Middletown transcript., 1877-03-31

the drover went on, quite lost in adm
:, ration of this brave little soul, and Lo
tie began to look about her
The noise of the streets, the hurry
ing, jostling throngs, the cries an
clamor OF the news venders and stree
!, merchants disconnected her little l
all her life she had never seen such be
wilderingly beautiful things as the sho
3 windows displayed 1t was as good a
a trip into fairy land, and a thrill Q
genuine pleasure caused her for mo
ment to forget the responsibility Of th
errand she had taken upon herself
It was a long time before she fount
the location she desired, and then, poo
child, she fingered about the door will
the sensitive fear of novice. She haC
pictured to herself SO terrible an object
terrible mainly because Of the dignity
and power with which she had invested
the skillful oculist, who could do, i
seemed to her almost what he would
with disease-she had SO pictured him
say. that the thought Of meeting such
embodied, probably, in the
form of tall, princely parsonage, who
would scarcely deign to look upon her
caused her poor little heart to throb
almost to sufocation At last she sum-
moned sufficient courage to pull the
door-be A handsome, motherly-
looking woman opened the door, for the
doctors servant who usually attended
to that duty. was busy putting the doc
tors horse in harness.
Il don't think the doctor can see you
now, little girl, said the housekeeper,
looking somewhat disdainfully upon the
small figure and the homely cap-bonnet,
in whose darkening shadow the soft
brown eyes we're almost hidden from
sight.
"Oh, please let me speak to him just
a moment l came all the way from
Thornville, and have not any where
to 60"
She burst into tears The sob and
the pathos of the cbild's heart bad pen
etrated into the interior of the house.
"Who is it, Mrs Sanderson ?" spoke
up sipgularly manly voice, as some
one crossed the hall.
"Only a little girl, sir She's come
a good distance, she says, but as it is
after hours, | thought"
"Never mind, let her come in !: I'll
give her a minute or two"
Another second, and Lottie, her brain
all in Whirl, found herself breathless
and trembling in bright looking room,
standing in the presence of a slender,
light haired gentleman, whose smiling
eyes, like two benignant suns, seemed
to send light and cheer into the poor,
cold, frightened little heart
"Well, anything the matter with your
eyes, little woman? Come here and let
me see"
Lottie, too much frightened to speak,
went forward mechanically.
"They don't like it. Suppose you
take off your bonnet, and let me exam
inc them more closely"
1T isn't my eyes, sir it's mothers,
she said, falteringly.
"Oh, and who is mother ?"
"It is Mrs Gaddis, sir; and we live
iu Thornville."
"We do but that is long distance
from here"
"Only few miles, sir l walked in
since yesterday"
"Walked ?-come in, John, in few
he added, as the servant
came to the door. "Did you say you
walked ?"
eyes, sir. | felt SO bad for mother,
because she can't sew any more, and
hats the way she earns our living.
For Betty is lame in the hip and can't
20 out to service, and mother, now she
,an't see very well, cries a good deal to
hink she can't work, and that makes
Ter eyes worse. I thought if you'd give
ne something for them that would cure
Ter | would thank you so much, and if
7ou would please wait till | am grown
lp | would surely pay you the money
or i'll would be certain to pay you
very cent "
The doctor looked her all over, from
be curly crown to the coarse shoes, all
Iusty and travel-worn Then some
hing came into his eyes which be wink
d away, and be put his hand on the
hild's head
You're a very brave little girl" be {
aid, and that was all She dared not
aise her eyes to his face, while be drew
n his long riding-gloves She did not I
ee the pressure of his lips, and then
be half-amused smile that curled them {
s be looked forward to the growing up
the mite who stood trembling before
i'm. q
Come p be said in voice that made /
er start and thrill to the heart with c
", though she did not know why I
Iut she looked up and saw that he was O
loving toward the door G
Pm going to see your mother" be
aid, smiling like prince, and o what
leasant eyes be had ! They seemed as
hey might look life into poor eyes that c
iere dead. t
"Seven years ago." be said, II was i
] Thornville, and wearied out with c
cry long walk l was student then, a
nd stopped at cottage door and |,
ested. A sweet-faced woman, with a
tile girl in her arms, gave me some
ool fresh milk to drink Who knows
ut it was your mother ?" D
He took her hand in bis, and to the b
lrprise of the portly hOusekeeper. led o
.s little girl, with her homely frock :
nd her old sun bonnet, to his wide, tt
lbstantial buggy. Then, placing her A
lrefully upon the seat, he got in be- t,
de her, and they went off together
The afternoon sun sent his mild b
cams over the country lanes and fields, j
hon ~ lnek l;tt1o 7 ott;a L. .oLa-..