The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-09-04

'NJ
Brown. 1t might only be a faint. Oh !
papa, open your eyes-call Nell again.
Oh! if I had only kept awake last
night !"
Mrs. Brown again approached the
bed, bent over it a moment, and then
! said
"'Tain't no nse. He's gone. GER
tain"
We must pass over the pauper's
burial, and little Nell's uncomfortable
grief.
Between the orphan asylum and Mrs.
Browns Nell had her choice. In the
first she would be separated from her
loved Fido. Mrs. Brown had offered
to keep both. But "you will have to
earn your bread" she had said to the
orphan child.
Gladly the little one accepted the
offered home.
"We will not be separated, Fldo.
And we won't care much if we DO have
to work hard. Viii we, dear old fell
low ?" Nell said to her constant COM
panion.
His great honest eyes looked into
hers, and answered just as she wished.
But neither knew how hard the bread
would be won. ncr how meagerly dealt
out.
For a few days Mrs. Brown was not
very hard on Nell or Fido. She in
tended to do us well as she could by
| them. But the world had not dealt
very kindly with her, and the constant
battle with it had hardened her nat
ure.
There were little Browns of all ages
and sizes, and Nell was Il handy little
nurse.
From early dawn until almost mid
night there was work for Nell to do.
Constantly she heard her mistress call
ing:
Rock the baby, Nell. Walk Billy
about a bit. Sing Polly to sleep! Run
to the pump. Step over TO the shop I!
Did you wash ont the hall? Don't for
get your kindling for morning. Get the
water in the dodgers rooms.
Never a moments rest for Nell.
The little bag had escaped Mrs.
Browns nstice for several weeks. But
one day, when fastening a dress On Nell,
she caught sight of it. She attempted
20 open il when a low, threatening growl
arrested her. Fido was on the watch.
LET me see what is III it?" the
woman asked.
"No; please don't make MT. Papa
said ! must not" Nell answered.
OF course Mrs. Browns curiosity was
excited. She determined to possess her
SELF of Nell's secret. But Fido was ever
near. Sleeping or waking, he never left
his little mistress. Finding erselffoiled
in every attempt, Mrs. Brown deter
mined to make both suffer for it.
Nell's work grew heavier, and Fido's
rations lighter, the first accompanied
with angry words and threats, the lat
ter often blows; but Fido never re-
scented any ill-usage of himself. Mrs.
Brown knew well enough, though, that
she must not attempt the same treat
ment with his mistress, or it would
meet with a different reception.
Little Nell was growing paler and
thinner. After a day Of unusual toll
and harshness, the poor child threw her
arms round Fido's neck, and moaned:
"How can we stand it, Fido? You
are always hungry, and I all the time so
tired, And it grows worse. don't it?
Dear old fellow! Let us run away,
Fido," she whispered. close to his ear.
"Look at me, right in my eyes, and tell
me if we must go. 1t can't be worse,
Fido, and maybe we may find a better
home. Oh, If we could only die, and
go to papa! Come shall We go?"
Fido did her bidding. Nell looked
earnestly into his great, truthful eyes,
and SAID
"That's right L knew you would tell
me. Come, then let us go now. 1t is
showing, and they cannot find us. But,
oh, Fido, where shall we run to? You
will take care Of me, dear, darling old
fellow, and II ask Goa to take care of
both of u.s." She dropped on her knees
for a lew moments, and remained with
her head bowed, her faithful companion