The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-03-17

found it very crowded, and with diff
Guilty got a seat next plain, neat lock-
ing country woman, who had with her
a little fellow CT five or six years, and
Helen's heart thrilled as she looked al
the little face with its bright, blue eyes
and golden hair, for it bore quite re-
semblance to the dear face Of her lost
Eddie.
She could not help speaking to the
child, and trying to win it to her, and
presently she had him upon her knee.
"What is your little boys name p
she said addressing the woman.
Eddie Hamilton" said the stranger
with sigh. .,,, ..
And Helen's heart thrilled again at
the familiar name.
but he's not my child; he's an or
phan, " continued the woman.
"Ah - comm ented Helen, interested
at once. . H..
mo ma'am, he's not mine. His
mother was a widow, and came to
where / live year ago come next
March She was very, poor, and had a
little house next to ne, and tried t0
make living with her needle. But
she made. her death, ma am, that's
what she made-and we couldn't bear
to see the little chap suffer, and him
without a friend in the world, as we
knew of, so we took him, me and my
John, and we've kept him ever since,
"Do you still intend to keep him ?"
asked Eelen.
"We can't ma'am. We're poor,
hard working folks, and we've got five
children of our own. John had bad
fall last week, he eau get about the
house, but the doctor said he won't be
able to work all winter. 1t don't stand
to reason as we could keep an extra
one, and do just to the rest, does 1t
ma am ?" +,
mo, indeed" returned Helen, po-
litely. .H
"Ehat's what taking me to town, to-
day." returned the woman. 1--WE hated
to do it, me and John did, but we
didn't see no other way to do it, so I'm
taking him to the Orphan Asylum. Do
you think they'll be good to him ma amp
A thought which had struggled in
Helen's heart for the last few minutes
found expression now.
81 don't know" she said eagerly
'but do know some one who would!
You say you are poor-I am rich am
widowed and childless. have lately
lost my husband and my little Eddie,
and l am alone and lonely. Give me
your little Eddie, and l will love him,
and be good to him, and bring him up
as my own child"
''Are you In earnest, ma'am?" asked
the county woman.
"Indeed | am He looks like my
lost Eddie-That is what first made me
notice him-and it seems as if heaven
had sent him to me. He is my Christ
mas present Oh, do let me have
him 20
II can't say no, ma'am. | am sure
he will have happy home with you, "
replied the woman earnestly.
go with me and see" cried Helen.
"YOpI John will approve, l am sure.
Please tell me your name?''
Reynolds is my name" ;u.
"Mlne is Livingstone. Now, Mrs.
Reynolds, you shall go home with me.
It is not near the distance it is out to
the Orphan Asylum, and you shall see
how will do for little Eddie. Oh, l
am so happy to have himv'
So when Mrs. Liyingstons's carriage
met her at the station, she took Mrs.
Reynolds aud little Eddie TO her hand
some home.
When Mrs. Reynolds returned home
Helen sent her 10 the station in her car
riage again, to save her the long walk.
"Come to see Eddie whenever you
like" she said as they parted, for
Helen had no false pride, about her
she was too true lady for that land
will bring him to see you. I don't
want him to forget his first kind ben
factors. And tere," slipping tiny
roll into Mrs. Reynolds hand, otis
a little Christmas present for John and
The children"
And when Mrs. Reynolds looked at
the little "Christmas present" Sue
found it was hundred dollar bill.
And so that Christmas Eve golden
curly head rested on the empty crib
pillow in Helen LiyingstoneS room.
And the next morning two littc stuffed
stockings hung over the table, loaded
with Christmas toys.
While Helen herself was so bright
and happy that when Sister Sue and
Aunt Rachel came to see the little
stranger. of whose arrival Helen had
sent them word, they stood astonished
at the transformation.
"You see, Helen" said Aunt Rachel
"That | was not wrong when | told
you if you tried to do right you would
be sure to be happy"
"A story entitled "Hell on the Wa
bash" is to be published in the Cincin.