The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-07-15

would you have2 We cannot keep our
churches always open, even should q
fainting soul perish by the way.
Next he was caught in an eddy of des-
sodden, brutal poor, all seeking the sta
tion-house, eager to receive that last
stamp of degeneration on the coin
age of their own abasement, if sleep
might only bring forgetfulness of misery.
Gottlieb shuddered and drew back from
the crowded entrance of a building
which seemed to exhale a painful famili-
arity with crime in every stone. He
could not throw himself into that stream
of pollution.
Afterward he wandered on, without
purpose, past rows of fine dwellings,
past hurrying people all intent on reach
ing home. Sometimes he held out his
hand for aims, but it was done so awk-
wardly and hesitatingly that few noticed
the movement. The way grew narrow
and crooked; he chad quittedthe spacious
thoroughfare unconsciously, and now
tall houses, time-stained and dilapidated,
lined the street. Gottlieb sat down on a
wooden doorstep to rest. Nobody dis
puted his right of possession. Laborers
came and went; work-women trudged
along; children played in the gutter.
Suddenly a light form darted around
the corner, tripped, and fell almost at
Gottlieb's feet. Was it the CLEAN of
golden hair escaping from a little scarlet
hood, or the blue eyes, anxious and
terrified, that made Gottlieb start with
the exclamation, "Gretchen !" Color
had dawned in his pale face; he knew
his mistake even before the young girl
rose, nursing a bruised wrist; Gretchen
was inner grave. The girl regarded him
sullenly, almost wildly, and when he laid
a hand on her arm she darted away again
as if fearing capture. Her rapid fight
was impeded by IN old woman carrying
a basket, of apples and oranges, which
were spilled by the shock of contact.
CANT yer ashamed, now, an for an
old body, too?" said the woman, whose
name was Mother Bates. The girl hest
tated, then stopped to gather up the
fruit.
"Don't let her CO." implored Colt
lieb.
The girl looked from one to the other
suspiciously.
"He wants me to be taken" she cried,
with a sob.
"You are like my Gretchen, and I
wish to help you" he returned, quietly.
Mother Bates planted her cane before
her theoretically.
"Where are you going?" to Gottlieb.
"I don't know" YEARLY.
"Where are you going2" to the girl.
"Away from the police" with q shud-
der and fearful glance around.
"Come along, then"
They followed the old woman, these
two waits, scarcely knowing why, and
the girl whispered to Gottlieb, 81 am
Christine Carlen ; Idon't know Gretchen.
And what makes you SO pale?"
Mother Bates lived at the top of q
tenement-h house, and she conducted her
guests into a small room with cheerful
hospitality. Already were five children
gathered here, sharp-featured, shriIl-
voiced, and bearing that aspect of pre-
cocity peculiar to boys and girls of the
city streets. They might have been
trained in a worse school, certainly, and
the little roof made a sort of democracy,
of which Mother Bates was ruler, with
limited authority. The addition of two
strangers to their circle was taken as a
matter Of course by these small citizens
of the world ; only the baby stared at
Christine, attracted by the beauty of
gold hair, blue eyes and red lips.
With a tact MI. Caldwell could have
initiated, this ignorant old woman,
taught by the goodness of her own heart
the only true instructor, indeed, in po-
Eteness-asked no questions while serv-
ing a frugal supper. Few manifesto
tions of affection were exchanged in the
, household, although shrewd Mother
Bates cherished a dry pride in the sue
cess of some of her charges.
81 used to live here alone, but
picked EN- up one by one a-starving.
taught 'em their trades, too. Billy sells
newspapers /; Molly sweeps crossings
and Mike gifts cinders from the barrels
for u fire. They save my old bones
lots of work"
Christine Carlen had grown quiet !; she
was ready to tell her story. Two year,
before she had come from Sweden will
her mother. They were to join theil
family in the West. Instead, the for
eigners stranded in the city ; the mother
had sickened, been taken away to a hos
pital, and, alive or dead, Christine could
never find her again. They told her the
mother had gone to one of the islands
and there she had been put in a pauperi
grave. That was all. Afterward q woman
| took the child, and placed her as cash
girl in the house of Dibbler & Co. VIVA
heaps of glittering inery, ~festoons o
, ribbon and lace, crowds of beautiful la
dies, did Christine daily behold VIVA
longing filed her own young heart to b
free like these fortunate ones! Some
times she touched furtively delicat
fabrics, wondering how it would seem t
? own such splendor.
. When Gottlieb Braun emerged iron
3 the depot the usual throng surge,
through the premises of Dibbler & Go.
S and the shop-man had pulled a bundl
f of lace from Christmas pocket. Yes
1 there was conviction of robbery, althoug
t Christine had not stolen the lace. Sh
affirmed, hotly, 81 never did i'll"
The shop-man merely said, "Come t
e the desk"
S As she prepared to obey, trembling
}, confused and astonished, the pretty gil
d in the corner, who wore pink bows in lie
hair, and who had grown deadly pals
h grasped her arm
: Sect your things and run away
d Christine, before the police catch yor
y Quick"
9 Christine had snatched the little re
hood, and fled in blind panic and fea.
l. until she fell at GottEeb's feet.
d The old soldier now listened a~ttentivel
to the story.
d "She came to me like Gretchen" b
n said, with a smile Mother Bates coul
Le not understand.
d In the night the snow fell. The GER
mum in the window, pride of all IL
Or children, shrank from the frosty pane
lie the meagre fire died to a single Goa
lie The old woman had insisted upon givin