Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-01
zen where is hes Why do you nit bring

Then where is he? Why do you nbt bring
him to me at once.
ave found him Mrs. Avery, and he il
all right; but can't get him just yet"
Not get him yet! Oh, do not deceive
me. but tell me all. Tell me where he il
that may 90 to him, if you will not bring
| him to met!
am tell YOU all about it, Mira. Avery
As I was coming up Broadway, saw
rich-looking gentleman and lady coming
out of one of the big stores, with little
how in their company. The child was
dressed ever 30 handsome, and wished
I had such nice things for my own little
ones. Then the man and woman got into
a carriage. and the little fellow with them
Just as t was rolling of, looked again
and that child was your George, just az
sure as / live. Somebody has stolen YOU
darling, and he is alive THIS DRESSED
minute"
aThen why vas that dress found down
by the waterr
"Oh. it's plain enough to me. Them
rich folks wanted your child because he
was so handsome, and they stole him. o.
courSe, they wanted you to think the boy
was dead. and SO they put his dress where
they thought it would be found. Think.
4 ing him drowned, you would give up ali
search for him, and they would keep him
safe"
The physician who happened to be
present, took the woman aside and closely
| questioned her. She admitted the posi-
bility that she might be mistaken, for she
had only caught glimpse of the childs
face; but still she felt sure that she was
not
The physician shook his head and said !:
ut appears very doubtful to me, but we
will let Mrs. Avery think that her child
still lives. 1t is the only thing that can
save her, for, in thinking so, she will cling
to hope. without which she would last but
short time"
And the mother did cling to hope. But
the blow had been 80 severe that her re.
covery could not be speedy. In a weeks
time, however, she had SO far recovered as
to be able to leave her house, and she had
formed her plans She did not for mo-
ment doubt the story Of the woman, and
she hoped, while she had resolved to watch
and wait and pray.
Day after day she passed in wandering
up and down the fashionable streets, peer
ing eagerly into every carriage, examining
the faces of all the children of her
boys age, she saw at play, and gazing into
almost every dwelling window. Several
times she had been considerably startled,
halfsmothered cries had escaped her, and
she had run with all her speed to overtake
some vehicle where she had caught the
glimpse Of an infant form. More than
once she had attracted the attention OF the
police by her, to them, strange manner,
and some there were who thought her in
sane; but, as she appeared quite harmless,
she was not arrested.
And so the days wore on, and for six
weeks she had kept up this fruitless
become exhausted, and it now became
necessary for her to resume her toll. She
did so with heart heavy as lead.
by an advertisement in a newspaper. A
woman was wanted in a wealthy private
family to make clothing for a child. Her
heart beat rapidly as she read it, she knew
not why, unless Il was from the fact that
the very mention of children caused her
brain to whirl and her eyes to grow dim
with tears. But at once she started for
the designated point. She was admitted
by servant into the presence Of the mis-
tress, who examined the applicant closely
for few moments and then said:
"My good woman, question the pro-
priety of engaging you, for there is some
thing wild in your manner, and if l am
not greatly mistaken, [ have cften seen
you wandering in this vicinity, with an
appearance which indicated lunacy. Are
you not in the habit of drinking?"
"No, madam, nor do think am in
sane. 1t is true there is a heavy burden
upon my heart, and if you are a mother,
you can sympathize with me-"
"What is the cause Of your suffering?"
"My child-my only and darling little
boy-has been stolen from me- You may
have noticed me in this neighborhood, but
was searching for him."
"a deadly pallor had overspread the
rich womans face, and she Kissed through
her teeth:
Col can not engage you-go. If
you are poor, here is something to relieve
you, but quit my house at once;" and the
lady tossed Mrs Avery bank-note, which
would have paid for whole weeks of toll,
hGd she been engaged.
At that instant child ran into the
apartment, laughing innocently and ex-
claimed:
mammal mammal"
A piercing shrek burst from the lips of
Mrs Avery; and springing up, she caught
the little one in her arms exclaiming:
"My God, it is George, my own lost
boy"
The little fellow was evidently fright.
ened at the wild manner Of the woman,
and beginning to cry, he stretched out his
hands towards the rich lady, and said:
"Come, mamma-up-up"
BY this time the lady had recovered her
calmness, and attempting to take the little
one, she said:
woman, know that you are insane
now. Give me up that child. 1t is not
yours-don't you see, he is afraid of you"
ut is my child, and no earthly power
shall part us!"
"Give him up, / say, or will call the
police, and give you in charge as dan
gerous lunatic. Give him up, l sayl'
Never. Call the police, and l, too,
will call them" With the boy in her
arms, she made dash for the front door,
which she opened, and was about to de-
scend the granite steps, when she met an
officer face to face. The rich lady saw
him too, and exclaimed:
Arrest that woman. She is q maniac,
and would steal my child"
4 m l. e - - H.,