Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-25

~, nxlng ner eyes
N !.nh I'm Ty1 uDeie Abram," nodding and
sr,;,;ne rre.Mss,uringly.
..nbE-snd turning to Martha, you're
Amt lbram--very well, and, closing
her eyes, she dropped asleep.
Pretty DEAR" and Abram lifted one
little hand tenderly, chow old is she. Mar
thy, do you think ?"
.''Bout five I guess leastways she has
a locket round her neck, with somethin'
bout fifth birthday on it. But amt there
none Of 'em found yet?"
Abram shook his head. The yachts
ashore round the point, but there amt a
human critter dead or alive been found
vet. mebbe the tide will wash 'em ashore
when it's food again"
But it never did, and though they
watched it closely. the sea gave no clue to
the resting place of those its strong arms
had gathered and now held so closely
From the child's story it appeared that
she had been asleep when the vessel
struck, and so knew nothing of what hap
pened. For some days she talked OF "her
papa" who would 'come for her." but
when day after day she was disappointed
she confided to Abram that "her papa had
gone away again on a big ship, to take
care of his soldiers,-he had told her he
would some day." and they did not attempt
TO undeceive her.
am 90 an inquire arter her friends,
Marthy,'' Abram said one day, sit amt
Just right to keep her, tho she do seem to
belong to us now"
But his search was useless. The yacht
had been hired by party of English tour,
lists, two ladies', three gentlemen, and a
little girl, and ''thc gentlemen would man
age the boat themselves, this was all
they could learn. So the child remained
in Abrams cottage, delighting him with
herprettv ways and quaint, sweetspeeches,
and winning her way slowly. but surely,
into the sterner heart of ''Aunt Abram,
as she still calls her. She was strange
contradiction, this little waif, sometimes
appearing SO much older, sometimes SC
much younger, than her age; but when
Martha would express alarm at her igno-
rance, Abram would lay his broad hand
gently on the golden curls-"Never mind
Marthy, she's all right; her little souls
only feelin' its way yet.
Wont you come and talk to me a
while, please, Aunt Abram p said the child
plaintively, one day.
Poor Matha looked sorely puzzled
Talk child, what about ?'
"Oh. don't know, I'm SO very lonely
Aunt Abram."
She had been sitting quietly on the door
step, in the sun, watching the gulls as
they flew over the water or followed the
tide with their quick. graceful motion.
and watchful eyes /; the fishing boats were
constant source Of delight to her, blu
she had grown weary ever of this; Abran
was away, and tired grieved look, pain
full to see on SO young face, had chased
away the smiles. "What makes you call
me Aunt Abram p asked Martha, GLAD
of some subject to begin on.
"Oh! Aren't you Uncle Abrams wife p
''No, child" said Martha. sharply, bel
thin cheeks flushing as she thought o
what "might have been."
His sister, then ?''
mo-
why, he told me he had a sister, fol
he said her eyes were just like mine."
swell, 50 he had," said Martha, looking
down into the interesting face at her knee
and thinking with sudden thrill how
strangely sweet it was to have a child!
hand clinging to her dress, she paused Sc
long that the little one became impatient
"Well, tell me about the sister,"
There amt much to tell, dear, she wa
sick all the time, an come here to ten(
her, AN wait on her, an then Just stayed
on to look after the house an the COW, TO
Abram he took on SO when she died h,
didn't tend to nothin'."
''Died! What is died ?" questioned thu
child. SIS it growing all cold and whit,
like my pretty mamma, and being put il
the stone house all over lions and sword.
like the spoons and things, to wait for thu
angels?"
And Martha completely at loss how tt
answer said eyes," to it all then her con
science pricking her, she added-"Only
Hetty wasn't put in house all over lions
she was put out there in the ground an
we covered her up with grass, an the
flowers grow on her."
"Covered up with grass, and flowers
growing on her." repeated the child mus
ingly. I'D like that better than house
but if ! mustn't call you Aunt Abram. who
are you?"
"I'm Martha
Martha! Oh! then / know all abou
YOU" 4
"You do?" and the worthy spinstel
iOOACu at tHC CutIu VIII d CuIlOuS mixture
ofawe and amusement. "Well, land wha
nextm
"Oh! yes" and she nodded her head ii
satisfied way. 'somebody told me abou
you once. and your sister Mary, and youl
brother, what was his name p-Oh!
know Lazarus, weren't you glad to gel
him back? always thought it was very
good Of you to make nice things for din
ner, and think Mary might have helped
you little. I'm SO glad I've found you
but why isn't he" pointing to Abram, who
was coming slowly up the beach-"why
isn't he Uncle Lazarus ?''
LAND sakes child, ask him; there.
my milk boilin' over" and Martha hurriet
of to the kitchen, handing over the chile
and her perplexities to Abram, who, tax
ing her out with him, found sheltered
place on the sand, and sitting down be-
side her, he patiently explained the differ
ence between the Martha of Bethany and
the bursque housekeeper up at the cot
tage, who was at that moment wondering
what on airth they was to do with the
child, for she's wrong in the head, Ger.
tain" And there in the shelter of an old
boat, when the days grew long. they sat
together, Abram and the child. Tell me
ctoru Ifprla Ahro,,, ,,,o, xLo