The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-03-12

awoke to consciousness, and asked many
questions as to where she was and how
she came in the dark room, and who
were those who attended her, but DR..
Hunt, forebade her being questioned
until stronger.
How interested were all in the little
convalescent, whom the element, had
cast into the little seaboard town! The
ladies declared that never before did a
child possess such beautiful curls, while
the gentlemen seemed no less interested,
and brought her gifts of everything
that might please her childish fancy.
MY dear little gir;," SAID Dr. Hunt
when Eva was at length able to ride out,
will you tell me your name p
Eva" said the child, Il thought you
knew it
"Yes, know your name is Eva, but
| want to know the rest of your name
your fathers name"
Eva Durant. Mr.. Durart is my pa
pa"
Yes, | want you to tell me all you
can remember about your father and
mother"
Eva's eyes filled with tears Oh, sir,
my mamma died and went to live with
the angels. And l do not know where
papa is He said if never saw him
again l must know he had gone to NAM
ma"
"Where were you when he told you
this ?" u.s.
"On the ship; and oh, the fire burned
me so; and papa held me in his arm
until strange man took me and tied
something under my aims and threw
me into the water, and have not seen
papa since. o, sir can you tell me
where he is p
"No, dear child; but perhaps We may
yet find him" .-
And this was all that Evas new friend
could discover. 1t was plain she had
come from the ship which had been
burned few weeks before; that she
had been cast upon the sea, and foated
to the shore; but where was her father Z
Had he been saved, and was lie search
ing for his child2 Every possible effort
was now made to find him. The cir
cumstances of the case, with the state
ment of the child. were published fully
in the newspapers of The neiehboring
cities, but the grief stricken father, he
feving his child to be lost, had sailed a
week before for Europe, and it soon be-
came settled in the minds of Eva's pro-
tectors, that he had persisted. But the
little one still prattled about her papa. ,
and said he would come by and by,
those who believed differently would
not pain her hy contradiction.
The square and compass that had
been found upon her clothing YVES re-
garded as powerful appeal from Ma
son to his brethren to care fer his child,
So it came to pass that Eva became, as
it were, the special charge of Hiram
Lodge, No. 93 Mr.. Turner would glad
ly have taken the entire care OF the lit
tie waif, and the wealthy Senator W
requested to be allowed to adopt her as
his daughter, hut the Brethren in Lodge
assembled, declared ty a vote that Eva
should be resre6, educated and protect
ed by the Lodge, and that as Provi-
dence had placed her in Brother Turn
er's house, that should be her home.
And so years went by, and Eva be-
came a healthy, joyous child, fitting
here and there, and everywhere meeting
the wsrmest Of welcomes. The Mason.
ic Hall was but few rods from Mr..
! Turner's residence, and Eva often went
with him as fsr as the door, and then
| returned slone always bidding the Tiler
stake good care of Pa Turner, and send
him home early"