The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-11-15
Midge's Ride.

1t was a hot, dusty morning in mid
summer. Biddy sat upon the curb-stOne
/ by the old town pump, and what do you
think she was doing? Bathing baby
Midge with bit of soft white muslin
she had found clinging to the handle of
the pump as she came up to it.
"There, now, We titsy-bitsy darlin', We
wee beautiful childie; yen be white as
a snow-drap and swate as a honeysuckle,
and L gOin' to eat ye clean up when l
/ git through, so L be, so I be, so l
| be-e-e-ev
And Biddy's. voice went of into n
jubilant little trill, in which Nudge
Joined with all her baby powers.
"When you get baby washed, if you'll
let me I'll take her to ride,n said a sweet
ehilish voice from the sidewalk.
Biddy looked up and saw beautiful
little girl with carriage fit for fairy
queen and all court attendants.
"Oh, mercy! We wouldn't take the
\ likes o. Nudge Malone to ride in that
/ fine kerFidge now, would ye?" ex=
claimed Biddy, with mouth and eyes
wide open with astonishment.
"Why not? I'd like to if you'll let
me-"
There was a wistful look in the little
girls face which Biddy couldn't under
stand at all. She looked at the fairy
chariot, with its snowy pillOw-cushiOns
and its dainty curtains of the sOftest
lace, which were carefully closed as if to
shelter the face of some dainty sleeper.
Then Biddy looked at ragged AIidge,
and lastly at the beautiful little girl, re-
peating the incredulOus question: aye
wouldn't now, honest, do sich lovely
euris thing?"
"See if 1 wouldn't" returned the
little girl, smiling at Biddy's doubtful
ness.
Biddy fell to kissing AIidge ecstatic-
ally, and sprang with an exclamation of
delight to where the little stranger stood
upon the sidewalk
"But whatll We do with yer own
baby? There won't be room for two in
the likes o. that tit-bit of a kerridge,"
Biddy asked, drawing suddenly back.
sTThere isn't any baby there" the lit
| tie girl said, mournfully; and she parted
the curtains and disclosed an empty car
riage.
Biddy gazed into it moment silently,
and then asked wonderingly:
"Where is it? Ter home ~
/ "Yes-at home-with Jesusw repIied
the little girl in a trembling voice.
aye don't sayI Pm sorry for ye.'
Biddy's voice grew soft with sympathy.
''What fer ye haul the empty kerridge
round ?''
Mamma let's me because it comforts
me. Iclose the curtains and it seems as
if Angel were really there; and some
times find some other baby"-the little
girl finished the sentence with 4 sob,
while big round tears fell fast from Bid
dy's eyes upon the soft white hands of
the child that were laying Midge down
tenderly among the cushiOns-as ten
derly as if it We're Angel herself, instead
of little ragged Midge.
The curtains were drawn, and whether
the baby passenger was Angel or Nudge
twas all the same to the passers-by;
and Pm sure twas all the same to the
gentle watchers up where Angel had
gone.
| Why should we wonder if Biddy, with
her bare brown feet, did walk beside the
beautiful child through all that summer
morning? Were they not sister spirits
in innocence and love? The birds that
fitted through the shadows above their
heads were glad because of it, and Biddy
was happy, while little Nudge slept
sweetly, and the beautiful child faneied
Angel had come back to her again.