The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-09-11
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF.

just through the wide gap by the maple lined
road.
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF.
Its shame" said Mrs. Fogg, as she
hurried away, after the funeral of Mrs.
Grant escaping from the poor desolate
room where two children, almost babes,
were sleeping, unconscious that they were
motherless Its shame that nobodv'll
take them"
"Yes-a bitter shame!" replied neigh
Dor, who was also going off as fast as She
could, so as to shift responsibility on some
other shoulders.
There's Mrs. Grove; she might take
them as we'll as not. But they'll go to
the poor-house for all she cares''
well, somebody'll have to answer for
young ones enough of my own
1--WE left Mrs. Cole in the room. She
has only one child, and her husband is
wellto-do can't believe she'll have the
heart to turn away from them.'
She's got the heart for anything. But
we'll see'
Mrs. Cole did turn away from the Sleep
ing babes, signing aloud, with a forced
sigh that others might hear, and give her
credit for sympathy and concern she did
not feel.
At last all were sone-all but man
named Wheaton, and poor woman, not
able to take care of herself
What's to become of these children ?"
said Wheaton.
Don't know. Poor-house, l s'pose,"
answered the woman.
"Poor-houser'
Yes. Nobody wants 'em, and there's
no place else for EN-"
Mamma, mammal" cried a plaintive
voice, and tlaxen- haired child, not much
over a year old rose up in the bed, and
looked piteously about the room. Il
want mamma"
A great, choking sob came into the
mans throat.
Then the other child awoke and said:
Don't cry sissy. Mammals gone away"
At this the little one began crying bit
torly
"Ican't stand this, nohow," said the
m. n, speaking in kind of desperate
wa; aud, going to the bed, lie gathered
the 'wo children in his arms, hushing and
com. orting them with soothing words.
Nv hat on earth have you got there ?"
eNclai ned Mrs. Wheaton, as her husband
came sriding into the room, where she
sat menling one of his well-worn gar
ments.
Two fbabies." he answered, in voice
so unusual that Mrs. Wheaton dropped
her work on the floor, and rose up in
amaZement.
"Whatu
"Mrs. Coles two babies. I've been over
to the funeral; and tell you, Jane, it
wasn't in me to see these little things
carted off to the almshouse There wasn't
a woman to look after them-no, not one
Every soul sneaked off but Polly Jones,
and she's of no account, you know. Just
look at their dear little facesr' And he
held them up in his arms, and let their
tender, fearful, halffrightened, halfwon-
dering eyes plead their cause with his
wife, and they did not plead in vain.
Surprised as she was, and with an in
slant protest in her heart, Mrs. Wheaton
could not, in the presence of these moth
erless little ones, utter word of remOn-
STRANGE. She took the youngest one from
the arms of her husband, and spoke to it
tenderly. The child sobbed two or three
times, and then laid its head against her
bosom. There was an influx of mother
love into the heart Of this woman, who
had never been a mother, the instant her
breast felt the pressure of the baby head,
and the arm that drew it closer with an
involuntary impulse was moved by this
new love.
Not many words passed between the
husband and wife-at least, not then,
though thought was very busy with both
of them. Mrs. Wheaton's manner toward
the children was kind even to tenderness.
and this manner won their confidence.
and drew from them such looks and ways
and little expressions of satisfaction as
touched the heart, and filled it with a low
ing interest.
After nightfall, when supper was over,
and the children asleep, Mr.. and Mrs.
Wheaton sat down together, each showing
little reserve and embarrassment. Mrs.
Wheaton was the first to speak.
What were you thinkin about, John ~
said she, almost sharply. II can't have
these Children
Wheaton did not lift his eyes, nor an.
swer, but there was certain logged and
resOlute air about him that his wife no.
ticed as unusual
Somebody else must take them" she
said.
THE county will do it, Wheaton re.
piled.
1.-The county,"
Eyes. There's room for them at the
almshouse, and nowhere else, that know
Of, unless they stay here"
"Unless they stay here!" Mrs. Wheat
on's voice rose little. Its easy enough
to say that-but who's to take the care Of
them?"
"It's great undertaking, know" an.
swered the husband, meekly, yet with a
new quality in his voice that did not es-
cape the quick ear Of his wife, land the
burden must fall on YOU"
Il wouldn't mind that so much, but"
She kept back the sentence that was on
her tongue.
''But what!' asked her husband.
"John," said Mrs. Wheaton, drawing
herself up in q resolute manner, and look
ing steadily into her husbands face, "as
things are going on"
Things shall 60 on differently" inter.
rupted Wheaton. "I've thought that all
over.
"How differently, john"
"Oh! in every way. I'll turn over
new leaf"
Wheaton saw light flash into his wife's
face.
First and foremost, I'm not going to.
lose any more days. Last month had
six days docked from my wages"
"Why, John?"
Its true-more's the shame for me.
That was eighteen dollars, you see, not
counting the money fooled away in idle |
company-enough to pay for all these |
babies would eat and wear twice over"