The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-12-24

com. Inc occupants or the room were
Nancy Hopkins Ga kindly, i~rresolute,
care-worn woman), the Baby on her
knee, acynical-looking Maltese cat, and
a friendly little yellow dog, that frisked
about aimlessly, and seemed unable to
make the Baby out, but was ready to re-
ceive him on the best terms. There sat
the tiny creature who had stirred every
heart for miles around, dimpled, rosy
and happy, bright eyes studying the eat
and the dog, and a wee red mouth bah
bling some soft, unknown language.
"Oh, you darling,"cricd A~ntoinettc,
kneeling beside the chair; andthe bright
eyes turned to her, the unknown Ian
guage went on, while two fat little hands
clutched vaguely at her.
I'm glad You came" said Nancy
Hopkins, beaming on her charge with
such pride and delight. q am so afraid
of sighting the little dear, and yet |
wouldn't give him up for all the world.
He has been frowning rs if he was put
out about something. Doyou think it's
the eat? Go away, pusS. And, oh
dear, the neighbors tell me so many
things to do that | don't know where to
begin!'
elf | We're you, l would throw all
their medicines out of the window after
they were gone" said the girl, with I'M
conscious good sense.
Then she fell into raptureS over the
dainty tingcr-tips. and rose-leaf palms,
until baby haughtily Withdrew Them,
with a half yawn.
81 sometimes wonder what | should
do if he was taken sick in the night"
pursued Nancy, mXiously-"a fit, or
any thing, You know. If | rang the
dinner-bell out the window, would your
fatherrun forthe doctor, do youthink?"
"Of course he would,' laughed An
t%oinette; then g~rewsober. Its scarce
ly Il month ago"
She went out grayely, and paused on
the brink Of the slope. There was the
frail bridge, and the river below, frozen
among its sharp rocks. The glory had
vanished from the sky; the valley was
cold and still. She covered her face
with her hands Il moment before reSum-
ING her way. The frozen river told no
tale Of horror.
Winter came early to Laurelton, sit
uatcd as it was up among the noun
tainS; and three weeks before, John
Mathews, the EngliShman, had taken a
holiday from tie mill-a holiday not
soon to be forgotten by that community.
The first snow had fallen and frozen,
the sleighing was fine, and John Math-
ews, with his pretty wife and bloom
ing baby, started from their home on
the stroke of nine in the morning. The
school boys smirled as the sleigh turn
ed to the hill, where stood Nancy Hop
kins's little red house, and crossed the
bridge which spalned the chasm above
the mill roofs and chimneys. A range
of frs skirted the opposite bank, and
beyond this screen the schOOl-boys had
been busy overnight. A snow woman
of towering height. %uncouth, and gi-
gantic, waited to dispute the way with
the first passing vehicle. The horse
started, plunged, and backed again on
the bridge in untrollable panic of fear.
What Laurelton hearl was the crash of
the slender railing. What Laurelton
saw, with blanching heck, and horrifi-
ed gaze, was 4 sleigh going over the
brink, and dragging a frantic horse
down, down to the fpzen death of the
river below! But nancy Hopkins, as
nearest spectator, had clearer vision.
The mother had risento her feet, stead
led herself on her husbands shoulder,
and tossed the baby p ~ the bank.
The school boys nd in barn and
cellar, Laurelton rEled about dis
traught, the mills great heart stood
still, and Nancy Ho,kins was discov-
cred kneeling beside / little bundle of
flannel, for which tie snow woman
made a soft, harmles!couch.
"The nest of the bind bird is made
by God" says the T'ukish proverb.
The dress-maker would not give up
the treasure she had fund, and she was
poor. Hence the pro?cts of charity to
befriend the orphan, Which eliminated
in one magical word With Mrs. Boyle
"TableauX."
Jupiter Tonans sat t the piano in the
cleaning, when his faher entered. Mr..