Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-31
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arms. where she rested quite comfortably
and without the slightest symptoms OF
shvness. The bewildered clergyman felt
A. TO drop his light burden TO the ground,
and looked so thoroughly puzzled that
Weaver felt bound to elighten him without
questioning. as far as he was able, and
told him how the porter had told him that
the guard of the down train had taken
charge of the child at the Bshops-gate
station that afternoon, md the people
who gave her to him seemed foreign like
which information being heard by Mrs.
Nave, who had Joined her husband by
this time, she, with her quicker woman's
wit, instantly jumped to the right conclu-
sion and solved the mystery by exclalm-
ing: ,,,,
This must be M. Blanchard's child y
And so it was, as an Inspection OF the
one small leather-covered box when
Weaver just then dragged forth from his
cart quickly proved, for it bore the name
of '.Blanchardn written above Mr.. Maye 5
own address.
The moment the child saw the box she
unfastened her arms around her ne"
nurses neck and dragged out OF the DOS
ON of her frock ribbon and key, when
she held out to Mrs. Maye, saying, as she
did so:
INA Fifine, so tn plair."
Mrs Nave took the key and the child
too and carried her indoors. she was
lighter than Bob to lift, and so pretty to
look at! She showed not the least tear OF
the strangers about her, but looked at
them all with dark wide-open eyes, till
she suddenly saw the cat sitting on the
hearth rug, and slipped down to make
friend. with her, coaxng her and speak
ing French words of endearment.
Both the home children were safe in
bed; so Jane and nurse went down on
their knees before the little stranger
to examine and listen to her, while Mrs.
Nave opened the box and drew torth, first
thing of all, letter directed both to her
husband and herself. Holding it to him.
they both read it together. 1t bore date
September 4, and was written from Nj.
Blanchard's address in Paris.
"My ..lriends," he wrote, II cannot
take the time to tell you of the SO many
changes which have come to me since |
wrote to you. 1t has been made known
to me by news from my cousin Mrs. Rob-
erts) that you continue to live in your
country home; and to you. in moment
of peril, dare to send my own child
whom have so cherished.
at is year past since her mother is dead.
No time, no words can tell of her loss. My
little one has been by my side at all times.
She is to me the most dear, the most be-
loved. Bat now at this hour | must not
keep her with me when my country
claims my time, my thought. and my life
il it pleases heaven. | dare not keep
my child in this unhappy city. No friends
have in the care of whom it would be
possible to place her. viii you take her,
and in your peaceful home keep her until
the hour when these terrols shall be past?
l feerassured that Madam will love my
child, who has no mother; and for the
care which my heart tells me you will
have may the good God bless you! How
will each moment be long until the day
when shall see her again.
The letter was concluded in haste, and
only postscript had the writer bethought
himself to addthat the child's name was
Aimee. There was blot over that which
brought tears trembling into Mrs. Maye's
eyes as the thought what sorrowful SYM
patty Of the wifeless man sending his own
caring forth among strangers to seek for
safety away from him.
Aimee too! Why, was it not as if
the little foreigner came in her own lost
Amy's place? Begood to her and cherish
herp All. that she would. even as she
would hope and pray, for some one to do
the same for her children if ever she had
to leave them.
So, putting Of discussion on this strange
addition to their family till later hour,
she took the French child on her knee. and
calling back all the school taught French
that she could remember. the two talked
on and began to learn the easy task of low
ing each other "Fifine," the big doll, was
brought forth. and her PROJECTIONS pointed
out, till suddenly, when Mrs Maye in
cautiously asked who gave her Fiiine, the
little one began to cry, and said with
burst of grief that, ooh, her dear papa
had given her the doll and oh papa, papa,
how she wanted him, and would he never
comet
When child cries for what one can
give it, it is bad enough but when it cries
for something impossible to be obtained,
and expresses its grief moreover in for
eign language, the case is worse. Mr..
Maye and the servants were greatly dis
tressed; but Mrs. Maye remembering that
the little thing was hungry and tired, gave
her some supper and soothed her and pet
ted her to sleep at last in one OF Katie's
nightgowns on. Blanchard had forgotten
nightgowns in his hurried packing up) by
Katie's side; and in a few minutes Aimee's
troubles were forgotten.
ICoNTiNUED TOMORROW.