The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-10-28
Turning Over a New Leaf.

~ L . Sname :! Salu mrS' roBg, as
IL she hurried away, after the funeral
of Mrs. Grant, escaping from the poor, des-
olate room where two children, almost
babes, were sleeping, unconscious that
they were motherless. It's shame that
nobody'll take them"
"Yes-a bitter shame " replied a neigh
Dor, who was also getting off as fast as she
could, SO as to shift responsibility OF some
other shoulders.
"There's Mrs. Grove she might take
them as well as not. But they'll go to the
poor-house, for all she cares"
"Well, somebody'll have to answer for
it," said Mrs. Fogg. Gas for me, I've got
young ones enough of my own"
"We left Mrs. Cole in the room. She
has only one child, and her husband is
well-to-do. l 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 forced
sigh that others might hear, and give her
credit for sympathy and concern she did
not feel.
At last all were gone--all but a 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, / s'pose,
answered the woman.
"Poor-house 70
eyes. Nobody wants ems, and there's
no place else for 'em."
mamma, mamma p cried plaintive
voice, and flaxen-haired child, not much
over year old, rose up in bed, and looked
piteously about the room. &C. want man.
ma"
A great, choking sob came into the mans
throat.
Then the other child awoke, and said,
"Don't cry, sissy. Dear Mammals gone
away"
AT this the little one began crying bit
terly.
81 can't stand this, nohow," said the
man, speaking in kind of desperate way I;
and, going to the bed, he gathered the two
children in his arms, hushing and COM
forting them with soothing words.
"What on earth have you got there ?"
exclaimed Mrs. Wheaton, as her husband
came striding into the room, where she sat
mending one of his well-worn garments.
"Two babies ~ he answered, in voice
so unusual that Mrs. Wheaton dropped her
work on the floor, and rose up in amaze
ment.
"What ~
"Mrs Coles two babies. I've been over
to the funeral and l tell you, Jane, it
wasn't in me to see these two little things
carted off to the almshouse. There wasn't
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 faces p And he
held them up in his arms, and let their
tender, fearful, half-frightened, half-won-
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 mother
less little ones, utter q 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 vas an influx of mother
love into the heart of this woman, who
had never been MOTHER the instant her
breast felt the pressure of the baby's head,
aud the arm that drew it closer with an in
voluntary impulse that was moved by this
new love.
Not many words passed between the hus-
band and wife--at least, not then, though
thought was very busy with both Of them.
Mrs. Wheaton's manner toward the chill
dren was kind even TO tenderness, and this
manner won their confidence, and drew