Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-05-01

She could not help speaking to the
child, and trying TO win 1t to her, and
presently she had him upon her knee.
What is your little boys naneF
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 tile woman.
'Ahv commented Helen, interested
at once.
No ma'am, he's not mine. His
mother was a widow, and came to
Brookvllle, where l hye, year ago
next March. She was very poor, and
she had q little house right next to U.S.
and tried to make her living with her
needle. But she .nade her death, ma
am. that's what she made-and we
couldn't bear to see the little chap suf-
fer. and him not a friend in the world,
a. we knowed OF, so We took him, me
and my John, and we'vc kept him ev'
er since
DO YOU still intend to keep him J
asked Helen.
We can't ma'am. We're poor, hard
working folks, and we've got five chill.
dreu of our own. John had bad fall
last week-he can get about the house.
but the doctors say he won't be able to
work a lick thi, winter. It don't stand
10 reason that we could keep an extra
one, and be just to the rest, does it,
ma'amv
No, indeed returned Helen, polite
lJ.
That's what's taking me to the city
to-day returned the woman. We ha-
ted to do it, me and John did, awful
bad, but We didn't see no other way to
do, so I'm a taking him to the Orphan
Asylum. Do you think they'll be good
to him, na'an 2
A thought which had struggled in
Helen's heart for the last few minutes
found expression now.
L don't know she said, eagerly, but
I do know some one who would You
say you are paor-I am rich. and | AM
widowed and chlldless. l have lately
lost my husband and my little Eddie
and am alone and lonely. Give me
YOUR little Eddie, and | will love him
aud be good to him, and bring him up
as my own childP
Are YOU in earnest, ma'am p asked
the country woman.
'Ind.ed am He looks like my losI
Eddie-that is what 6rst made me no.
tics him and it seems to me a. i
Heaven had sent him to me. He is my
Christmas present. Oh, do let me have
himn
i can't say no, ms'am. am sur,
he will have a happy home with you,
replied the woman.
Go with me and sse!' cried Helen
Your John would approve, am sure
Please tell me your name
Reynolds 10 my name
Mine is Livingstone. New, Mrs
Reynolds you shall 60 home with me
II is not near the distance it is out tt
the Orphan Asylum, and you shall SCI
what | will do for little Eddie. Oh,
am so happy to have him!' And al
Helen hugged the child to her silkeI
bosom, she did, indeed, feel that hi
was, in some measure, her lost Eadi'
restored.
So when Mrs. Livinsstone's elegan
carriage met her on the city side of tin
ferry. ,hc took Mrs. Reynolds and llttl
Eddie to her handsome home. AM
ever dainty dinner, which Helen or
dered, they made all arrangements ant
plans for little Edde's transfer to HI
new home.
For Helen proposed to adopt an'
educate HIM as her own son, with he
ewn name, taking pride in the Though
that. after all, an Edward Livingston
might bear the name, and wear tn
wealth and houors Of the family.
When Mrs. Reynolds returned home
Helen sent her to the ferry in her car
rage again to save her the leng walk
Come to see Eddie whenever yo
like she said, as they parted, for He
len had no false pride about her-sh
was too true lady for that-'and l wi
bring him to see you. do want hin
10 see you. / don't want him to forge
his kind benefactors. And here slip
ping a tiny roll into Mrs. Reynold'
nands. is a little Christmas present 10
John and the children
And when Mrs. Reynolds looked
the little Christmas present, she foun
it was a crisp, new hundred-doll'
bill.
And 80 that Christmas eve a golds
curly head rested on the empty cri
pillow 10 Helen Livingstone's room.-
Aud the next morning two little stuff,
stockings hung over the table losds
with Christmas toys.
4 While Helen herself was so bright an
happy that, when sister Sue and Aur
Rachel came in to see the little stral
ger, of whose arrival Helen had sci
them word, they stood astonished
the transformation.
Thee sees, Helen, said Aunt Rache
that was not wrong when told tn