Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-07-13
Au 0riginal Stprg.
LOST AND FOUND ;
THE WHITE FAWN OF THE FOREST.
BY MRS. HENRY DEAs.
CHAPTER ]

In the attic room of large, rickety, over
crowded boarding house, in hot, dusty BY
street of New York city, a pale young woman
sat bending over piece of coarse needle-work,
while with one foot she rocked basket cradle
at her feet, in which lay a moaning child.
A common scene enough, no doubt, in that
busy metropolis, where poverty and discom.
fort are no rarities among so large class OF
its inhabitants. But there was that in the
face of this sorrowful- looking mother, which
seemed to mark strange incongruity between
her surroundings and herself An iDdescriba-
bic air of dignity and refinement, which her
shabby dress and shabby work could not
destroy or conceal, marked her as one, who,
to use common mode Of expression, had
evidently seen better days. The small, frail
hands that wearily piled the needle seemed all
unfit for their task. They looked like hands
that had been born to wear jewels, and do
none but dainty work. But no jewels glitter
ed on them now. Their only adornment was
the plain gold ring on one finger, and the
once delicate skin was roughened and en-
Drowned by toll Faster and faster, the needle
few as the waning light warned her that she
must soon desbt, while still she swayed the
cradle to and fro, occasionally pausing to set
tie the child more comfortably on its pillow,
and to murmur soothing word, or give
brief caress.
"Poor baby if mother could only take
you up!" she sighed at length. as the little
creature, weary of its position, broke into i'm
patient cries. "Just few minutes more now,
and this seam will be done; and then father
will be coming in, and he'll help me take care
.c L., 1;ttlo nat ,ub;lo not ho fea -
The words were scarcely spoken when a
slow step was heard ascending the stairs; and
directly the door was opened, and a good
looking, dark bearded man entered the room.
The young wife looked up anxiously; he met
her wistful glance with faint smile and a
gently uttered, "Well, Mary" as he stopped
and kissed her brow.
"Have you met with any success, to.day"
she asked presently, as he threw himself into
chair without speaking
mo success, my dear. It's the same old
story always. I begin to think it's no use to
try any more"
1--WE must keep hoping" said Mary, in
tone that showed plainly enough how low
down hope had ebbed in her heart There
was short silence.
"How's the little one, this evening?" the
father asked, as he rose and approached the
baby, who ceased crying at his approach.
avery fretful, and think little feverish.
But that may be only my fancy"
"It's this close room, I suspect" rejoined
the man. He lifted the child from the cradle
and carried it to the window. It's head droop-
ed languidly on his shoulder The sash was
raised, but scarcely breath of air stole in.
The otn,ooDharo ct;Aipp ouan in loroar nd
better ventilated apartments on this burning
July day, was rendered doubly oppressive
here by the reflection of the sun, which had
been baking since noon on fiat tin roof just
outside of the window. Itwas equal to fur
nace
"How you do seww the husband remark
ed, presently, as Mary, drawing nearer to the
light, hurried toward the completion of her
task. "You will ruin your eyes, if you try
them in this way"
81 have all but finished, Edward; there are
but one or two inches more of this seam. I
must carry home the work tomorrow, and
have no time to lose"
'And then you will get more"
Perhaps; I hope so. It's better than
nothing"
"a poor alternative! Mary, it goes to my
heart to see you toiling in this way"
"Don't let US speak of that now," she
quietly replied. ave must take what we can
get, you know; and in little while hope
YOU may find something to do"
"And in the meantime you are killing your
selfp
"Oh, no! Dear Edward, it is not as bad
as you suppose. The sewing is tiresome, but
-
toned to it, would get through it more easi-
ly. Only I get little worried-about baby
sometimes"
The forced cheerfulness with which she had
begun her answer gave way with the last SEN
tence. Her voice trembled and broke down.
Now it was his turn to be the comforter.
"Don't fret about the baby, darling. I
think it's only her teeth that are troubling her
in this way. She'll come out all right, never
fear"
"If only she could get little fresh air!"
eyes; it is that she needs, poor lamb. I'll
tell you what, Mary, must contrive, some
how or other, to take you and her out into the
country for day. You both need a change.
You are pining away in this sufocating den."
"But it would cost money, dear; and we
could not afford it,
''It would cost only dollar or 80 and
what is the value Of that, compared with your
heaIth2"
"But if we haven't got it to spend?' p
"Then I must borrow it, that's all"
"And add to our debts No, that won't
do"
II tell you, something must be DONE" said
her husband, excitedly. "Matters cannot 60
on in this way any longer. If it is impossible
for me to obtain work here, as it seems to be,
we must 20 somewhere else. We must travel
to another city, or another State, if need be
even though we have to beg our way, or 60 on
foot"
1--WE might not stand better chance, else
where"
ave could not stand worse. Tell me,
what could be darker than our present pros
poets? We are all but starving now. You
don't eat enough for bird, and no wonder,
with such poor food as you get. And the
DOOR child pines more and more. wear out
my shoes walking about the streets in search
of what I never find. Wehave advertised in
vain. I have answered advertisements, and
in vain. Fate is against us. With all our
efforts we cannot succeed. You earn mis-
erable pittance by work which isn't fit for a
common seamstress to do; and you lady, DEL
icately born and reared. 1t maddens me to
think of it. feel sometimes as if my senses
were leaving me. believe they will, unless
we make some change. We can try, at any
rate: and if We must starve, why starvation
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