American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-12-21

Mr.. Winnerton was gentleman, and
your true-hearted gentleman would not
willingly wound fly. He chatted a
few MOMENT, with Mrs. Dooley, petted
the little girl, and at last left, after put
ting five dollar bill on the table, as a
birthday present for little Norah
Z" Her birthday has passed, your hon.
or" said Mrs. Dooley, in her straight
forward fashion.
"Then keep it for the next, Mrs.
Dooley; or spend it in ministering to
your patient" said Mr.. Winnsrtcn, as
he bounded up the steps, glad to get
! out of the damp, sickening atmosphere
There was much to tell his wife,
when he reached home; and many
plans were discussed to help the fam
lily of Sandy, before one was decided
upon. The first question wasi Gould
the sick man be moved to more
comfortable placer The doctor said
yes, and in less than week he was rest
ing comfortably in sweet, clean room
OF the city hospital. Mrs. Dooley did
not like to give We har charge; but she
we: persuaded to do so when told it was
for his good, and she was soon consoled
by an invitation to work for q week at
Mrs. Winnerton's, getting ready for the
holidays. OF course, Norah went with
her-bright little Norah, with her pref
ty face and modest manners. And
Sandy was there, too; for Mr.. Winner
ton had suddenly discovered a great
scarcity of wood in his shed, and Grand
MA Winhertoh must have wood fire
in her room, f" if 1t took her last can't
What grand times thrphad In the
kitchen, nights,--sith the cook and
they told stories and
I~ugned, while the children kept Norah
upstairs; and every body declared it
was nicer to live just little way out of
town, and then people could stay all
night. The Dooleys were to stay over
Christmas; and one day Sandy and the
children were going tor tree, taking
an open wagon to bring. it home in. 1t
was lovely morning when they Lett the
house for their ride of five mil s, and
every body was in high glee; for Mrs.
Winnerton went too, to keep the chill
dren in order, and little Norah sat close
by her side.
At last they came to the woods, and
every one began searching for pretty
tree, for there was no snow ON the
ground, and it was great fun to run
about and hear the leaves rustic.
Norah was delighted. Sometimes
she screamed with pleasure, and again
she would sit, apparently thinking.
Once, when she had been quite long
time pulling leaves to pieces, Mrs. Win
merton asked, kindly, "what the was
thinking OFF"
did just SO once BEFORE" said the
child. "Onee with Mamma. And l
had a papa then-a big, long while
ago."
"Where, dear?"
81 don't know where. But it was
all pretty, like this; and 1 had wee, tiny,
tiny lights on table; and so many
people came; and there was a Christ
mas-tree; and somebody sang-I guess
it was Mamma. Mamma .Dooley says
my own Mamma was a sweet singer "
Scan you remember more about
your mamma and papas" asked Mrs
Winnerton, more interested than she
ca ed to show.
"Only Papa was tall, and had pretty
buttons on his coat and he went away
once, and came back; and he went away
again, and didn't come; and Mamma
was sick. And then lived with Sandy
and Mamma Dooley."
"Thank you, dear. But tell me, did
Mamma call you NorahP'
mamma called me sweet and
'Pet,' and Papa called me Lily Lily
just like music.''
By that time Sandy had the tree cut
down, and the children wore watching
him get it to the wagon, and were won
dering where and how they could sit
without breaking the pretty branches,
That night Ms. Winnerton called
Ms: Dooley into her room and asked
her about Norah.
'It's little to tell, and not satisfyin'
to hear, mum; for can never just fix
it in my own mind. You see, when l
first see the lady she was sick, and she
used to get me to do errands for her
selling her pretty trinkets, and the like,
to get her a bit of coal or a sup to
drink. And never thought of her dy-
in, until one mornin' went up to see
would she drink some hot tea before she
tried to get up. And there she lay,
with the child on her arm, a-sleepin'
sweet as you please, an she cold and
still, my lady. 1t would have broke
your heart to see her, the poor dear
and all could do was to take the little
one and bury her mother decent. She
was quality, my lady-that am sure
of; for her clothes was beautiful. And
when laid her out there was locket
on her breast, with two pictures in it;
and tied to the string was a little card,
which Sandy read out to NE (for Sandy
has a bit of learnin', you know, and it
said: please, kind stranger, sell this,
and bury me properly NJ. H. S.
There was two pictures in it, and l
thought they would be Of no account to
the jewellers; so, took them out and
sold the gold part. And we buried her
decent, the poor soul; and her pretty
clothes is all saving for her child -
"Will you let me have the picturesP"
asked Mrs. Winnerton.