Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-03-23

-.
She could not help speaking to the
child, ard trying to win it to her, aud
presently she had him upon her knee
"What is your little boys name ?" she
said. addressing the woman.
eddie. Hamllton,' 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 the woman.
'-Ah '" commented Helen, interested
once
mo, ma'am, he's not mine. His
mother was widow, and came 20 where
lived a year ago come next March. She
was very poor, and she had little house
next to us, and tried to make her living
with her needle. But she made her
death. ma'an, that's what she made
and we couldn't bear to see the little
chap suffer, and him not friend i'm the
world. as we know of, so we took him,
me and my John, aud we've kept him
ever since.
do you still intend to keep him p
! asked Helen.
I'VE can't ma'am. We're poor, hard
working folks, and we've got five chill
10 IL
last week; he can get about the house,
but the doctors say he won't be able TO
work at all this winter. 1t don't stand
to reason as we could keep an extra one.
aud be just to the rest. does il, ma'am Z"
NO indeed" returned Helen, politely.
"That's what's taking me to town to-
day. returned the woman. 1--WE hated
10 do it, me and John did, but we don't
otl, a. Ii.
him to the orphan asylum. Do you
A thought which had struggled in
Helen's heart for the last few minutes
found expression now.
u don't know" she said eagerly; shut
do know some one who would You
widowed and childless, l have lately
lost my husband and my little Eddie, and
l am alone and lonely. Give me your
little Eddie. and will love him ana be
good to him, and bring him up us my
own child"
s.Are YOU in earnest, ma'am?" asked
the country woman.
Indeed I am. lie looks like my lost
Eddie-that is what made me first no.
tice bim-and il seems to me as ii heaven
His Stitt Htiu ~ uiC. TIC 10 LII ShiA>tLA0S
present. Oh, do let me have him ~
Il can't say no, ma'am. am sure he
will have happy home with you,' re-
piled the woman earnestly.
go with me and see ~ cried Helen
Your John would approve. am sure.
Please tell me your name 2"
Reynolds IS my name"
sMine is Livingstone. Now. Mrs.
l.,lI "a, n
Is not near the distance it is out to the
orphan asylum. and you shall sec how l
will do for little Eddie. Oh, l am SO
happy to have him.
So, when Mrs. LivingstCne's carriage
Reynolds aud little Eddie to her hand
some home.
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 l will
bring him to see you. don't want him
to forget his first kind benefactOrs. Ard
here" slipping Il tiny roll into Mrs. Rey-
nOlds' hands, lis a Christmas present tor
John and the children"
And when Mrs. Reynolds looked at the
''liLtle Christmas present." she found
that it was hundred dollar bill.
And so that Christmas eve golden
curley head rested on the empty crib pill |
low i'll Helen Livingssone's room. And
the next morning two little stuffed stock |
ings hung over the table. loaded with |
Christmas toys.
While Helen herself was so bright and |
happy that, when sister Sue ana Aunt
Rachael came in to Sec the little stranger |
OF whose arrival Helen had sent them |
word, they stood astonished at the trans
formation.
You see, Helen," said Aunt Rachael, |
''thar was not wrong when told you |
if you tried TO do right you would be
sure to be happy.