Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-09-19


room.
"Oh, if Dot could only cry" said HAIRS
ry, with streaming eyes. l looked q. her
Would her heart burst?
1t was dreadful risk, but worth the
chance. l went into Dots bedroom, and
hunting about, there, found lutte worn
velvet cap, with its shred of god and lace
and it's delapidated tasse. We had fanci-
ed that the baby looked particularly love.
ly in it, and had been 10th to throw it
aside.
"D3t, darling, you know you threw
down his coat and his new cap on the bed
when you decided not to take him. He
must have put them CA himself See )
here is the old cap, dear"
| put it into her lap. She had been
rocking back and forth, her face III her
hands now, gazing at the poor chapeau,and
great sobs began to choke her.
"Oh, my baby, my ,baby' she cried,
and rushing torrent Of tears sweep away
The ICY despair that had controlled her.
1t was better after this. Dot could talk,
and her sorrow was easier to bear when it
could be put into words. ~fe.~t7
:. | think OF him wandering into those
vile streets, and the poor outclst children
crowding around him-he must seem like
an angel to them, or little king-and
perhaps one ruder than the rest tears off
bis cap, and another seizes his cloak, and
he is cold, and the winter wind olows his
hair about, and he wants mamma, and he
gets hungry, and--oh, Ruthy, how can |
bear It?"
-- Dot cries at the picture, and directly
new combinations arse. ttF;s,.
/ We see him running up and down, the
streets and he. grows more and more
heart-hroken in his longings and hunger
for his sweet mamma.
Just in the gray of the morning the
bells rang again. 1t had been ringing at
intervals all night, and again and again
our hopes had been kindled only to die.
Harry went down. Dot and 1 listened
at the head Of the stairs. ~
y" It's nothing, darling" | said, with my
arms around her waist.
But Dots quicker ear, or, more likely,
her mother instinct, OWNED the truth.
She broke from my arms With Il cry, and
ran down. followed, and there was the
blessed baby in the arms of a strange young
gcntlman. ... -.... -,.r
Those arms yielded him instantly. g
How he was kissed and cried over.
What congratulations, what tumult of
thanksgigings what tears, what sobbing
laughter received this unwilling prodigal !.
Was it lot all witnessed by the handsome
Young stranger? who was no stranger
after all, but an old friend of IIarrys call
ed by him Jack, as Familiarity as if he had
been bis brother.
1t was along, pathetic story, bnt the
g'st of was that Mr. Conway had rescued
the baby from the clutches Of a beggar,
who undoubtedly meant to use him as "A
capital in her trads. - ~
!" tried to find out his name" said Mr.
Conway, laughing ;" but all could learn
was, that mamma was Dot and ne was
Dots Baby ~
Mr.. Conway retired after being, | hope,
thanked and refreshed.
1t was breakfast time now, but who
cared for breakfast =? We gathered around
the table, however, a happy if not hun.
cry party.
Harry, who is Jack Conway? asked
Dot
"Heif an old comrade of mine. We
stood shoulder to shoulder at Antietam
and Gettysburg
4 "Shoulder to shoulderl and no FIVE
feet seven,a and vou--seven feet tive,is it :"
"a capital fellow proceeded Harry,
not noticing Dots irrelevant interruption.
q In banking concern down town"
Mr.. Ascott,n remarked Dot, with a
curious look in her eyes, "may be al
lowed to ask why you have never intro
duced this capital fellow to the bosom of
your family"
"Never thought of it, | suppose.
Why "
"Why why?" cried Dot. "Oh, the
inetfable stupidity of the masculine mind !
Because, you precious goose, he is the
man predeStined from the foundation OF
the world to be Ruthy,s husband"
"Ahl" said Harry, and surveyed me
with new and critical interest
Nonsense, Dot you're crazy | cried.
Not at all I'm much abused and
seeress of whom my tamil
ly are not worthy. Never blush, dear.
See if my prophecy doesn't come true"
1t did-it really did. And it all came
of Dots baby.