The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-29

.1A0 Al 1Acn women, 0f1V1n9 everywhere,
II only q block, had become 30 much q
naD1G that she indulged it unconscious
~. Fer the first time in years she had
forgotten, for the moment. her little
waits, and the especial desire of her
heart. She was preparing a Christmas
surprise for her husband, and she was
quite absorbed in the subject.
Please give me penny"
1t was such 0 pathetic little voice,
and SO soft and sweet, scarcely above
whisper, that Mrs. Renwicke didn't
hear it. The child put out q little hand
and caught her dress, and then, finding
it such rich and handsome dress, held
it tightly and pulled it, as the wearer
went rapidly past. Mrs. Renwicke
stopped and looked down at the little
mite beside her, not in angea, but SO
gently that the child said again. shyly,
and loosing her hold of the dress, but
looking up with confident expression:
Please give me penny"
That glance thrilled Mrs. Renwick
to the very core of her heart, for
came from a pair of great soft brown
eyes, such as she had sought for in vain
for nearly seven years. She felt that
her quest was ended, and she answered
the child's request before asking her
name.
What do you want of a penny ?"
she said.
s'I don't know. Old Bess said I must
ask every lady I saw to give me a
penny. Oh, there's another Please
give me penny"
A showily-dressed woman turned and
frowned on the child and Mrs. Rem
wicke smiled and said:
"You mustn't ask any more people
for pennies. will give you all the
pennies you need"
"Oh, will you? Myi How nice
I'm SO glad because, ma'am, you see,
didn't like asking, only Old Bess said
she'd beat me if didn't; and never
was beat-Jack never let any one touch
me-"
Mrs. Renwicke silently thanked heav-
en- that the child had not been accus-
toned to i'll usage, for it was to be seen
miserable, abused little ones she had
feared to find. She asked only couple
of questions more.
How many pennies have you got for
Old Bess ?"
The child unclosed the fingers of a
slender, delicate, but dirty little hand,
and showed a small collection of PEN
nies-about half dozen.
And what is your name, little one ?"
Amy Wal66fSs
Mrs. Renwicke felt that the child but
echoed the name her own lips would
have spoken; but it was such Joyous
assurance that she had found the little
stray one at last, that she caught her in
her arms and covered the dirty little
face with kisses, much to the scandal of
many elegant passers-by.
Mrs. Renwicke soon realized that she
was attracting an unpleasant degree of
attention, and signaling the nearest
carriage, she lifted little Amy into it,
and then, from the child's rather unin-
telligib1e description, started in search
of the place she called home.
It was not easily found, but the car
risge driver, spurred to his best efforts
| by the promise of goodly recompense,
was at last successful. It was long
drive, however, and before it came to an
end Mrs. Renwicke had learned all that
| the child knew of her own history. She
had been brought up since she could
remember in the home of the woman
whom she called Old Bess, but had been
| the especial charge of jack, the old
| woman's grandson. Jack had received
little Amy from her mother, who died
in Old Bess's house, her father having
died in the hospital a week before.
Amy knew nothing of her mother, ex-
cept that she bore her name; and in
deed that was all that Jack knew-dear
old Jack, good old Jack, he had always
been so kind and he called her his
little girl, and took such care of her.
But now he was gone to sea, and Old
Bess said So she must make enough
money, somehow, to pay for her keep.
Mrs. Renwicke's thankfulness to
heaven that she had found the little
one in time to save her from want and
sorrow was deep and fervent.
Old Bess, when at last found in a
miserable room of q rickety tenement
house. turned out to be rheumatic and
bedridden, but with decided tendency
to drink. Jacks mother, who lived In
another part of the house, sslooked
after her," and 8" kept an eye on little
Amy" Mrs. Renwicke found them
quite willing to part with the child, fol
Sc consideration" which she afforded
to such liberal extent, that both won
en- voluntarily gave her all the infor.
nation regarding Amy's parents which
they possessed. It was meager enough,
but served as further proof that the
little girl was MIR. Renwicke's grand
daughter. A letter, without any ad.
dress. was also given to Mrs. Renwicke
by Jacks mother it contained Amy
Renwicke's certificate of marriage, and
also the date of little Amy's birth and
baptism. An unfinished letter In Amy
Walters handwriting was inclosed
but owing to the letter having no ad.
dress upon it, the people who had cared
for the orphan child were unable tc
make any use of it.
/ Mrs. Renwicke was joyful woman
when she took her treasure home with
her and Amy turned ont to be beau.
tiful child, under the renovating process
of bathing, and new, fresh, pretty
clothes. Her extreme resemblance tc
the dead Amy, troubled Mrs. Rem
4 wicke somewhat, for she feared it;Would
betray her parentage, and causet trouble
| with Mr.. Renwicke. She had no fear
of finally overcoming his objections,
| but she wished the child to be estab.
| lished in the house first. Her name
was serious subject of debate in tbs
lady's mind but happily she found
from her baptisma1 record that she had
q second Rose-and the child took 9
/ great liking to the new name, it was so
pretty, dropping her old name in favor
of it entirely.
Mr.. Renwicke took such very LITTLE
notice of children that Christmas passed.
and many weeks succeeded, before he