The Van Buren press., 1873-11-04

MISCELLANY.
Turning Over a New Leaf,

she hurried away, after the funeral Q
Mrs. Grant, escaping from the poor, DIES
olate room where two children, almos
babes, were sleeping, unconscious tina
they were motherless. ats a sham,
that nobody'll take them, "
"Yes-a bitter shame!" replied
neighbor, who was also going Off as fas
as she could, SO as to shift responsibility
on some other shoulders.
There's Mrs Grove; she might talk
them as well as not But they'll 70 tC
the poor-house, for all she cares y
"Well, semsbody'll have to answer
for it, said Mrs. Fsgg. "As for me,
I've got younS ones enough of my own. y
ave left Mrs, Bole in the room. She
has only one child, and her husband is
we'll to, do. l can't believe she'll have
the heart to turn away from them.
"Shes got the heart tor anything But
we'll see.
Mrs. Cole did turn away from the
sleeping babes. signing aloud, with a
forced sigh that others might hear, and
give her credi. for sympathy and con
oern she did not feel,
At last all were gonc-all but man
named Wheaton, and peor woman. not
able to take care of herself.
What's to become Of these children p
said Wheaton.
Don't know. Poor.housc, l spose,'
answered the woman.
Poor house!'
VI. N,hnJ,, wantc 'o,, and tho n q
no place else for EN-.
Mamma, mammal cicd plaintive
voice, and faxen haired child, not much
over a year old, rose up in bed, and look
ed piteously about the room. ~ want
mamma.
A great choking sob came into the
mans throat
Then the other child awokc, aad said,
Don't cry, sissy. Mammals gone
away
At this the little one began crying bit
tsrly.
II can't stand this, no how, said the
man, speaking in kind Of desperate way /;
and, going 10 the bed, he gathered the
two children in his arms, hushing and
comforting them with soothing words.
What on earth have yeu got there ?"
exclaimed Mrs. Wheaton, as her husband
came stifding into tho room. where she
sat mending one Of his we'll worn gar
ments
1.-Two babies - he answered, in voice
90 unusual that Mrs. Wheaton dropped
her work on the floor, and rose up in
amazement.
"Whati"
MRS. Coles two babies. I've been
over to the funeral and tell you. Jane,
it wasn't in me to see these little things
carted Off to the almshouse. There
wasn't q woman to look after them-no,
not one. Every seul sneaked off but
Polly Jones, and she's no account, you
.n,.w Just look at their dear little
,,..s,;," And he hsld them in his arms,
and m let their tender, ..s::yrful, ~: !E's1''
ened. half wondering eyes pleao ,nvn
cause with his wife, and they did not
plead in vain,
Surprised as she was, and with an IN
staih protest in her heart, Mrs. Wheaton
could not, in the presence Of these moth
erless little ones, utter word OF remon
stranse. 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 mothsrly love in the heart Of this wo-
man, who had never been 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.
Net many words passed between tho
husband and wife-at least, not then,
though thought was very busy with both
Of them. Mrs Wheatons manner to ward
the children was kind even to tenderness,
and this manner won their confidence and
drew from them such looks and ways and
lttls expressions OF satisfaction as touch
Cd her heart, and filled it with loving in
tcrest
After nghtfall, whom supper wa. over
and the children asleep, Mr and Mrs
w heaton sat down together, each show
ing little reserve and embarrassment.
Mrs. Wheaton was the first to speak
"What were you thinking about,
John p said she almost sharply. -
cant have these children.
Wheaton did not lift his eyes, nor an
swer, but there was = certain dogged ana
resoluts air about him that his wife no
ticed ~ unusual.
Somebody elso must take sham'
she said.
The county will do it," Wheaton re.
piled.
"The oouuty"
"Yes. There's room for them at the
,lmshouso. and no where else, that knew
Of, unless they stay here.