The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-14

to the kitchen for knife to cut the
cord with. All this necessarily con-
sumed some minutes, and when Bessie
emerged from the regions below, with
poor Tom trembling and bruised in the
basket, it seemed to her that she was
quite as badly frightened as the animal
she had in charge. She heard Mrs.
Murdoch call after her from an upper
window "Bessie Atwood, where are
you going9 Come back this minute p
But Bessie turned neither to the right
nor left. She didn't even think of what
awaited her on her return. She had Just
begun to congratulate herself that Aunt
Jerusha's cottage would be soon reached
indeed, it was in plain sight-when
half a dozen boys, blowing tin horns and
hooting and believing in the rudest and
maddest manner, came rushing toward
her. Hal and Frank were among the
foremost, and Immediately suspected
what she had in the basket.
"Give me that cat, you busy"
shouted Hal, cor I'll give you good
punch"
All the effect this threat had upon
Bessie was to make her hold on to her
charge the firmer.
"Meaw, meaw, meaoa0," squealed
Tom, trying his best to get out.
"She heard what we were talking this
morning." said Hal. "And the little
thief worked her cards pretty well ; but
just before she did she didn't, eh! Now
1 tell you, fellers, one of you hold on to
her arms from behind, and I'll have the
cat out of the bag in twinkling."
Up to this time Bessie had not spoken
word. Now she said, clearly and calm
ly: "Boys, stand aside ! Aunt Jerusha
came to the house for her cat, and /
promised her that if saw him or heard
anything of him l would let her know.
am on my way now to keep my prom
ise."
"But you won't be on your way long,
not if j know it. Take hold of her,
Frank. Well settle up some old scores
now." And with this the young desper-
ado dealt her ringing blow on tie side
of her face. At the same time Frank
and another boy pulled at the handle of
the basket, but without effect.
Let CO." screamed one of them, cor
you'll get hurt.
You may kill me, boys, if you will,
said she, holding on with all her might
but l started for Aunt Jerusha's with
this cat, and if you succeed in taking it
from me you'll do it when I'm dead, not
before"
"That's the talk, little girl, said
friendly voice from the rear. SCOT
Aunt Jerueha's Maltese cat in that bas-
ket, have youl Now tell me who those
boys are.
Bessie obeyed. She had never seen
this gentleman before, and felt quite sure
he was a stranger in the village.
"I'm going to the COTTAGE" con-
tinued the gentleman. "Come along
with me. I'll see if there's any law in
this town after see you safely housed. "
And the two walked on, leaving the boys
considerably crestfallen and not little
alarmed.
"How does thee do, mother7" said
the gentleman, walking straight into the
house, leading Bessie by the hand.
"Bless thy heart, boy, is it thee, safe
home again 2" said Aunt Jerusha. 81
expected the Lord was preparing this
surprise for me-" And the old lady cud-
died down in her sons arms as if there
was nothing else on earth to wish for.
"And here is thy cat, MOTHER" con-
tinued the stranger, "and the bravest
little girl 1 ever heard of. Why, that
child would stand at the cannon's mouth
without finching."
In the meantime Bessie had liberated
Tom and he now purred contentedly on.
his mistress knee. After hearing fun
Af thA 90,
Jerusha said, suddenly, taking her sons
hand:
William, how much money has
thee 2"
Enough and to spare," was the quiet
answer.
:" Has thee enough to rear this child as
she should be reared-enough to secure
her a good home with me and all the adj
vantages that active little brain de-
mand9 ?"
eyes, mother, and nothing would
please me so well as to take this respon-
sibility. Little girl" he continued,
"what do you want most of anything in
this worldl"
"To go to school" answered Bessie,
simply, "and have somebody to love
me"
Aunt Jerusha wiped her eyes and said
William, this child has been abused.
She must never go back. Take off your
things, Bessie. This is your home as
long as it pleases thee. Thee has done
thy best, and God is always as good as
His word. Thee is under no obligation
to those Murdocks. l will settle all this
business for thee" And she did.
Bessie Atwood is now at the head of
all her classes, and no girl in the country
has better home or more loving care.
Mrs. Murdock's rage was fearful to
witness but there was nothing she could
do, as Bessie was not bound to her by
the law. So she vented her spleen on
chairs and tables and doors, whipped one
or two of her wretchedly-b y-brought-up
children, spoiled her New Years pud-
ding, and finally vowed that when she
tried again to be benevolent it would be
when her name was something besides
Mary Murdock. Eleanor Kirk. in ~
y. Independent.