River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-10-17

{
contents of my pocket book.
1.-THE girl shan't go until I hear from
you, SIR she said Indeed, 1 don
know whether she would go. She seems
friendless; and such a child for her age
Thank you, SIR"
And went on my way again, thinking
not OF Aletta, but of the dead fiddler's
grandchiId-the sun Drowned waif, so
simple and ignorant and 1riendless and
alone.
! | was young yet--not five and twenty
"a bachelor, and likely to be one my
| life long had no proper home to take
/ her to, and no friend to aid me. At last,
in my extremity, thought of Betty-ol1
Betty, who had once been my nurse, and
who loved me as she might her own son
and in the cleaning made nay way
/ to her poor home. l found her trim
ming her vines in the bit OF garden
ground, and had my usual kiss across the
garden fence even before the gate was
| opened.
"I've been thinking of you" she said
81 knew it was YOU as soon as | heard
gentleman would weary himself coming
TO see an old lady like me. Sit down,
honey, and rest"
Il came to ask favor, Betty"
"Just name it, Master Berthe"
"Will you take boarder, Bette"
Bless me in n two Tooms2"
"Only child, Betty"
"a child, Master Alberto
l told her of the fddler's death, and of
the girl.
Il have money enough" I said, "but
no female relative. l can only come
to you"
s.You always were kind hearted from a
how" she said. en- take the little girl,
Master Berthe
Then she put both hands on my Shout
ders.
'.You haven't fretted, have you?' she
asked.
"Fretted2 Why2" ] asked.
"Nay, why indeed?n SAID old Betty.
Better fish IN the sea than ever were
caught yet" Then in a moment more
she added, "Ive been TO see the we'd
dirg"
felt my face flush.
"Shall bring the girl tomorrow after
her giandfather's funeral?' I asked.
"When you please" said Betty.
"But Master Albert, what Go you mean
to do with her? You are doing ali this in
hurry. Just think bit"
81 am going to adopt the child"
Iaid. at will make me happy to have a
young thing to care for.
Betty laughed.
you'll have young things OF your
own, please God, some day." she said.
"Why, at your age, life is before YOU"
II shall never marry" ! said.
"She caught my fingers in close grasp
with her horny Woodworking hand.
81 wish you was back again baby on
my knee, master Berthe, she said. I'd
like to sing you to sleep as I dId then.
All its grief to us old women to see
the Young we've nursed grow up so tall
and old, with their troubles to shut up in
their own hearts that we can't comfort
them Going2 Well, then good night!
I'm ready ior anything that will cheer
YOU, Master BERTHE. / ought to say Mas
ter Albert always, now, l suppose, but
the old times do come back sou
[ left her leaning over her gate looking
wist!uliy at me, knowing as a mother
night have known the grief which | had
buried in my heart. And if her words
had given me pain. il was like some ONT
ment which makes the wound smart in
lis very healing. 1t was something to be
loved so well, even by the old nurse.
Late the next day | led my young
charge from her grandfather's grave TO
Betty's cottage. She kept my hand upon
the road as little child might. rad no
thought but that she was one, until old
Bettv's cry of Goodness, Master BERTHE,
l though you said young child Why,
this is grown girl!' startled me into
consciousness.
1T doesn't matter, does it Bettya" I
asked. She turned 70 the girl
"Ta6e off your bonnet" she said lit
tie grimly. ~ want to look at you.
What is your namef'
She obeyed. I'm only Nellie Hay"
she said. and stood to be looked at. Betty
looked sternly at first, then pittyingIy.
La, no! Master BERTHE, it don't mat
ter she said. Il don't see any harm in
her ''Tnere's peg behind the door,
child. You can hang your bonnet on
that" Aud left the two together.
Not long, though; every day found
some rev errand 10 take me to the cot
tage. pnt on elderly airs, and gave
advice. had sent to school, and went
through grave examinations on Saturday
afternoons. | told Bette that when |
was IA man of middle age | should take
my little daughter home, and she should
keep house for us. And began to fancy,
very soon, that there could be no such
happiness as that a parent felt The girl
was growing tall, and | was only ten
wears older than she was; but when she
checked Ter light tread to keep pace with
me, when the childish laugh dubbed
and rippled at something which conld
only make me smile. / telt that years
are not the only things which age US.
was working hard at my profession,
100. l had hand and heart full, In a
wear l found / couli pass Aletta on her
husband 5 arm without a pang. In year
more wondered whether she had really
changed, or whether ITsncied black cutls
more than I did golden bands, for l
found myself thinking my little daughter
much the pretdest.
In the sultry summer evenings | used
20 leave red tape and parchment aud go
OUT to Betty's cottage to have tea with
my adopted child. Then, while she pol
ished up the cups, Nellie Hay and fused
10 walk down TO the river side. Tall as
She was growing, had way OF holding
her hand still; and we had such pleasant
talks, such unworthy chatter! These
walks and simple tea drinkings rested
he brain, wearied with law business,
quarrels and bubbles and stratagems,
saore than can tell
The rough hands had grown softer now,
the waist taper, the bust full. The sweep
Of woman's robes, the tread of woman's
! hight. she'd feet, had taken the place of
clumping leather boots and scant cotton
skirts.
knew this, but Nellie was a child 10
me all the same. Was l not by adoption
her father2 Had not my early grief and
+ the staff on which l leaned aged me be
/ ioIe my time2 OF course she always
would seem young to me; and why felt
/ SO angry if by chance some gay young
/ farmer chaIted with her over tbs fence,
/ or some neighbor saw her home from
church. I could not tell. AN old mans
temper, suppose" l said, ana sighed
/ like young one.
7 So three years passed. AT the end o.
mat time Allettas husband died. They
had quarreled. and she had made him
wolully jealous, it is said, and all his
| property save mere pittance vas wllled