The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-11-02

content and pleased with her new
lome and friends, but was very sad
4 the loss Of her dear father.
Ben had not seen the girl thus
eft unexpectedly on his hands for
'ome years, and then only once.
He remembered her as . bright.
winsome, golden haired little crea-
lure, the pet and delight Of every
one Who knew her.
Ever after this, his letter home
carried few words for little Ella,
and in each one he received his
mother spoke of her in such glow
ing terms that he often found him
self thinking of, the time when he
could 60 home and see his little
charge thus left 40 unexpectedly
in his care.
The time came sooner than he
expected. In the battle Of Corinths
both Ben and Charlie Lee were
wounded, the former not seriously,
but poor Charlie, dangerously.
Poor merry hcarted Charlie He
was the favorite Of the whole regi-
ment, and now that there was dan
ger of losing him, every man was
as much concerned as though he
were brother.
At last, however, the doctor said
he could recover, but recommend
Ell him to go home and spend the
interval before he would again be
fit for service.
But here arose a new difficulty.
The poor fellow had no home that
he could 60 to, He was an orphan,
and the only relations he had were
q couple of uncles, who both lived
within the Southern lines.
.Ill tell you what you can do,
Charlie" said Ben, one day; Il
can't bear to see you moping in
this hospital any longer. Now I've
been thinking of going some time,
to see mother. If can get leave
Of aebence for couple of months,
we'll run up there; and if they
won't let me go, Why I'll write
letter and send you along by your
self. You'll be welcome, old boy;
never fear. Mothers famous fol
bringing one around when he get
knocked under.''
| So the letter was written, and
few days found them enjoying tn
hearty welcome of Ben's Northern
home.
| But instead of the golden -haire'
little girl that Ben had pictured t
himself what was his surprise t
find Ella a tall graceful women
eighteen, who met him with th
sweetest smiles, gave him the soft
est of little hands, and told bill
| in the sweetest voice that he ws
welcome.
Charley was right. This was
new and rather awkward situatio
for bachelor verging close upo
forty; one, too, who had alway
feared the girls and had shunne
them until they had set him dow
in their lists as q "perfectly horri,
crusty, sour old boar"
And SO you expected to find
little girl that you could take upt
your knee and fondle and kiss
your hearts content p said MI
Granger to Ben one d&y when FL
was out Of the room.
EYES," said Charlie, "and Y.
ought to see, Mrs. Granger, wh
loads of sweetmests and toys.
has in his trunk, and I do belle
he has also brought her doll"
Ben blushed; blushed like
schoolgirl; bushed clear up to t
roots of his hair, until the crims
tide could be plainly seen in sp
of the tan which his Southern ca
l paign had left upon his handsol
! face.
But no one could get angry vi
: merry, light-hearted, rattliDg CHI
T lie.
: Mrs. Granger soon grew to Ii
r him almost as her own child, q
little Ella, as they called b
I would spend hours by his so
reading to him in her soft, ri
: voice.
9 With such sweet care the til
: with him went by apon gold
y wings. each day finding him . lit
9 stronger.
4 "Tis but right" said Ben
i himself, as he watched them q
. after day, she reading to him
listening to the tales of the "
n ''Tis but right; they are b.
r young and will make each otl
d happy" But somehow, each d
q E.5 8 ESS g