Middletown transcript., 1875-10-02
dashed up to my door. and two ladies

dashed up to. my door. and two ladies
alighted., y.s.,,.5.s nsn,sss.,na5
They wore rustling silks of the --latest
fashion, and were evidently mother and
IsdaSghter Fhe yoahger lady wasvery
beautiful, perfect blonde, and dressed
in exquisite taste. Nj a-5i
Doctor Morrill,? inquired the elder
lady.
| bowed ~
We called in answer to an advertise
ment regarding q child, my grandson
You will probably think it strange we
| have not been hero before, but we, were
obliged to8leaye q be city the day before
he was lost, spd haves just returned.
The nurse who had him in charge ran
away, and, while we supposed him safe
at home. be has been lying in hospi-
tai, perhaps dying: rt 2 2 q
We were nearly distracted on our re-
turn, said the young lady, when we
missed our, darling, but san inquiry at
the station-house, sent US here. The
officer also showed US your ADVERTISE
ment. Where is our darling child?
He is here, answered. under my
m ,ther's care. and I am happy to say,
doing we'll. mst
An unmistakable look Of disappoint-
ment crossed the faces Of my visitors,
but the elder one said
Can we we see him, doctor?
asked permission to announce their
coming to my mother. and left the
ladies alonei When | returned, after
some five minutes absence, | was struck
by the change in their faces. The
younger one was pale as ashes, and the
older one had a set, hard look Of deter
mination, as if ncrved by some sudden
resolution. - .tg.ag,a.5,ii
led the way to my mothers bed
| room, where Freddie was in a profound
slumb mbcrS The younger lady shrank
back ia the shadow Of the bed-curtains,
bnt the mother advanced and bent over
the child. '@ s'a7= t'stst1
There was a moment Of profound
silence, then in hard voice the old
lady. said:I h a AlC =
1 am very sorry to have put you to 50
much troubles, Doctor Morrill,. This is
not the child we lost. .s .4s
A heavy fall startled me. and I
turned to, see lhelyeung stranger sense
less on the floor Her mother spoke
asisHsi II 20fj I9lU1S f.
The disappointment is too much for
her. We so hoped to find our grand
son. -f.fA6G $<h4 -
did not reply. The delirious raw
ings of the child were still ringing 10
my cars as he pleaded with the harsh
grandmother and aunt. / did not be-
lieve the old lady's statement, but hav-
ing no proof to the contrary, was forced
to accept it
Long after my visitors had departed,
the beautiful blonde still trembling and
white. mother and talked Of their
strange condnct. .ti aasl ,ss5av a. i
1t is evident they wish to deny the
child, said.s m ,4H5 zais4 otz
1 am glad Of it. mother replied. We
will keep him, john He.shaRdhave a
grandmother to love, and not one to
fear.
So the Summer and early Autumn
wore away1 and Freddie was dear to
me as if be had claim Of -kinship. His
rare beauty. bis ,precocious intellect,
and his loving heart had completed the
fascination commenced by our pity for
his suffering, weakness and loneliness.
He called US Grandma and Uncle John,
and clung to us with affectionate caresses.
We tried in vain, from his childish
prattle. to gain some clue to his parent
age or relatives. he told rs his papa
had gone, far, far of, and mamma had
gone to papa; 50 we. concluded be was
an orphan, and I often heard mother
telling him of the beautiful Heaven,
where his parents waited for their little
boy. ........ .aa
OF his grandmother and aunt Lucy
he spoke with shrinking fear. and
seemed to have an equal dread Of
Susan, whom we judged to be the nurse.
Susan was talking to tall man, be
told US, who boxed his ears and told
him to 60 home, when, trying to escape.
he run under the horses hoofs and was
hurt. ... -e....
Being blest with wealth, mother and
/ had quite decided to formally adopt
pretty Freddie ~hen be had been
little longer unclaimed in our home.
The convalescenceIof the child reauir-
ing fresh air without too much exercise,
/ made . habit of taking him. with me
in my daily drive to visit my patients.
Jerome. my coachman, was very
fond Of Freddie, and very careful, SO l
was not afraid to leave my little charge
with him while l was indoors, and be
mac varr hocov ohottsp - Nth tho oood