American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-08-01
VOL. XNIV.


lonely city, and have taken the husk;
which chance threw them, or, worst o
all, have been goaded by maddeninl
hcartache down the dark road of ruin
She sometimes pushed up her sleeve:
and looked at the pink, soft arms they
| held She was so young to he all Tor
saken and lost in the big world, She
created at all, The gift of life comes to
so many of us wrong side out. We pull
it this way and that; but we shall find
! the design the beauty and the glory of il
if we're patient. Some are to find the
meaning of life in love; some in splendid
work, and happy few in heroic deeds
reserved TO them, which will echo down
| the centuries.
Never mind Dearie down in the-mud.
Just pull away. You're sure to come
cut dry and high if you keep IA good
heart and stiff lip.
| One night, as Virginia leaned against
, tie window, looking at the heavy sky,
| she heard violin. The sound was faint
but, as she listened, it grew till it filled
! all her sense of hearing. 1t talked to
her like an angel. Her heart swelled.
! She leaned toward the darkness from
which it spoke-strained after it. Its
sweetness, its pathos, its compass cannot
be described. She took no thought of
t.
Through hours she listened, leaning over
the window-sill, feeling the city's breath
in her face, but the breath of Heaven in
her heart. She thought about it all next
day, and waited impatiently for it next
evening. Night by night it talked to her.
becoming part of her existence If it
neglected her she was restless and fret
ted When it did its best she paid it dis
tant tribute by clapping her hands and
III. Il Il,
old fiddle, do love you, You've got
soul, l wish it was person." she often
added: a. wish it could be friend to
me. The man at the bow is some or
chestra-man, of course; like those fat
fellows who go into beer-sa!oons. But
love his fiddle SOL"
Suddenly the music stopped. She lis
tened night after night, but all the hours
were silent.
Just like everything take to loving"
cried Virginia, passionately. "Why
couldn't that woman's supply of Goldfish
have been cut off instead. | can live
without Goldfish but what staU do with
out my music-soul?"
Il think | shall die.' walled Virginia.
in wOman's intense undertone, as she
dragged through the dusk one evening
t" / kao,c | shall die if somebody don't
comfort me pretty soon! Oh, I'd like to
steal baby. Why isn't some founding
dropped into my laps l shall forget all
had before he died, and l shall just mann
ma, like Miss Blum, oh, wish a babv'd
be lost, and I'd find itl''
Midsummer-night, you-know, is night
on which every spoken wish is granted
1t being midsummer night, therefore, at
the next corner Virginia did find lost
baby.
1t was quaint, pretty child, dressed
in clothing of foreign cut. One little
shoe was on one little foot, but the other
little shoe was clutched in fat hands
Frightened, but brave, was this baby;
crying and quivering, but looking
straight ahead and hopping its face with
its petticoats.
What is it, dear?" asked Virginia,
STOPPING to the little head.
Papa" said the child, bursting into
wall; "vo ist err"
she's SO frightened. Are you losts"
"Papam
Come with me-" begged the girl, win
ming on the convuIsed face and getting
power over her waif You'll come with
me, won't you?" She led it along
" What's your name:"
WOOese,"
Louise, is it? All, she's so tired,
Come up on my shoulder, pet; I'll carry
you"
She got Louise into her arms and fit
ted like a thief. She knew that to re-
port her find at once to the police would
be to have the child taken from her and
placed in the station-house. She would
wait and send a message. So she flew
past Mrs. Stump, who admitted her to
dark hall, and darted upstairs.
Virginia opened the shutters, threw
her hat from her, and sat down in a rock
ing-chair smuggling the child. The child
had large blue eyes, curly blonde hair,
and an unmistakable German face She
held Virginia's neck with confidence and
all Virginia's motions with dis
corning eyes.
"LouiseI" cried the girl, and here she
stopped to squeeze and kiss the child's
breath half away. "Oh, it's been so
long since Jamie went out of his sisters
arms. Oh. you bonnie darling! Do you
me when | talk:'
Louise shook her head and then nod
ded it. She was learning two languages
and often grew confused between them.
do you understand thisg" Virginia
framed the plump face with her hand and
kissed it again. Oh, / love youl | do
love you SO, BABY
"Bist du mammal" inquired Louise,
lifting AN interrogating finger and plac-
ing it on Virginia's chin.
The girl laughed out merrily. Her
dismal little room echoed. That room |
was astonished; to the sound of sobbing !
il was accustomed, but against laughter |
it set its CHASTITY face and lifted its ghost |
ly voice.
" No, I'm not mamma" replied Vir-
yinia, 50 hut I'll tell you who l am. Put |
your arms up so. Now say, Darling |
Jeanien"
Louise made an effort TO do as re-
luestcd, but these were two big words |
She clucked at them, broke down, and |
stuck her tongue out in confusion.
. Virginia laughed again, and cuddled |
the light thing on her neck. But where
is mammal" she asked; who is mann
ma? she'll miss you, won't she?"
" Himmelr uttered Louise, with an
effort; "gone,'
=" Is she deads" low and tenderly
Yah" replied Louise, greatly re-
lieved at being comprehended; . gone
dead
q Laws sakes," bawled Mrs Stump, |
who made towels an excuse for march
ing upon II citadel where she heard such |
unwonted sounds of revelry. Whose
young one is that? What on earth are
you doing with it,"
She was lost on the Streets" ex-
planned Virginia; q found her"
Lost a-purpose, IeXpect. You'd bet
ter send her round to the station and |
have her owners looked up, if shes got
any. I amt going to feed vagrants,"
Don't trouble yourself, madam firing
up instantly. II know very well that
feeding people is not your forte; and, he
assured, / shall take all proper steps for
finding her owners"
Mrs Stump opened her mouth like a