The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-04-11

what will become of him. 1 watched until
the good sister opened the door and took
him in, and ever since it has seemed as if
the light and life have been shut away from
me: my heart aches day after day for my
boy; he was mine, and he was as delicate
and pretty as anybody's, for his father was
handsome and educated, and he looked like
him-nothing like me. believe If he could
only have seen the baby once he would have
loved him, for he was so pretty in his ways,
but be is gone, and the baby is gone, and
am alone" Her face was like marble, ut
terly without a tint of coloring, deathly
pallor that overspread it. Il am saving
my money to buy him some clothes, and l
thought may be / could take them TO the
home, and give them to the sister for his
number, for the basket had number for
the next one put there; it was 499, and she
would give him the little dresses and sacks;-
he is six months old now. But l must 60"
'Rachel," and lifted the poor, sad face
closer to mine, ''you must not go, you must
stay right here with me. You are crushed
and suffering enough how: you must not go
out into the world again to be lost in the
crowd and either die of hunger and cold, or
go down into the depths. You shall watch
over my children; l can, do trust you
fully and completely, and no word of your
sad story shall ever pass my lips, nor shall
any reference ever be made to it unless you
desire it first will shield you and comfort
you, and with Gods pardoning love you
need fear nothing more. You have re-
pented; that is enough. Now you must enjoy
the peace of complete pardon" She was
too thankful for speech, but for the first
time she sang as she worked that afternoon.
1t was Harry's fayorite bedtime song, "Sim-
ply to Thy Cross Cling she repeated again
and again.
| The next morning l slipped away, with
full suit of Edith's baby clothes, and with
! the happiest heart | ever had | hurried to
the Foundlings' home. A pleasant, kindly
faced Sister of Charity met me and took me
to the parlor. A few words explained my
call, and waited impatiently as another ex-
amined the register for 499. Received
August 4th, died October 18th; clothing
awaiting demand" That was all. / was
stunned, as if the blow had fallen on me in
stead of my poor servant girl. "You see,
madam said the sister who had admitted
me, "the baby was delicate and had never
had proper food, and though we tried hard
we could not save him He was very pretty.
Will you take the clothes?" l bowed the
assent could not speak, and she returned
with the package labelled 499 A faded
shawl, some tiny underwear, pair of socks,
and thin calico slip. They were neatly
washed and ironed, but so suggestive were
they of the fragile form that they were pitt
full. pressed the clothing 1 had brought
upon her, left some money for the other for
saken waits, and went back to the aching
heart in my own home.
tried to tell her gently, but it was use
/ less; she suffered indescribable anguish. She
pressed the little worn clothing TO her heart
and hid her face in the tiny dress.
They were all she had left She moaned
and grieved, but wept not tear
as if her agony was too deep for that. MY
boy, my angel baby, gone without your
mothers kiss, without your mothers tears,
even. My poor little baby, my poor little
baby, wish was dead too" / saw could
not comfort her, her grief was too great, so /
called the children, and lifting Edith to her
lap, put Harry's arms around her neck and
left her to them, knowing that the childish
voices and love would soothe her aching
heart more than my words possibly could
L heard Harry telling her of his little sister
iR heaven, of the angels around the throne,
of Jesus and His love for the children, and
after while there was singing. / did not
call on Rachel for any work that day, but
| when the children were in bed she came to
me and said, so sadly: -T shall not grieve
for my baby again. had hoped to have had
him with me, but Jesus knew best. / can
not help sorrewing for him, but feel glad
he is safe. Now, if you please, ! would like
for you to take all of my wages and buy
clothes for the other children at the
home"
some one from Rachers old home came to
the city, recognized her. and industriously
spread the news of her past. Some of my
! friends Immediately called to warn NE and
insist on my sending her away. L only re-
piled: 'I have known this for weeks and
l have resolved to do what is right While l
deplore her sin, and recognize her fall as
much as you, can not believe it is right to
push her back into the darkness Just as she is
struggling into the light. 1 appreciate
her ruin the utter degradation of such a
creature, but also estimate truly her peni-
tence and reformation. / know in part her
( ignorance and her great temptation. and l
can only wonder that she did no worse.
What one woman can do to help uplift
arothar 7 gball frv IN aaoorn l;sb for pachal