Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-04-15

curly head from any mishap.
was making my final preparation
for departure, when / heard q scream
under my window, and Jerome say
ing:
Be jabers! She's tainted, the crath-
er.
While Freddie cried:
Mamma pretty mamma!
/ ran out hastily, to see an odd tab
kau. Jerome was supporting in his
strong arms a slender figure in deep
mourning, half leaning on the tray-box,
while Freddie chung to her skirts, sob
. bing-Mamma! mamma!
A few passers-by stood near, making
various suggestions, and Nat looked
grayely over Jerome's sholders, as if
he could say a great deal if he had the
inclination.
Bring her in, Jerome, I said.
I'll do that same, sur, was the reply,
as Jerome lifted the little figure like a
feather-weight, and, crossing the pave
ment, came into the Office. shut out
the curious people who followed, and
Freddie chung fast to the black dress,
never ceasing his loud cries Of
Oh, mamma 1t is my mamma come
home to Freddie! Mamma! pretty man.
ma!
: The sound rang through the house,
reaching my mothers ears, as she sat in
her room, and entered the Office just as
Jerome deposited his burden in an arm
chair. Comprehending the situation at
glance, mother tenderly removed the
Grape veil and bonnet, loosening a show
er Of brown curls round marble white
| face still insensible.
You see, sur, said Jerome, Masther
Freddie had just given the horse the
last Of the carrot, andwas running up
and down, when the poor crather threw
up her veil, gave one screech, and would
ha' fallen ON the ground if the tray
box and / hadn't acotched her atween
us. Do you think sur, it's his moth
er?
At that moment the stranger opened
a pair Of large eyes, as brown and soft
as Freddie's own, and murmured, in q
faint voice
Freddie! Did I see my boy?
Then her eyes fell upon the child,
and in moment she was on her knees
before him clasping him to her heart,
kissing him, sobbing over him, till
mother broke out crying too, and I
was obliged to assume my "profes-
sional expression" by sheer force of
will.
Come, come, I said gently, Freddie
has been very i'll, and cannot bear so
much excitement.
This quoted the mother in an instant,
and she arose, still holding the child
hand in her own.
1t is my boy :! she, said, looking into
my face.
Freddie. I asked, is this mamma?
Yes, said the little fellow, decidedly !;
/ of course it is! Ny own pretty NAM
ma come from Heaven.
She reelcd back at the innocent words,
and would have fallen had not caught
her, and put her once more in the arm
chair.
Come from heaven she repeated,
with ashy lips and gasping breath
They told NE he was dead, NV boy
Freddie-that he was run over and
killed. The nurse saw him fail under
| the horses feet.
But you see lie was not killed, said
mother, in gentle tone, but is well and
strong again.
And then, motioning for me to keep
silent, mother told the widow of the
child's injuries and recoveries, of the
winning ways and our love for him.
Aud you kept Kim and nursed him
she said, kissing mothers hands. Oh,
what can ever DO for you to prove my
sratitudef Freddie, my boy, how you
must love the kind lady?
Yes, assented Freddie; that's grand
ma and here's uncle John. and was
dragged forward.
/ cannot understand it all the moth
err said. Did no one know he was here
my mother-in-law Will You let me
! tell you, she added, looking at mother
and my self, how my boy was lost?
II YOU will drink this first, l said,
giving her quieting drink.
She obeyed at once, and taking off
Freddie's cap, and lifted him to her lap
while she told her story. When we saw
the two fair faces so close together, any
lingering doubt we might have had OF
the strangers claim vanished at once.
Even in parent aud child the resemblance
between the woman and her boy was
wonderful. The same brown hair and
ewes, the same cEild-hke expression
marked both countenances. Even 10
the pallid. wasted look OF recent suffer.
ing the resemblance was perfect.
l must tell you FIRST whom / am, oul
visitor said. l am the widow of Car.
! roll West who died with fever in New
. Orleans. only two weeks ago. He wa.
: taken i'll in July, and i was telegraphed
. to come to him. We had parted, sh,
added turning TO mother, because hi,
/ business called him to New Orleans, and
he was afraid to have Freddie and q
| there in Summer. But when / heard b.
! was i'll. went to him by the next steam
, er, leaving my boy with my husband:
5 mother and sister. knew they wer.
. not very fond Of him, but i had no choice
/ dared not take him to New Orlean,
in July, and l had nowhere else TO leay,
him. I found my husband very i'll but
, he was recovering. when he had a re
: lapse. He rallied from that, bringins
/ on q second relapse that proved fatal
. During all his illness / heard only twic'
: of Freddie; once that he had been killes
: in the street. came home only tw,
: days ago. and they would tell me moth