don't know, Poor house. spose," an
swered the woman.
! Poor house!''
Eyes. Nobody wants em and there's
| no place Tor EN-"
| Mamma! mamma - cried plaintive
voice, and haired child, not much
over year old, rose up in the bed and
looked piteously about the room. II want
| mamma"
A great choking sob came into the mans
throat.
Then the other child awoke and said
Don't cry. Sissy. Mammals gone, gone
away" AT this the little one began cry
ing bitterly.
Il can't stand this nohow," said the man
speaking in kind of desperate way; and
going to the bed he gathered the two chill
dren in his arms, hushing and comforting
them with soothing words.
'What on earth have you got there p
exclaimed Mrs. Wheaton as her husband
came striding into the room, where she sat
mending one of his well worn garments
"Two babies!' he answered in a voice
so unusual that Mrs. Wheaton dropped hel
work on the floor and rose up in amaze
ment.
"Whatp''
"Mrs. Grants two babies. I've been
over to the funeral, and tell you, Jane, it
wasn't in me to see these things carted of
to the almshouse. There wasn't woman
i
soul sneaked off but Polly Jones, and she's
of no account you know. Just look al
their dear little faces p And he held them
up in his arms, and let their tender tear
full, half frightened, half.wondering eyes
plead their cause with his wife, and they
did not plead in vain.
| Surprised as she was, and with an in
slant protest in her heart, Mrs. Wheaton
could not, with these motherless little ones,
utter word of remonstrance. She took
the youngest from her husband and spoke
to it tenderly. The child sobbed two OF
three times, and then laid its head against
her bosom. There was an influx OF moth
er-love into the heart of this woman, who
had never been a mother, the instant hel
breast felt the pressure of the baby's head
and the arm that drew it closer with an in.
voluntary impulse was moved by this new
love.
Not many words passed between the hus-
band and wife-at least not then; thought
was very busy with both of them. Mrs,
| Wheaton's manner toward the children
was kind even to tenderness, and this man
ner won their confidence, and drew from
them such looks, and ways, and little ex.
pressions Of satisfaction, as touched hel
heart and filled it with loving interest
After nightfall. when supper was over
and the children asleep, Mr.. and Mrs
Wheaton sat down together, each showing
a little reserve and embarrassment. Mrs
Wheaton was first to speak.
''What are you thinking about, John p
said she, almost sharply. II can't have
these children"
Wheaton did not lift his eyes, nor an
swer, but there was a certain dogged an6
resolute air about him that his wife noticed
as unusual.
Somebody else must take them,n sh,
said.
1.-The county will do it," Wheaton re
piled.
1.-The county,"
.'Yes. There's room for them at thu
almshouse, and nowhere else that know
of, unless they stay here"
'Unless they stay here !" Mrs. Wheaton,
voice rose a little. ats easy enough to
say that; but who's to take care of them 2'
Its great undertaking. know" an
swered the husband, meekly, yet with a
new quality in his voice that did not es-
cape the quick car Of his wife, land the
burden must fall ON YOU"
II wouldn't mind that so much, but"
She kept back the sentence that was on
her tongue. r
"But whatp" asked her husband.
'John," said Mrs. Wheaton, drawing
herself up in resolute manner, and look.
ing steadily into her husbands face, "a:
things are going OH"
Things shall go on differently, inter.
rupted Wheaton. "Fve thought that al
over"
"How differently, John?"
"Oh in every way. I'll turn over s
new leaf"
Wheaton saw light flash into his wife
face.
First and foremost, I'm not going te
lose any more days. Last month | hac
six days docked from my wages"
'Why, John!'
'Its true-more the shame for me
That was eighteen dollars, you see, MOI
counting the money fooled away in idle
company-enough to pay for all these
babies would eat and wear twice over"
80 John !" There was something cage,
AL ..>L 90. q. u. \ -