The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-11-01

1.-The disappointment is too much fol
her. Wcso hoped to find my grandson
did not reply. The delirious raw.
ings of the child were still ringing in
my ears as he pleaded with the harsh
grandmother and aunt. did not be.
lieve the old lady's statement, but, hav.
ing no proof to the contrary, was forced
to accept it.
Long after my visitors had departed
the beautiful blonde still trembling anC
white, mother and / talked OF theil
strange conduct.
ut is evident they wish to deny tho
child" said.
IL am glad of it, mother replied
1--WE will keep him, John. He shall
have Il grandma to love, not one t.
fear"
SO the summer and early autumn
wore away, and Freddie was dear to us
as if he had claim to kinship. His rare
beauty. his precocious intellect and his
loving heart had completed the fascina-
ton commenced by our pity for his sui.
fering weakness and loneliness. He
called us "Grandma" and "Uncle
john and clung to us with the most
affectiOnate caresses.
We tried in vain, from his childish,
prattle, to gain some clue to his parent
age or relatives. He told us his papa
had gone "far, far off, and mamma
had ''gone to papa;' SO we concluded
he was IN orphan, and often heard
mother telling him of the beautiful
Heaven where his parents waited for
their little boy.
Of his grandmother and Aunt Lucy
he spoke with shrinking fear, and
seemed to have an equal dread of Susan,
whom we Judged to be the nurse.
Susan was talking to a tall man, he
told us. who boxed his ears and told
him to go home, when, trying to escape,
he ran under the horses hOOfs and was
hurt.
Being blessed with ample means,
mother and l had quite decided to
formally adopt pretty Freddie when he
had been 4 little longer unclaimed in
our house. The convalescence of the
child requiring fresh air without too
much exercise, l made Il habit of TAX
ing him with me in my daily drives to
visit my patients.
Dennis. my coachman. was very fond
of Freddie, and very useful; so was not
afraid to leave my little charge with
him while l was indoors, and he was
very happy chatting with the good
natured Irishman. and waiting my
coming.
1t was early in November, and mother
had dressed Freddie for the first time
in a iaunty suit of velvet, with dainty
velvet cap over his brown curls, when
one morning sent him out with Den
mis- until | was ready to start. Looking
out, saw him standing on the pave
ment, giving Nat, my horse. Il long
carrot he had procured, in the kitchen,
while Dennis stood near, guarding the
curly head from any mischief.
was making my final preparations
for departure, when heard piercing
scream under my window, and Dennis
saying. by jabers, she's tainted. the
crather!'
While Freddie cried, Mamma. pref
ty mammal.
l ran out hastily, to see an odd tab
leauN. Dennis was supporting in his
strong arms a slender figure in deep
mourning, half leaning on the shafts,
while Freddie chung to her skirt, sob
bling. "Mamma. mamma
a few passers-by stood near, making
various suggestions, and Nat looked
gravcly over Dennis shoulder, rs if he
could say great deal if he had the in
clination.
Bring her in, Dcnnis,' said.
''Ill do that same, sur was the re-
ply, as Dennis lifted the 1.-THE figure,
like 4 feather-weight. and crossing the
pavement, came into the surgery. |
shut out the curious people who fol-
lowed, and Freddie chung fast to the
black dress, never ceasing his loud
cries of Oh. mamma! 1t is my man.
ma come home to Freddie. Mamma
pretty mammal
The sound rang through the house,
reaching my mothers ears, rs she sat
in her room. She came hrrrying down
the stairs and entered the surgery Just
as Dennis deposited his burden in an
armchair. COmprehending the situa-
ton at Il glance, mother tenderly re-
moved the Grape veil and bonnet, loos-
ening Il shower of brown curls round a
marble-white face. still insensible.
"You see, sur said Dennis, MAS
ter Fri,ldie had Just given the horse the
last of the carrot. and war running up
and down, when the poor crather threw
up her veil, gave one screech, and
would have fallen to the ground if the
shafts and hadn't cotched her atween
us. Do you think, sur, it s his mothery'
At this moment the stranger opened
a pair OF large eyes, as brown and soft
as Fredtlie's own, and murmured, in Il
faint voice: Freddie! Did | see my
bov?"
Then her eyes fell upon the child, and
in a moment she was on her knees be-
fore him. clasping him to her heart,
kissing him, and sobbing over him. till
mother broke out crying, too, and Twas
Obliged to assume my professional ex-
preston by mere force of will.
''Come, come,' said, gently.
Freddie has been very i'll, and cannot
bear so much excitement
This quoted the mother in an instant,
and she rose, still holding the child S
hand in her own.
lit is my boy" she said, looking into
my face.
Freddie asked. "is this man.
MAJ
YES" said the little fellow, deci-
dedly, ''of course it is. My own pref
ty mamma, come from Heaven
She reeled back at the innocent
words, and would have fallen had not
caught her, and put her once more in
the armchair.
"Come from Heavenr' she repeated,
with ashy lips and gasping breath.
''They told me he was dead. My boy,
my Fretldie-that he was run over and
killed. The nurse saw him fall under
the horses feet
''But you see he was not killed."
mother said, ina gentle tone, "but is
well and strong again"
And then, motioning me to keep
silent, mother told the story of the
child's injuries and recovery, of his
winning way and our love for him.
"And you kept him and nursed