Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-02-20
wear it, so they sewed to supply thei

WO"i ~, ~ oioJ o0"SA w supply oo
wants.
"Auntie," Meta said at asst, 81 don't
suppose she will eat a great deal"
sAnd we could make over some of
our old clothes, Meta. There are still
some of your clothes in the old trunk,
that you outgrew beforeyo wore them
out "a.
sfWe might sew an hour later"
'sAnd not have pudd ding on Sunday"
ave can't turn her away, Auntie"
mo, was the emphatic reply.
Before .morning the decision was
strengthened by the child's own condi-
ton: Exposure, hunger, and the
drenching of cold November rain had
the natural result, and the little one lay
nine long days burning with fever, call
ing piteously for 'smamma" and ''papa,
taxing her nurses to the full extent of
their time, patience and means.
The doctor from the village, after
having been Informed of the circum
stances Of the case, spoke among his
richer patience of the little one, and
delicacies and clothing were sent to
Aunt Fanny, but the precious time,
that presented dollars and cents, was
given freely to the child.
1t seemed for time as ifthey would
be taxed further for only the little
shroud and coffin, but care and good
constitution triumphed over sickness,
| and. the day came when the child look
ed at her new friends with eyes that
no longer glared with fever, or dropped
in stupor, when she smiled at . pretty
picture OF little doll found among the
contributions to her wardrobe. From
that time she developed every day some
winning trait to bind her yet more close
ly to the kind hearts of Meta and Aunt
AS soon as she was conscious she
began to call herself 'Mother Bunch.
ssMother Bunch wants to sit in your
lap" '.Mother Bunch wants drink Of
water" and so on.
Meta thought it was quaint, and
rather liked but Aunt Fanny strongly
o ,iected to the name. AS it was impo. 81
lie to ascertain any other that might
belong to her, they themselves gave
her the name of Lizzie, gradually ac-
customing her to its use, and only oc
casionally, in spasm of petting, calling
her by her own fanciful appellation OF
Neither Bunch II;
The winter wore away, and either
Meta or Aui.t Fanny would have sub
mitted to any deprivation or sacrifice
before parting with their adopted child
They were proud of her rare beauty, OF
the little clusters of short ringlets thai
replaced the closely cropped head, Of
the large, soft brown eyes, and pretty
rosebud mouth. They deprived them
selves of every luxury to make the cloth
ing pretty to cover the dainty little fig
IRE, and they hated evey new word,
every Ggn of ;dawing. intelligence, with
as much commotion and enthusi-
;ism as the tondest OF mothers.
When spring opened, Aunt Fanny
sent to New York an annual letter, con-
tanning an advertisement Of her one
spare room, in which she yearly receiv
ed single boarder, eking out her mar
row income by two or three months
board thus obtained
The answer this year was unusually
prompt. A gentleman was seeking
boarding for himself and invalid widow
sister, and would call in a few days t.
see the accommodations. At first Me
ta thought they must write to decline
the offer, but Aunt Fanny hesitated.
1--WE could sleep in the little room
over the wash-house, Meta, and give up
our room. 1t is only for two or three
months, and the money would go tal TO-
. ward winter expenses. ! Il -
So the two upper rooms were made
as attractive as possible, and some very
cheap furniture put into the bare apart
ment over the wash-house, a little out
building never before occupied.
cit will be as well for Lizzie" said
Meta, for if tie lady is an invalid, she
will probably object to the noise Of
child.
ssShe cannot hear it from here, that's
fact" ,swas Aunt Fanny's reply.
The. gentleman came-a bright young
fellow, whose voice had a ring Of cheer
full good-nature, and whose face was the
index of frank, true heart.
He inspected the little parlor: tn
dining-room, the two bed rooms, and
admired the neatness, was eloquent
about the quietness and beauty ct the
situation, and inwardly wondered where
that nice old lady and pretty girl were
to live as the cottage contained only
kitchen in addition to the rooms he
had seen. He engaged the. rooms at
once, at aliberal price, paid an advance
and promised to send down baggage
the next week. He was as good as his
word, and few days later arrived with
pale lady in deep mourning, and took
possession of the rooms 1t was soon
vident that the plea of Illness. was no
shiyned one. Mrs. Abbott was ev-
4 ntlv fast sinking into an early grave
and her trouble was as much mental as
physical She would sit for hours,
looking with far away, heart-broken
expression from the window, often
weeping intently, seldom speaking.
She ate but little, and took no interest
b in what surrounded her.
1t was beautiful to see the devotion
IF the tall strong man to his frail dying
sister. He seemed another icing in
her room. The rich full voice was how
cred and SCI ened for her ears, the bouy
ant, tread was subdued, the laughing
eyes were tender and loving,and he was
almost womaply in his devotion. Dain-
ty little trays Of food he carried in his
strono hands. and scoaxed her to- eat.