The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-03-06

our uallngi Dut an inquiry NJ me station
house, sent us here. The officer also
showed us your advertisement. Where
is our darling childP
He is here, | answered, under my
mothers care, and | am happy to say, do
ing well.
An unmistakable look of disappoint-
mcnt crossed the faces of my visitors, but
the elder one said:
Can We see him, doctor2
asked permiss ion to announce their
coming to my mother, and left the ladies
alone. 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
set, hard look, of determination, as If
nerved by some sudden resolution.
led the way to my mothers bedroom,
where Freddie was in profound slumber
The younger lady shrank back in the
shadow of the bcd-curtains, but the moth
or advanced and bent over the child.
There was n moment of profound ST.
lence, then in hard voice the old lady
said
am very sorry to have put you to SO
much trouble, Doctor Morrill,. This is not
the child we lost
A heavy fall startled me, and / turned
to see the young stranger senseless on the
floor. Her mother spoke quickly.
The disappointment is too much for
her. We so hoped to find our grandson.
| did not reply. The delirious rawlings
Of the child were still ringing in my ears
as he pleaded with the harsh grandmoth-
or and aunt. | did not believe the old
lady's statement, but having no proof to
the contrary, was forced to accept it,
Long after my visitors had departed,
the beautiful blonde still trembling and
white, mother aud talked Of their strange
conduct.
1t is evident they wish to deny the
child, | said.
am glad Of it, mother replied. We
will keep him, John. He shall have a
grandmother to love, and not one to fear.
So the Summer and early Autumn wore
away, and Freddie was dear to me rs if he
had claim of kinship His rare beauty,
his precocious intellect, and his loving
heart had completed the fascination com.
monced by Ourpity for his suffering, weak :
ness and loneliness He called us Grand
ma and Uncle John, and chung to us with
affectionate caresses.
We tried in vain, from his childish
prnttle, to gain some clue to his parentage
or relatives. He told US his papa had
gone, far, far of, and mamma had gone to
papa; so We concluded he was an orphan,
and | often heard mother telling him Of
the beautiful heaven where his parents
waited for their little boy.
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 talk
ing to tall man, he told us, who boxed
his ears and told him to go home, when,
trying to escape, he run under the horses
hoofs and was hurt.
Being blest with wealth, mother and 1
had quite decided to formally adopt pretty
Freddie when he had been little longer
unclaimed in our home. The GONZALES
cence of the child requiring fresh air with
out 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 | was no
afraid to leave my little charge with him
while | was indoors, and he was very hap
Ply chatting with the good-natured Irish
man, and waiting my coming.
1t was early in November, and mother
had dressed Freddie for the first time in
jaunty suit of velvet, with dainty velvet
cap over his brown curls, when one morn
ing l sent him out with jerome until |
was ready to start. Looking out, 1 saw
him standing on the pavement, giving Nat,
my horse, long carrot he had procured
in the kitchen, while Jerome stood near,
guarding the curly head from any mishap.
| was making my final preparation for
departure, when / heard scream under
my window, and Jerome saying:
Be jsberal she's tainted, the crather!
While Freddie cried
Mamma pretty mamma
| ran out hastily, to see an odd tableau.
jerome was supporting in his strong arms
slender figure in deep mourning, half
leaning on the tray-box, while Freddie
chung to her skirts, s,bbing-Mamma
mamma
A few passers-by stood near, making
various suggestions, and Nat looked grave
ly over Jerome's shoulders, as If he could
say great deal if he had the inclination.
Bring her in, jerome, | said.
III do that same, sur, was the reply, as
jerome lifted the little figure like feath.
er-weight, and, crossing the pavement,
came into the Office. shut out the Gu
rious people who followed, and Freddie
chung fast to the black dress, never ceas-
ing his loud cries Of
oh, mamma 1t is my mamma come
home to Freddie Mamma pretty nam
ma
The sound rang through the house,
reaching my mothers ears, as she sat in
her room, and entered the office just us
Jerome deposited his burden in an arm