South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-05-19
The Outcasts.-Chiid STORY.


"~S ""tAsuS UOWu C8tucOf8t street.
Baltimore. one cold and dreary winter
day; even ] had hard time to get a
long facing that beating. cutting wind
AS neared the crossing Of the street. I
came suddenly upon two little wee out
cast children, boy and girl.
Please don't cry. Lee" the boy said.
and he put his protecting arm around
the child. 1.-THE G ood Man will take care
OF US. sister" And you could see by
the way she caught he- pretty red lips
between her teeth that she was trying
hard to choke back the bitter sobs.
These little creatures we're too busy
with their own big sorrow IL notice me.
and turned the corner Of the street qui.
city and passed on. And l stood and
looked after them. wondering what could
be the matter. although little plain
thinking on my own part would have
made 1t all very clear; poverty was
stingi1g their young hearts.
A few weeks after. all this, l went
down to the City Bank TO get come mo.
ney, and left there with 500 dollars in
my pocket-book and when reached
home | put my hand in my pocket to
ind the book gone and the money gone,
and therefore my confusion was very
great. | made every effort TO find It,
and after some two weeks gave it up as
hopeless.
One evening about dusk the servant
tapped ut my door and said, Two chill.
dren down stairs 10 sec you Miss"
Nv hat name did they say, and what
do they want?" l asked.
ssHhav Iil tolI -,
she answered.
Then say am very much engaged
this evening" replied. and then turned
to my book which was bright and full
of interest.
The girl came back and pokcd her
head in the door and said:
Please, Miss, the boy says hc does
so wan to see YOU"
81 thought you understood ne; can
see no one this evening" said impa.
tiently. Then 1 was left to myself for
while.
AT least one hour after this. two or
three bold raps ut my door male me saw
quickly, "Come in !" and expected to
see my brother Roger. and was not dis.
appointed.
Why. Belle. do you know how cold
it is?" was his greeting.
II feel very comfortable here" said.
NO doubt yon do, bnt do YOU suppose
it's ne comfortable ont in the bitter cold
of this night, BELIEF"
IL am sure l have no time to think
about H." | answered carelessly.
Then, Mt least. hope you have feel.
ing enough not to keep those two chill.
dren waiting yAur movements" and
there seemed SO mach grief in my broth
ers tone Of voice that looked up quick.
~ and asked:
What childron Rogers''
You ought to know best thev saw
they have been waiting "a long time to
see yon. When came home I found
them sitting on the cold marble steps
actually shaking. and they were almost
purple with tho cold l spoke to them
and asked why they were sitting there
IN the cold. and the boy said he mist
see Miss Belle Clifton"
81 know nothing about the children.
Roger. It's wonderful if must be an.
noyed by those do not know"
Roger said not a word, but turned and
left the room. and some few minutes nr
ter, he opened my door and nshered IN
the strange children. / looked up; the
book dropped from my hand. and it did
seem rs II had lost ell power TO speak
or act knew the children at once
Lee and her brother stood before me.
certainly the last two on earth expect.
ed to see here.
Roger led them up before the glow.
ing CRATE that they might get lit
tie feeling In their numbed limbs, and
lifted the little Lee and seated her OH
the soft cushions Of n chair; then made
the boy comfortable, for his suffering had
made him insensiblc TO everything else
They looked so pititul that [ was truly
grioyed and ashamed that I could have
been 80 insensible TO the feeling Of any
human heing. IL was furthcst from nv
thoughts That These two children wonld
come hunting me OPP, but | might have
remembered that others might come
whose suffering was just rs great.
] arose and stood near them. "NIv
children, ] am Miss Belle Clifton; will
you let me do anything for you.
The boy started, as If for he fret time
conscious Of my presence. lie looked
up IN my face worry earnestly. then went
cagerl, 10 work to unite huge knot
which held great string around his
bo1y then he pulled open his ragged
jacket and exposed his bare little breast.
Tor there next to his heart lay my beau.
tiiul pockct.book. lie took it out and
held II mp 10 me. and couldn't help
knowing IL, for there was my name. ifI
nothing else, to tell II was mine. writ.
ten on the outside IL gilt letters-NIiss
Belle Clifton.
j took II in my hand, and Turned Il
over aud over. then handed il 60 ROGER
Who was standing near. ~ looked lust
"a y did on the morning / put IL IN nv
pocket. and ] could almost Imagine il
had not been opened since. Roger O.
pened " and there was tho same three
hundred dollars had laid away so care.
inlly while at the bank. aid everything
else was there, even TO the last penny.
We found il, lady. ono morning n
long time ago. We didn't know what
TO do with 10 We know IL vroey,,, -.