Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-22

ing up gladly Mother, see what nice
little company I've got"
Nice indade,' said Mrs. Murphy, pat
ting the corn-silk head And who might
she be, me dear?'
Her names Tina, and she lives with
her aunt, and her aunt is cruel and hates
her; and, mother, I'm going to kape her
her basket, and doesn't dare to 90 home.
and the weather is cowld!' said honest
Nora, all in one breath.
"Well, we'll, We'll see about it, me dear
but now let us take bit O. something to
eat, if the tay's all ready"
Tina seemed pleased with the little
Powered plate Nora placed for her Her
eyes we're as bright and wide as stars. and
she seemed more than content with her
surroundings, but she could not eat.
Maybe you had your dinner late ~
said Nora, anxiously.
Il don't have dinners" piped Tina; &" I
only has breakfasts and suppers.''
Pm afraid the child's going to be
sick. Her cheeks are so flushed like,
and her eyes is too bright" said Mrs Muir
ply.
But Tina said she wasn't sick, and she
liked to look at the pretty room, and the
red flowers on the paper.
The paper do be pretty. put it on
myself, dear" said Mrs. Murphy. "But
you will be sick if you don't take bit.
always know me Nora's going to be sick
when she don't care for her supper"
Do you know, mother, that tay-kettle's
found speech for itself? It woke me up q
talking and singing away this very night"
said Nora, earnestly. at made a sort o.
song about somebody's being at the door,
and there being room at the table for one
more. And sure enough there was Tina
a. the door, though hadn't heard her at
all!'
Och, you were dreaming, me dear;
tay-kettles don't spake''
Why, no, 'twasn't exactly spakin',"
said Nora; r" it was just singing along a
sort o. song"
1t was fearfully cold night, and as it
! grew later the wind arose and blew fear
fully. Mrs Murphy had thought of tax
ing Tina home herself, as they had but
one bed, and that one hardly wide enough
for two; but she could not have the heart
to take such a frail- looking thing out into
such bitter cold. But warm-hearted Nora
would have slept on the hard floor herself
rather than have her brave that dangerous
aunt, to say nothing of the cold, for, aside
from the pity she felt for her, she took a
| great fancy to the child. She told her
fairy stories until bed-time-the wonder
full adventures of that sagacious youth,
Jack the Giant Killer, the fascinating story
of PusS in Boots, and the perils and tri-
umphs of those valuable philanthropists,
the Seven Champions of Christendom
| Tina's brown eyes shone like stars out of
the tangle of white hair, and she hardly
dared to breathe, for fear of losing the
spell.
Il like stories," she said, clasping her
little brown hands; land you are so
good. | never saw anybody so good be-
fore, 'cept mamma, and she went away so
long ago | can't hardly member. Ispecs
you're an angel, aren't you? Angels are
gooder than anything"
| Poor Nora, with her little, freckled,
Irish face and funny, turn-up nose! She
didn't look much like an angel. She
couldn't help laughing at the idea herself,
though she felt immensely hattered. She
thought that Tina looked like an angel
when she was attired for bed that night
She had put one of her own white dresses
locks back from helittle, fair, wistful face
The child's beauty was striking, and it
was high-bred beauty, too even Nora
recognized that. But there were black
and blue marks on the delicate shoulders
and arms that made her warm Irish heart
ache, and she kissed them with something
like tears in her honest blue eyes
" 1t isn't me thatll ever let you go back
to the aunt again. said she, half to her
self. eff | have but a crust the bit thing
shall share it, and III Shape on the floor
meself, if me mother objects to being
crowded"
The next morning Tina was flush and
| feyerish, but still said she wasn't sick her
head ached-that was all Nora hurried
home from mass as fast as ever she could
to keep her company, and the two chill
dren spent happy day together. Nora
kept bright fire and told stories until her
stock was entirely exhausted. Tina seemed
thoroughly happy and took no thought of
the morrow. Nora, to her, was like one
of the good fairies in her stories-she
would take care Of her. Aunty and the
days when she went begging were already
like dream.
Its unlikely that spalpeen iv woman
she calls aunty is any relative of hers
said Mrs. Murphy, as she watched her
while she was sleeping that night Mind,
| Nora, that child has gentle blood These
vile women steal pretty, frail-ike children
to send begging, bad cess to 'em. The
mothers weepin' for the poor little lamb
now, | doubt not
sAh, mother, we'll never let her go
back to the likes ov her, will We? Didn't
the praste say as the good saints would
give back all body spent in deeds o.