River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-01-17

as you are OF her, that she was not your
own child, and you had only been nur-
sing her for the real parent Or should
you like it if you could look down into
the cradle just now, and find that the
baby was not there, and could be told
that rich man had got her and meant
to adopt her, and would bring her up
we'll, and LEI her live in his house, and
be taken care OF, and you never, never
to see her again-should you like
that 2"
"Oh no, no." replied the mother
"never to see her again, and her not
even to know anything about memo,
/ don't think / could bear that" She
looked down into the cradle, and softly
touched the child's delicate arm with
her rough hand, as if to assure herself
that the picture which her young
visitor had presented to herwas unreal,
and then she continued in a mu- ing
tone, "And yet, bless her! what can
do for her Why, just lay her down
under hedge all day, and then let her
cry If she must cry, and sleep if she can
sleep-that's all.
"And love her 2" suggested the girl.
eyes, to be sure, love her." said the
mothers "but that / could do what
ever happened. l should love her
however long / was away from her
/ could love her just as we'll in another
mans house. Well, if / car be tried,
and anybody was to offer to take her
anybody that / knew would be good
to her-and she was to live in plenty,
and be happy, and kept away from
wickedness and mischief, / don't know
but what 1 could give her, even if was
not to see her again for years and
years. But needn't talk-who would
have her, poor lamb 2"
"No, Martha, don't think any one
could" said the young lady "but
you will do for her yourself as we'll as
you can, and when she grows older she
will be great help and comfort to
you"
81 don't mean to say but what she
is great comfort now,' replied the
mother, resting her hands upon her
knees. and looking down in the dusk
upon her child. "But then she's
careful comfort. It's only along of
my being SO fond of her that l ever
took these wishes into my head; for
sometimes when I'm cleaning, or hoe
ing turnips, or what not, and when I'm
forced to leave her to cry by herself,
and can't help feeling that I'm poor
creature that's hard-worked. and
neither food or covering enough to
keep cold and hunger off-and hus-
band that doesn't care what becomes
of her, through the ale-house-why
then take to iancylng what she may
come to when she's woman, and /
wish she may be different.
Il hope so" said the visitor, and
she looked round the cottage, which
contained scarcely an article of
furniture beyond the chairs on which
they were seated" we all hoped that
John would be different after his
illness"
The mother shook her head. "It's
very hard, she observed, Sand makes
me very down hearted when I'm COM
ing home from my work, with this
child in my arms, to have him meet me
in such a state that he can scarcely
walk, and take my wages ont of my
hand to buy more with; and so / com
fort myself with making out different
sort of life for her"
As she said this the baby sobbed in
its sleep two or three times; the
mother moved it, and again rocked the
cradle, looking towards the easement,
and talking quietly, while the harvest
moon shone on her careworn face, and
on the brick floor and white-washed
walls.
" Martha" said the young lady,
show the baby sobs! If she was old
enough to understand what you have
been saying, should think she was
sobbing at your notion of giving her
away"
"Bless her." said the woman, with
a smile: "yes, would do it If l could
that l would. If it broke my heart
to part with her, | would still do it
tomorrow if had a chance-I think /
could do II tonight. As for wishes, if
al. my wishes could be given her. she
would be as happy as the day was long;
she should have the beautifullest music
that ever was heard, instead of that
song that | heard just now."
Martha J" exclaimed the young
girl, "what DO you mean Z"
"She should be taken as much care
of and set set as much store by as if
the Queen herself was her mother, if
only 1 had my wish; and she should
learn all sorts of things that know
nothing of, and have no hard work at
all. She would live in a beautiful
house, quite a mansion, and not even
know what poverty is, but have plenty
of friends and companions, and if
there's any other sort Of pleasure that
/ never heard of (which / don't doubt
there isl, she should have it all, God
bless her
"Oh. Martial said the girl, "don't
wish any more. God doesn't bless any
of us with so much happiness as that.
II must wish, SAID the mother
4 II. -.