The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-30


emily equally eccentric Judas lscariot. And
the French child too, was such source OF
wonder and admiration among them all; SO
clean. so bright, so intrepid, so graceful! She
could not understand word OF the lam
GRACE. which was tortounate for her. They
knew this perfectly well, yet the worst OF
them would cease cursng when the innocent,
smiling. dauntess little face passed among
them. Conscience made towards OF them
all.
Time has been when NJ. Escriot was
small farmer, with large education, bent
ON raising the condition ofthe proletariat; but
the Catholics disliked him because he was
Calyinist the Calvinists because he declined
to believe in the infallibility of Calvinism on
eternal punishment, and the Republicans OF
those parts because he was a Christian. lie
had never had single stroke OF good luck
since he was born, until he came into TINS
property, and had had but few opportunities
OF helping his neighbors. His theories haG
died out long ago. He had stood IN heeu vi
assistance himself on more than one occasion;
and friends had violated every law OF political
economy by helping him. Now, therefore,
that he was rich, he set to work to see what
he could do for the savages, and worse IMAM
sayaoes. by whom he was surrounded. 10
learn their language was the first thing, ana
he and his granddaughter set to work at that;
but before they could make themselves clearly
understood they had become sacred persons I'D
those parts, in consequence OF their active
though discriminating charity. we nave
nothing more to say about that just now. we
proceed with our story.
A sailor had been away for over two years,
leaving his wife and little boy behind him.
When he came back he found that his mouse
was shut up, his wife in prison., and his BOY
on the streets. He had been good husband,
had RENTED money regularly, and had al
ready believed his wife to be model OF re-
spectablity. Soon after his departure she
had started a lodging house, which, whether
through her ignorance, her folly, or her cul-
pability, was turned into receptacle Tor
stolen goods to very large amount. When
the police broke up the establishment, her
previous good character was OF less than no
use TO her, she was looked on as very art
fdl and dangerous person, and sentenced TO
very long term, and her boy was left to take
care of himself.
How half of these children live without
crime is a wonder. This boy ostensibly lived
by sweeping crossing. When his father
came home and realized the disaster winch
had befallen him, he found the boy at this
EMPLOYMENT. He was too young to take to
sea lust then, so he clothed him and took
him to Grayesend, to the house of married
sister. She and her husband took the money
for the hoy's keep, but they hated the task
and were cruel TO him. No sooner was his
father safe at sea than the boy ran away and
came back to his old haunts, free at all
events. $3.50
NJ, Escriot had now been a year in his new
home. Among all the thousands OF faces
which he saw every day, one OF all others be.
gan to attract attention. 1t was the face OF
orr how. HIS GOT into conversation with him,
and helped him. AZ last he took him home
one night. set him before the fire, and made
him tell his story.
The bows story was straightforward, and
most absolutely true. He had seldom seen
his father; he was always at sea; but his
father was very good man. His mother
was very good woman, no better woman in
the world, but she had been imprisoned on
false evidence; it was very much as we nave
previously told it. M. Escriot asked him his
name. The boy refused to tell it. He was
no credit, he said either to his father or
mother. and was not in any way likely to be,
and so he would keep his name to himself
He said that NJ Escriot might give him a
new one if he liked, and M. Escriot said: -.
s'Poor little piece of sea-foam, shall L call
you Ros MISUNDERSTANDING"
''No; that is girls name" said the boy.
s'Then we will put it in Lorraine German
for you. Shall Ninette and call you Nicer
schaum" -,
That took the boys fancy more readily,
and he assumed the name: The nelghbors
who had known him had forgotten his real
one, so Mr.. Escriot never knew it, and really
never cared to inquire about it,. t..-.,,.F
The boy came to him at intervals, so me-
times of weeks. He was always kindly re-
ceived by them. nj. Escriot was treating
MANY bows so, but this one seemed to him
far above the common herd; and as he
seemed deteriorating, the old gentleman and
his granddaughter were determined to rescue
him somehow, and were discussing the best
means, when the boy came to them one Will
ter afternoon to say good-by. 49,
Where was he going? That he could not
tell, but he had met a. boy who had met a
'sbioke'' who had told him of place where
YOU could get taught q trade, and he was go
ing there Then he lifted up his voice and
wept, not alone, for one of them, at. least,
had got to love HIM very dearly, and then he
was gone.
M. Escriot was sorely exercised in his
mind Immediately after his departure.
Where could the boy have gone to? What
trade was he to learn? Perhaps he was
taken by some young thief to den to learn
some infamous traffic. The old man was
very anxious, but without reason; the boy,
as we have seen, had only been seduced as
far as Field Lane. f-ist .'t'-
He had, however, completely disappeared;
nothing could be heard of him; he was, abb
sorbed into the state, but for good or evil?
AS time went on it seemed as likely to M.
Escriot that he should recognize brown leaf
upon a swollen autumn torrent as that he
should see and know again the poor wait
whom he had known as Meersehaum.
In the sea of misery which surrounded the
Escriots-that sea against which they always
strove with small effect, SO many drowning
hands were held up toward them that 1T was
no wonder if one small pair were forgotten;
vet, after three years, something occurred to
bring their lost piece of sea-foam to their
minds.
One night woman came to them. an ex-
tremely beautiful woman, but apparently
very DOOR, 1t had been raining, and the rain
drops were in her long black hair. Ninette
put chair for her before the fire, and she
covered over it and warmed her hands. Sc.
"Sir," she said, turning to NJ. Escriot, you
have good name in these parts Tor assisting
the unfortunate" -.-,-L -LlSl
Madam said M. Escriot, 81 have known
poverty myself, and SO know how to re-
lieve it."
Eyes, with money. But, you see l do not
exactly want money, poor as seem. MY
husband will send me all the money which l
do not earn want information"
sMoney, madam" said Escriot, III could
give you, but information! 1 and my pretty
Ninette here are hermits."
''Stil, think that you can do what L
want. I will tell you the Truth. have been
undergoing six years penal servitude on
false accusation. l think that can ultimate
ly prove my entire innocence. God knows it
but think can prove it before man. When
1 was taken away, my husband was at sea,
and had boy who went on the streets.
Nv husband and had one interview in prls-
on, and he, of course, never doubted my in
nocenc9, but he told me that he had provId-
ed for the boy. came out of prison and
found that he is once more at sea, and that
the boy is not to be heard of. He was last
see nwith you. Can you tell me anything
about him?' TT VA. .Frrfa.TsF - G
"What was his name?"
'Michael Durnford." -.,.. DO. ..
NJ. Escriot knew of no such name. ALI at
once Ninette exclaimed, "Father, as sure as
YOU are born, this is Meerschaum's mother"
OF course it was. The likeness was too ex-
traordinary not to be remarked, now that the
kew to it was found But what had become
of Meerschaum The three put their heads
together to find out, and they could find out
nothing at all. ,..+......, g .-.....T
Theinqairy was similar to the famous one
of looking for a needle in a bundle Tor, more
correctly, a bottle) of hay, and after time
had