Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-08
Found Il Wife.

When the theatres were letting out
in DAYS when theater hours were longer
than they are nowhere stepped forth
into the frosty winter night, amid a
crowd of playgoers, q man Of about four
and twenty and about the middle hight,
brOad-shOuldered, dark haired, and with
black eyes--a very handsome man, and
dressed in a style which, costly and ele-
CANT, became him wonderfully well.
There came little wall upon his ear
a cry almost like that of an infant
and, looking down Harry Bolton saw
upon the pavement, close beside him, a
little girl not more than five years old
She wore what appeared to be a handful
of rags, and her tiny feet and curly head
were bare. A more miserable object the
moon never looked upon, and the moan
she made touched the young mans
heart. He knelt down and caught her
as she passed by.
''Stop little one, "hesaid, "what brings
you out this night Where do you live ?
And where is your mother
The child struggled to escape, but
when the last question came, stood still,
and answered with sobs:
'In heaven / want to 90 there"
'YOu are on the right road then, this
winter night half naked and starving,
too, | fancy" said Harry to himself. He
began to question her again.
"Where do you live ?"
Il don't know"
"Who takes care of you:'
"Nobody."
at looks like it Have you had any
supper ?"
II don't want supper I want my
mamma" and the child began to cry.
Harry Bolton endeavored to remcm-
Der some portion of his childish educa-
ton
''You want to go to heaven, do your
he asked. "It appears to me remember
being told that children who cried never
went to heaven, and | am sure that chill
dren who do''not Fmind snever do; re-
member that.
The child understood, and the effect
of this doubtful moral teaching was, at
least to silence her. Then the moon
witnessed phenomenon. Harry Bolton,
the dandy, the dashing gambler, the
man Of betting books, shouldering a rag
ged child and walking away with her in
the most self-possessed fashion.
eve must have some supper" he
said.
eve must not be too fashionable I'M
der the circumstances, however" and so
saying he descended into a cellar eating
house, where, at the late hour, the few
guests We're too much intoxicated to no.
tice the singular pair, and only the pro-
prietOr and few of his employees re-
NAMED to be aStOniShed
Marching down the room with perfect
sang ,trojd, Harry Bolton, perched the
child upon one of the chairs, and seating
himself at a table ordered beefstake, and
brandy and water for two, and the order
being filed, ordered his companion to
Ego ahead and watched to see the man
date obeyed in vain, the child stared at
the viands in establishment, but made no
attempt to cat.
Harry remained in puzzled condition
for some time, then reckoning to a grin
ing waiter made him his confident in
this wise:
"You look like family man, waiter.
Do you know any way Of making a child
take to its feed ?"
the waiter. ''Milk and water is what
they like, and bread and butter, or if
meat, chopped up into bits like. Bless
we look at her tiny teeth, sir. /"
''To be sure" said Harry. ''Well cut
the meat up, then bring her some bread
and butter but milk and water-you'd
make the poor thing sick, won't you 1t
would me-.
you and her is constructed different,
sir, said the waiter.
Harry nodded.
Food being prepared to suit her appe-
lite the child ate greedily, to Harry's
satisfaction, and after suficing her to
hearts content and stripping himself of
his overcoat, wrapped the walf in it and
started for home.
He had a splendid set of bachelor
apartments, and there he found a glow
ing fire awaiting him. The child when
he opened the coat, was sound asleep
50 tucking her into bed in a grimy state,
which would have shocked any good
housewives heart. Harry composed
himself in a great arm chair, and light
ing cigar began to smoke.
All night he sat smoking and thinking
and by dawn his plans were formed. A
with the landlady ended
with the consignment of the child to the
care of an elderly woman, warranted
and amiable Harry Boil
ton found himself the guardian Of an
adopted child. From that moment
change came over the young mans life.