Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-01-16

through the twilight shadows, and now
and then moaning prayer went up,
% God, be mercifull'
There was not clew to guide them.
There were volunteers enough out to
find her, it would seem, and yet she
was not here. And so the shadows
fell about the early hours of Christi mas
eve and round the stricken ones.
Silas Farley had been to New York
to arrange some business, and was on
his way home, taking his seat in the
ferry-boat just rs the sun was going
down. He had no paper parcels for
anybody. Had he! All, yes, there
was a small parcel of deeds neatly tied
up, which he carried home to overlook.
Nothing else to do Christmas-day,
might as well look over Jackson's title
again. Hate Christmas-day. There 5
that man over there Carrying home a
dreadful spotted hobbyhorse for some
body to break his legs over! Glad
don't live there. There's my old wash
erwoman with big basketful of truck,
dare say for her young ones. Is this
one, wonder:'
Silas looked in the glowing dusk at
n little shiyering figure in the corner
close beside him. 1t was very little
girl in a shabby hood, and only q thin
faded calico sacque to cover her shoul-
ders. There were locks of fine, soft,
yellow hair that blew across his rough
coatsleeve whenever the door was
opened, giving him a queer sensation,
not more than half unpleasant; and
once or twice he saw = very fearful
pair of blue eyes looking up in his
face. The child was very weary, it
would seem, for once or twice she nod
ded and would have fallen, if Silas had
not caught her. He glanced about to
See that it was quite dusk, and then
iaid the yellow head against his arm
lie thought she was asleep. until he
felt a great hot tear roll over his un-
gloved hand.
IL was many years since Sias Far
ley had felt 4 tear. II brought back
tender memories of the mother he had
loved, whose tears had touched his
hand at parting long ago, when he had
gone TO seek his fortune-memories of
the loving, gentle neart that rocked it.
self To rest long years ago-of the
lonely life of an elderly bachelor. with
rs narrow intercsts-of the handsome
boy he loved SO well, and yet had
vowed TO love no more. And this was
Christmas eve. No childish faces at
the window-pane 10 welcome him; no
conely woman, with her smile of wei
come, at the door; no loving young
folks to make his dull old house mer-
ry place!
His head sank on his breast, like
one who dreamed, until the boat
touched the dock with recol, and
threw the little child on the floor, or
would have done SO, if he had not
caught her.
Here, Mrs. Wringham, here's your
little girl
MY little girl! She amt mine. I've
got enutf .aad full of Christmas cares
she hurried on.
Bless me- said Silas this is dread
full = for the child clung to the skirt of
his oyercoat with both hands.
Where are you goin'. child:' he
said
oh, don't know, sir. l want pa
pa Philip; he lives to Milwaukee. Am
l almost there: I'm so tired and SO
cold, and l don't know where my papa
Philip is. . dear, O ,lear!' Then
she cried in subdued way that went
TO Silas' heart, tough as it was, or
seemed to be.
And big bad girl she took my
sacque away anu my hat, and-I want
my mamma, my dear little mamma
Bless me, child-there, don't cry
bless me, you're cold, amt you? hun
cry, too? Why, you must have
mother, l s'pose. What's her name,
and where does she liye?'
She's named Mary, and we live-we
live and then the bewildered little
creature fairly came to realize the fact
that she was lost-'we live somewhere
and there's papa Philip and mamma
and me, and that's all. Oh, take me
home, won't you! Don't leave me in
this dark street.
'Fll take care of you; don't cry So
Silas started of with the strange SEN
sation Of a little hand tightly clasped
in his. The poor wayworn feet drag
ged heavily beside him awhile. He
hesitated moment, and then gathered
up the little creature in his arms, and
30 presented himself to his astonished
housekeeper just as the lamps we're
lighted.
Before he had reached his own door,
the sense of protection had become
most pleasant, and the feeling that he
must find her home without delay,
stirred depths in his nature left asleep
too long.