Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-12
Found A Wife.

days when theatre hours were lOnBer tuah
they are nowhere stepped forth into the
frosty winter night, amid a crowd OF play
goers. a man Of about four and twenty and
about the middle height, broad shouldered,
dark hair, and with black eyes-a very
handsome man, aud dressed in style which,
costly and elegant, became him wonderfully
we'll.
There came little wall upon his cara
cry almost like that of an iniant-and look
ing down, Harry Bolton saw upon the pave
ment close beside him, little girl not more
than five years old. She wore what appear
ed to be handful of rags, and her tiny feet
and curly head were bare. more misera-
BILE object the moon never looked upon, and
the moan she made touched the young mans
heart. He knelt down aud caught her as
she passed by.
"Stop, little oue," he said, " what brings
you out this night? Where do you live 7
And where is your motherF
The child struggled to escape, but when
the last question came, stood still, and an
swered with sobs:
In heaven; | want to 90 there"
You are on the right road, then, this
winter night; half naked and starving, too
| fancy" said Harry to himself. He began
to question her again.
" Where do you live ?"
81 don't know"
"Who takes care Of you ~
Nobody"
cit looks like it. Have you had any sup
per-"
Is don't want any supper. 1 want my
,,oor,,,o onJ tha child ha1an IN
Harry Bolton endeavored to remember
some portions of his childish education.
You want to 60 to heaven, do you 7" he
asked. 1t appears to me l remember be-
ing told that children who cried never went
to heaven, and | am sure that children who
do not mind never do remember that"
The child understood, and the effect Of
this doubtful moral teaching was, at least to
silence her. Then the moon witnessed a
phenomenon. Harry Bolton, the dandy, the
dashiug gambler, the man Of betting books,
shouldering a ragged child and walking
away with her in the most self possessed
fashion.
We must have some supper" he said.
ave must not be too fashionable under
the circumstances" and so saying he de-
scended into a cellar eating house, where, at
the late hour the few guests were too much
intoxicated to notice the singular pair, and
only the proprietor and few of his employ
ees remained to be astonished.
Marching down the room with perfect
sang froid, Harry Bolton perched the child
upon one of the chairs, and seating himself
at the table ordered beeisteak, and brandy
and water for two, aud the order being filled
ordered his companion to :" go ahead" and
watched to see the mandate obeyed in vain
the child stared at the viands in astonish
ment, but made no attempt to cat.
Harry remained in a puzzled condtino fol
some time, then reckoning to a griuninl
waiter made him his con6dant in this wise
"You look like family man, waiter. d.
you know any way of making child took Il
its feed ~
mot such feed as that, SIR replied tn
waiter. Milk and water is what they like
and bread and butter, or if meat, choppet
up into bits like. Bless ye, look at her tin.
teeth, SIR"
"To be sure" said Harry. swell Gu
the meat up, then bring her some bread ant
butter; but milk and WATERFORD max
the poor thing sick, won't you? 1t would
me-"
"You and her is constructed different
SIR" said the waiter.
Harry nodded.
Food being prepared to suit her appetite
the child ate greedily, to Harry's satisiac
ton, and after suficing her to his heart
content and stripping himself of his overcoat
wrapped the waif 10 it and started for home
He had a splendid set of bachelor apart
ments, and there he found a glowing fir
awaiting him. The child when he opene
his coat, was sound asleep; so tucking he
into bed in a grimy state, which would hav
shocked any good housewives heart, Harr
composed himself in a great arm chair, an
lighting cigar began to smoke.
All night he sat smoking and thinking an
by dawn his plans were formed. consul
tation with the landady ended with the cor
Segment of the child to the care Of an elder
ly woman, warranted conscientious and AM
able. Harry Bolton found himself the guar
dian of an adoped child. From that momou
a change came over the young mans lif,
He had an object to think and care for II
said to himself: 81 will bring up
daughter for my old age" and set TO work
become fitting parent for the wonderir
woman he had proposed to make her. ii
quit his habits of dissipation, half his tim
was spent in visiting his charge, who, we
cared for, grew every day more lovely an
engaging He taught her to call him Uncl
Harry, and it was strange to see the youu
man devoting himself, as some old gram
father might, to all the whims and pleasul
of little child.
As she grew older he placed her in
boarding school, and there, of course, sa
less of her, yet still as much as the rules
the establishments would allow until the chi
was somewhat past twelve years old, when
violent illness Frustrated her guardian uP'
what came near being his death bed, and Il
doctor ordered him Immediately on his reco
cry to 60 to Europe.
So they were separated, though rcgul
correspondence was maintained. Delica
health detained Harry from his native laI
five years.
AT the end of that time Harry Bolton I
turned from Europe, improved in health a
anxious to see his adopted da lighter |
knew she had grown older, but little do ,
reflect on the changes that time must brir
that when inquiring for Miss Estela Ora
this was the name the child had lisped VIII
ouastioaedl ne he waited i'm the Darlor of 1