The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-07-11

wealth afforded her large means o
doing good, and for that she woulC
try 10 live.
A few months later the cold win
ter snow had covered Eddie and hi
father with a robe of spotless white
and it was near the happy Christ
mastide.
More than one humble home il
the great city had been frightened
by Helen's generous Chistmas gifts
and she began to take some pleasur,
in these pleasant duties.
The day before Christmas she hat
word of an aged and bedridden rela
tive across the river on the jersey
side and she at once went over tC
see her.
AS she stepped upon the ferry
boat to return, she found it very
crowded and with difficulty got /;
seat next to plain, neat country
woman who had with her little fel
low of five or six years, and Helen's
heart thrilled as she looked at the
little face with its bright blue eye:
and golden hair, for it bore quite {
resemblance to the dear face OF bel
lost Eddie.
She could not help speaking tC
the child, and trying to win it tc
her and presently she had him upon
her knee.
What is your little boys namei
she said, addressing the woman.
Eddie Hamilton, said the strang,
er, with sigh, and Helen's heart
thrilled again at the familiar name.
But he's an orphan, continued the
woman.
ALI commented Helen, interested
at once.
No, ma'am, he's not mine. His
mother was a widow, and came to
little Brookville, where l live, a year
ago next March. She was very
poor and she had little house right
next to us, and tried to make her
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
not a friend in the world as we
knowed of so, we took him, me and
my John, and we've kept him ever
since.
Do you still intend to keep him
asked Helen.
We can't, nam. We're poor
hard working folks, and we've got
five children of our own. John had
a bad fall last week-he can get
about the house, but the doctors say
he won't be able to work lick this
winter. 1t don't stand to reason
that we could keep an extra one,
and be just to the rest, does it,
ma'am?
No indeed, returned Helen polite
ly.
That's what's taking me to the
city to day, returned the woman.
We hated to do it, me and John did
awful bad, but we didn't see no 9TH
er way to do, so Pm a taking him
to the Orphan Asylum. Do you
think they will be good to him,
ma 'am.
A thought which had struggled
in Helen's mind for the last few
found expression now.
l don't know, she said, eagerly,
but l do know some one who would.
You say you are poor-I am rich,
and l am widowed and childless. 1
have lately lost my husband and my
little Eddie, and am alone and very
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 country woman.
Indeed l ami He looks like my
lost Eddie-that is what first made
me notice him-and it seems to me
as if Heaven had sent him to me.
He is my Christmas present. Oh
do let me have him!
1 can't say no, ma'am. / am sure
he will have happy home with you,
replied the woman.
Go with me and see cried Helen,
Your John would approve, 1 am sure.
Please tell me your name.
Reynolds is my name.
Mine is Livingston. Now, Mrs.
you shall go home with
me. 1t is not near the distance it is
out to the Orphan Asylum, and you
see what 1 will do for little Eddie.
Oh, 1 am so happy to have him.
And as Helen hugged the child to
her silken bosom, she did, indeed,
feel that he was, in some measure,
her lost Eddie restored.
So when Mrs Livingston's ele-
CANT carriage. met her on the city
side of the ferry, she took Mrs.
and little Eddie to her
handsome home. And over a dain-
ty dinner, which Helen ordered,
they made all arrangements and
plans for little Eddie's transfer to
his new home.
For Helen proposed to adopt and
educate him as her own son, with
her own name, taking pride in the
tho't that, after all, an Edward Liv
Ingston might bear the name, and
wear the wealth and honors of the
family.
When Mrs. Reynolds returned
home Helen sent her to the Terry in
her carriage 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 a lady for that
and will bring him to see you.
l don't want him to forget his kind
And here, slipping a
tiny roll into Mrs Reynolds han DIS,
is little Christmas present for John
and the children.
And when Mrs. Reynolds looked
at the little Christmas present she
found it was q crisp, new hundred
dollar bill.
And so that Christmas eve a gold
en- curly head rested on the empty
crib pillow in Helen Livingston's
room. And the next morning two
little 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 in to see the lit
a., r,baea arrival TIa4av,