The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-03-16
THE LOST POCKET.BOOK,

"How desolate it is" Mrs. Halpin
sighed, glancing out from her attic
window on the gloomy prospect be
low, as she smoothed and folded tn
garment she had just completed
"and the colds bitter. l don't lik,
TO send you out, Louise, but there
not bit of coal, and Willie mus
have that medicine. I'd 60 myself
but"
"Oh, mother, no! let me 90
don't mind if it is cold. I'll hurr,
back;' and the little girl sprang VI
from her low seat beside the child
cradle and began to fasten on he
faded cloak and hood.
"Well, l suppose you must,' tn
mother continued, as she wrapped vi
the delicately embroidered garment
"You know the place? Mr.. Rawdon's
on Tenth street-that brown. .s,on,
house."
Eyes, yes, mother! l know"
"Well, dear, run fast and keeI
yourself warm, and say to Mrs. Raw
don that I'd have finished the worl
before if Willie hadn't been SO i'll
Three dollars she owes me. You car
call at the bakers and get loaf OF
two"
The child took the bundle ant
vanished out Of sight down the
dreary flight of steps, while the
mother turned back to the cradle
where the sick child lay. He held uT
his little hands and moaned piteous
ly, "Giye me some tea, mama, Tn
so thirsty"
eyes, darling, rs soon as Louise
comes back"
Her eyes filled with tears as she
raised the little fellow to her bosom
clasping him closely 10 keep him
warm, for there was no fire in the
stove and the desolste attic room was
very comfortless. Yet there had
been day when this same pale-faced
meek-eyed woman sat in luxurious
chamber, with every comfort that
heart could wish within her reach;
and doting husbands strong arms
of love to encircle and protect her
But her husband was dead, lying
unknown, on some distant battle.
field in the South; and her riches
had made themselves wings and
flown away. Forlorn and friendless
sick at heart, and weary from inces
SAINT toll, she sat, with her wailine
child upon her lap, gazing out with
hopeless, fearful eyes upon the dis
NAL scene beneath her attic window
In the meantime, little Louise made
her way through narrow by-streets
and squalid alleys into the most pop.
ulous and fashionable part of New
York. The biting wind still con-
tinued to blow with dreary, sadden-
ing wall, drifting the leaden clouds
and the mist-l like snow. But she
walked on bravely, and reached at
last Mrs. Rawdon's. A dazzling
glow of light poured from all the
windows, and sounds of music and
merry-making foated out upon the
frosty air. Mrs. Rawdon was giving
grand party in honor of her eldest
daughters birth-night. Louise crept
upon the marble steps and pulled the
bell. A footman in livery answered
her summons.
"Can l see Mrs. Rawdon, please?"
she asked.
"See Mrs. Rawdon, indeed! and
she in the parlor in the very middle
of the company! OF course you
can't"
He was closing the door, but Lou
Use caught at his sleeve and cried i'm
ploringly:
"Oh, please, please wait! Here's
the work she wanted; Miss Violet's
frock. you know, mother promised it
by tonight; do let me take it to
her,"
The man hesitated a moment, and
then turned back.
"Miss Violet's frock," he said ;
"she wanted it, know. / heard her
scolding because it didn't come home.
Maybe she'll see you. I'll try any
how. Come in here and watt
Louise followed him through the
arched hall and past the glittering
parlors into kind of anto-room ad-
joining the supper apartment. Here,
motioning her TO seat, he went in
search of his mistress. But it was a
full half-hour before Mrs. Rawdon
could disengage herself from her
guests, and poor little Louise, tired
out with waiting, and benumbed with
cold, was just on the point of burst.
ing into tears, when the lady swept
into the room.
"This is pretty business, now.
isn't it!" she began, as she received
and unfolded the bundle that Louise
proffered her. 81 thought you prom.
ised to bring this yesterday"
ayes, nam; but my brother Will
lie was so i'll that mother couldn't
sew"
"Oh, yes! that's always the way
you've some excuse ready; but
shan't trust you again, you may de-
pend Oh it. Here's Violet been cry
ing for an hour, and refusing to CONE
down because she was so disappoint