Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-08-01


when he had any shared his dinner often
with NANCY, dirty cur, who, acted as q
sort of escape valve for the ill>tcmpe. of
half the men and women in tho street
and he reused Pat Ryan from his MD
night snooxe in the gutter, and literally
carried him home to. Norah and the chill
dren. M .ss5-sst = 80: =, 4, - !: Ii = i
AS for honesty, as q neighbor remarked,
''If he found five shilings in the streets.
he'd wear out ten. shillings worth of
strength and shoe leather to find the own
err" - -
One cold, dark night, Paul was return
ing from his work, withsa loaf of bread
under one arm and a violin under the
other. and nearly fell over small object
cIouched on the step. ~, ..:...f
ssBless us' what's this?'' cried Paul,
striving to regain his equilibrium.
"Only me, sir!' and the. small object
stood up,and became avery pale, thin and
ragged child.
care You hurt, little girl?'
mo, SIR
What are you doing here in the cold?'
"Nothing.' ~ f,:t't :: =. !
why don: you g go home?" ,,'' =. :
II amt got any"
"'Dear me! Where's your mother;" .,
I'm heayen." * - ~: '!:...:>
At this Paul was dumfounded, and see
ing that great tears we're stealing down the
the childss wan face, he thrust. the violin
under the arm which had held the bread,
and, putting the other around the tiny
figure, he said, "Oh, I've got a home, a
real jolly place! Come up and see.''
And this is the way old Paul came to
have neatlittle housekeeper, and to be
buying calico gowns and shoes out of his
poor salary.
People wondered at the sight of this
bent old man. hitherto alone and uncared
for, now walking daily to his work with
his hand upon the shoulder of the odd
yet pretty faced girl, looking at her with
honest pride frightening his eyes, and
laughing as loud as she whenever the
joke came in. But old Pail looked TN
| concerned, evaded the questions of the
curious, and learned to love nothing in
this world better than the little waif,
Camilla.
There were many, many days when
rheumatism drew Paul up by the fire. in
the old back attic, and drew the very last
penny ont Of the dilapidated purse; but
brave little Camilla, never forgetting how
near death she had been on that bitter
night of their meeting, always found a
| word to ward off hunger, and courage to
keep them both bright until help came
The winter Of 1885, come in like a lion
a many poor wretch we'll remembers,
and with the blast come Paul's. enemy
| He turned, one night, a sad face from
! his warm corner in Bertman s shop among
the violins, and 5hobbled :. up tue cold
street, feeling the approach Of the old
rheumatic pains, and wondering VIVA,
His excitement carried him up to the
last flight Of stairs, and, hearing Catiilla's
voice, he paused to rest and to listen.
She was singing in that. sweet and OK
pressive manner that made her voice
seemed to him the sweetest and and purest
he had ever heard. At the end Of another
stanzar he took breath, and another voice
said: ;,..sr. csr.t<-..r crxg
am poor judge of music, ora else your
voice is the finest ever heard. You are
right in preferring its cultivation to any
thing else.' '''>
An electrict thrill shot through old
Pauls frame, and ,quickened his blood
to rapidity that quite carried: away his
rheumatic pains, and in a twinkling he
was up stairs and in his little attic.
He was terrified at thesthe sound of a
voice; but the sight Of a handsome and
polished gentleman, with diamonds in
his snowy linen, a heavy ring upon his
dainty white hand.- unQuestionable
broadcloth upon bis back, in close con-
versation with Camilla, whose wondrous
beauty had of late startled even his dull
perception, was more than Paul could
He was. aver5 small man had been in
his youth-and now that Times wither-
ing fingers had touched him, he was
shriveled and dried, like withered fruit,
but in his virtuons indignation he puffed
gut to its fullest extent, and in a falsetto
vice pipes, "camilla, how e. dare ypu l: in
vite anyone to come bere?' -.
.Oh, Uncle PAUL." This is Mr.. Claver
ing the gentleman ose-whose-"t
.Ha.Whose mother she saved from death.
Your niece, sir, lev, days since was
passing through our crowded thorough
sfare, whdn ii ln dthsrh earrria4e drew np;
TO the pavement. The horses were FESTIVE,
and bidding the driver attend to them,
she began. to. .descena 4 qInassisted. Her
foot was on the step, when the animals
sprang forward and flung her violently
from her fopth0lt. But for the sudden
act Of your niece, who received my moth
ler IN her strong, young arms, the 4 fall
might have proved fatal one. Is.came.
TO day at my mothers earnest request,
70 express 'heaftfslt gratitude, and to-
offer q ..tss
: ousneedn't soffer Camilla penny, SIR
She'll never suffer while I've pair sof
hands to work for herr said PAIL, 4if.
ssfs You mistake me. do not wish to
Insult you, but would raise this child from
poverty and would educate her, that she
might be Of use to- o,u Bud tbs herself, ana
become refined woman. Don't let YOUR
self leg6s staad in1 ypur.l light, and shut it,
AutfrUmslf her, g She sings like a jp,ririas
donna, ANA wished ID study music w
I@Tk rl,n M u, Z = IN