Middletown transcript., 1875-10-02
-7 TT mDDtErowN DELAWARE OCTOBER 1875

for departure, when ], heard scream
under my window, and Jerome saying:
\ & BE jabers !.she's fsinted !ths cfatGer!
i While Freddie cried:
Mamma! pretty mamma!
1 ran out hastily. to see an odd tab
leau. jerome was supporting in his
strong arms slender figure in deep
mourning. ;. half leaning on the tray box,
while Freddie clung to her skirts. sob
bing-Mamma! mamma!
| A few passers-by stood near. making
various suggestions. and Nat looked
gravely over Jerome's shoulders, as il
he could say great deal if he had the
inclination n Il.
Bring her in. jerome. | said.
I'll do that same, sur. was the reply,
as Jerome lifted the little figure like .
feather-weight.' and, crossing the pave
ment, came into the Office. shut out
the curious. people who followed; and
Freddie clung fast to the black dress.
never ceasing his loud cries Of tss
Oh, mamma! It is my mamma come
home to Freddie! Mamma! pretty
mamma
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 situa-
ton at a glance, mother tenderly re-
moved the Grape veil and bonnet, loos-
ening q shower of brown curls round a
marble-white face still insensible:7
You see, sur, said jerome. Masther
Freddie had just given the horse the
last of the carrot, and wasgrunning up
and down, when the poor crather threw
up her veil, gave one screcch, and
would ha' fallen on the ground if the
tray-box and / hadn't a-cotched her
atwcen us. Do you think. sur. it's his
mother? s daaa stll@iY
AT that moment the stranger opened
pair Of large eyes, as brown and soft
as Freddie's own. and murmured, in a
/ faint voice. Il ~ avotgI92Ba
Freddie! Did I see my boy?
Then her eyes fell upon the child.
and in moment frhs was on~her knees
before him clasping him to her heart,
kissing him, sobbing over him, till
mother broke out crying too. and | was
obliged to assume my professional ex-
preston" BY sheer force Of will.
Come, come, l said gently. Freddie
has been very i'll, and cannot bear SO
much excitement.
This quieted the mother in an in
slant. and she rose. still holding the
child's hand in her own.
1t is my boy! she said. looking into
my face.
Freddie. l asked. is this mamma?
Yes, said the little fellow. decidedly !:
course it is My own pretty mamma,
come from Heaven. fA
She reeled back at the innocent
words, and would have fallen had I not
caught her, and put her once more in
the armchair.
Come from Heaven! she repeated.
with ashy lips aud gasping breath
They told me be was dead, my boy
Freddie that he was run over and
killed. The nurse saw him fall under
the horse's feet.
But you see he was not killed, mother
said, in a gentle tone, but is well and
strong again.
F, And then, motioning for me to keep
silent. mother told the widow Of the
child's injuries and recovery. Of the
winning ways, and our love for him.
And you kept him and nursed him
she said, kissing mothers hands. Oh.
what can / ever do for you to prove my
gratitude? Freddie, my boy. how you
must love the kind lady
Yes. assented Freddie /; that's grand
ma, and here's Uncle John! and 1 was
dragged forward.
ai l cannot understand it all the
mother said. Did no one know he was
here-my mother-in-law !? Will you
let me tell you, she added, looking at
mother and myself, how my boy was
lost?
If you will drink this first, I said,
giving her a quieting drink IlT i
She obeyed at once, and taking off
Freddie's cap, 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 and child the resem-
blance between the woman and her boy
was wonderful. The same brown hair
and eyes, the same child-likc express
sion, marked both countenances Even
to the pallid, wasted look of recent suf-
fering the resemblance was perfect.
I must tell you first who am. our
visitor said. / am the widow Of Car
Ill yTo,k - J..l III c =: NJ