Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-09-11
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF.

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF.
OFFS shamen' 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
motberless ats a shame that nobOdy'll
take them"
aYes-a bitter shame." replied neigh
bor who was also going off as fast as she
could, so as to shift responsibility on some
other shoulders.
..Tbere's Mrs. Grove; she might take
them as well as not. But they'll go TO
the poor-house for all she cares"
"Wel, somebody'll have to answer for
itn said Mrs. Fogg GAS for me, I've got
Young ones enough of my own"
ave left Mrs. Cole in the room. She
has only one child, and her husband is
well-todo. I can't believe she'll have the
heart to turn away from them"
'She's got the heart for anything. But
we'll see.o
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.
Az last all WcIC opHC-dsii DIio iiioi
named Wheaton, and a poor woman, not
able to take care of herself
whats to become Of these Children
said Wheaton.
Don't know. Poor-house, | s'pose,"
answered the woman.
"Poor- house!"
"Yes. Nobody wants 'em, and there's
no place else for EN-"
"Mamma, mammal cried plaintive
voice, and a fiaxen-haired child, not much
over year old rose up in the bed, and
looked piteously about the ROOM 81
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
terly.
81 can't stand this, nohow," said the
man, speaking in kind of desperate
way; and, going to the bed, he gathered
the two children in his arms, hushing and
comforting 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 wcll-worn gar
ments.
1.-TWO babiesr' he answered, in voice
SO unusual that Mrs Wheaton dropped
her work ON the floor, and rose up in
amazement.
'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 little things
carted off to the almshouse. There wasn't
woman to look after them-nO, not one.
oI off m -IOnpG
and she's of no account, you know. just
look at their dear little faces!'' And he
held them up in his arms, and let their
tender fearful, halffrightened, 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 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 q mother, the instant her
breast felt the pressure of the baby's 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 WHEAT 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, 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. Il can't have
these children"
Wheaton did not lift his seyes, nor an
swer, but there was cert aged and
resolute air about him fe no.
Somebody else mus !" she
said.
1.-THE county will do 4 eaton re-
piled.
The countyp'
yes. There's room for them at the
almshouse, and nowhere else, that know
OF, unless they stay here"
Unless they stay here" Mrs. Wheat
0n's voice rose little. sits easy enough
to say that-but who's to take the care Of
them?'
Its great undertaking, know" an
swered the husband, meekly, yet with
new uua1itv in HE voica that did mt pa.