The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-01-28


which was Immediately followed by others,
SO that an amount was collected quite suf-
fcient to defray all contingent expenses,
and handed over to Bob. Then he walked
out Of the depot with the baby and carpet
bag, followed by his friend, the coal HEAVIER.
"Have ride on my keart?'' asked the
latter.
"Don't care if do, if it's in your way"
said Bob.
"rr make it in my way" said the good
natured man. So Bob clambered in, the
little cart jolted merrily away over the
cobble- stones, with its novel freight.
1t was not till Bob came in sight of the
little one-story house which he called home,
that he felt he had acted hastily in I'M
dertaking such charge without consulting
Mother Darby, as lie called the woman
with whom he lived.
For Bob was an orphan-nay, more, he
had neither kith nor kin that he knew of
in the wide world. Ever since he could
remember he had been passed from one to
another who had been willing to harbor
him little while, either for charity or the
work he could do. For two or three
months his home had been with Mother
Darby, receiving his board and scanty cloth
ing in consideration of his lending the COW,
bringing in wood and running of errands.
$50, what will Mother Darby say ?'' was
the question he asked himself as the cart
stopped at the gate, and, bidding the kind
coal HEAVIER good bye he entered the house
with his burden.
What she did say was:
"What under the sun have you got
there? ?''
''She's so pretty-and the woman left
her, and they talked of sending her to the
poor-house. / couldn't help it," answered
Bob, rather incoherently.
"Mercy on us What are you talking
about? 1 can't make head nor tail of it?
But give me the baby do. She's most
frozen, poor thing
And as the woman, whose heart was
much softer than her speech, sat down by
the fire and began to take off the child's
hood and cloak, Bob's courage revived, and
he told the story from beginning to end,
as we know it already.
ga pretty job you've undertaken ?'' said
Mrs. Darby, then. "The woman never'll
come back !; that you may depend. She
wa'n't its mother no more'n ann
81 thought you'd let it stay till some
thing could be done" said Bob, dejectedly.
''Of course will. | amt wild Injun
to turn such a baby as this adrift by ITSELF"
said Mother Darby.
She then warmed some milk and fed the
little one, and in few minutes it was
sleeping quietly on Mother Darby's old
calico lounge, unconscious alike of past Or
future perils.
''Her folks is well off, whoever they be-
said Mother Darby, examining the little
blue silk hood trimmed with swans down,
and the embroidered thibet cloak.
''The woman that gave her to me was
sumner" said Bob /; by which phrase he
no doubt intended to express his apprecia-
ton of ber fine clothes.
Bob lost no time in ad dvertising the child;
but days went on, and no answer appeared,
nor did the woman return to claim her
charge. The travelling bag contained moth
ing that would afford the slightest clue to
the child S identity except the name ''Elsie''
OH some of the clothing.
''Well, I'm sorry, but there's nothing
said Mother Darby.
"That I'll never do,' said Bob.
'Heyday 1 reckon there's somebody to
be consulted besides you. 'Tant likely
shall undertake to raise her at my time of
life, and nothing but my two hands to de-
pend upon nether.''
'But couldn't you let her stay here if
I'd pay her board ?'' pleaded Bob.
''You?'' said Mother Darby, laughing
derisively. "Much as ever you can do to
earn the salt that you eat.''
"Well, if you won't keep her, s'pose
must find place for her somewhere else,
for she shall never go to the poor-house
while can work for herr
'sMercy sakes If you're so set about
it, do let her stay and try it," said Mother
Darby, whose heart secretly yearneG over
the child more than she cared to acknowl-
edge. And so it was settled, though the
good widow could not believe the arrange
ment would be more than temporary.
81 dare say as soon as we begin to get
fond of the child, we shall have to send
her of, - said she.
But in this she was mistaken. 1t was
true that hitherto Bob had not been over
fond of work, and had given her some |
ground for the taunt that he hardly earned |
the salt he ate. But now a great change |
came over him. He felt that he had an |
object in life was ready to undertake any !
honest job, to work early and late, SO that
he might keep Elsie with him.
And when the story got abroad, and it
was seen how thoroughly in earnest he
was, much sympathy vas manifested for
Bob and ''Bob's baby as the child came
to be called, and many lzind-hearted people