Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-12-19
right across the step. Pm afraid she's

dead"
The broad smile on Adams face fad
ed, and setting aside the basket of
growing flowers, he came forward and
looked into the child's face.
'Dead! No, I think not, Katy
Lay her hare on the sofa, and bring
me little wine and some warm fan-
nels. She has fainted.'
And for the first time in his life he
opened his heart. Better let me say
the flowers opened it little way, and
this poor, helpless child came before
he had time to close it. At any rate
he sat quietly down and took the frigid
hand in his own, and rubbed it smart
ly, and when the wine came he took
the spoon and forced a little of the Ii
quid between her closed teeth. In ten
minutes she was wide awake, her blue
eyes taking in the warm fire, the rich,
bright hued furnishing of the room,
and even that mysterious basket of
flowers on the table. She looked at
Adam Hartford next, and then at
Katy.
"Where is my mother?
"Your mother, how do we know p
We found you on our door step," said
the old man.
ooh, yesp she looked very thought
full for a moment. "My mamma is
very sick, in a cold room, and | was
afraid she'd die. She fell asleep, and
I happened to think of the man who
owned our block. I heard the folks
down stairs say that he was awful rich;
and do know | thought I'd find him,
and tell him that mamma was dying
because we didn't have anything to
eat. [ found out the street where he
lived, and [ think this is it. I was
trying to reach the name on the door,
and"
"What is his name?"
ssAdam Hartford
"What do you want of Adam Hart
ford ?"
81 told you my mamma was sick,
| you know"
eyes, but he won't care.''
The great tears flashed into her blue
eyes.
"Oh, don't you think he will? What
will I do without mamma?'
'Where is your father?"
sDead."
The old, old story, that began with
the fall, and-ah, when? Not yet;
not until pride and selfshness go out
together smothered by the fire and
charity Of love!
"What would you do if Adam Hart
ford should wrap you up in warm
shawl, and send you home with food,
wood, lights, medicine and money to
your sick mother?"
"Bless him! And mamma and l
would pray for him all the days of our
livesE"
Adam touched the bell, and when
Katy answered it, said:
"Bring me shawl, if you can find
one, and then pack basket with pro-
visions. Tell Thomas to run around
the corner for a coach-it is too stormy
to take our horses out-and then put
up basket Of kindling wood. want
you to go home with this child and
make her comfortable. If you are a.
fraid to 60 alone, take Thomas along.
Don't look at me so child; I am Adam
Hartford
! Would you believe me, the blessing
on her lips was drowned in a flood of
tears, and all she could do was to lay
her wan cheek on the old mans hand
and sob.
''There, there! never mind. Here is
five dollars. That will last until to-
morrow, and then [ will come myself.
Dear me what a dreadful night out. %
Adam kept his word and made his
visit, and down in the little room, in
one of his own houses, he found the
mother of the little girl. A fair, daint-
lily made woman she was, and a voice
SO soft, manner as perfect as any he
ever knew, and he came home as lonely
as though he had nothing in the world
and never expected anything more.
The basket of hot house flowers, as
fresh and perfect as when he first saw
them, sat on the table, and he went
and passed his hand over them.
! "You're a queer set! If [ hadn't
: seen you [ shouldn't be so soft. Lei
NE see; I'm only fifty years old, | can
not be in my dotage, and Pm not crazy
, No. I'm going to get married, and
shall marry that poor woman with hel
2 beautiful face, and patient manner, i