Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-20

about 1t. remember that, and try 10 De
like-like my little fellow, poor laddie,
clean and good. Don't steal; try to get
work. Win you promised" EA
The waif said "yes SIR of course.
Then the captain led him to a cheap
eating house, and watched him eat until
his little stomach was no longer " hol-
ler.n
"You little wretch" he thought, as he
looked at him. "If l could see my boy
and him together now, what a contrast"
And he fancied his boy round and
white and pink, and fair of hair, like his
poor lost Ellen, and I know he said that
he would pity this poor fellow and be
kind to him. e a ~@ HE
The meal was over. The captain paid
for it, and then drew the boy between
his knees and lectured him. To be good
was to be happy. Honesty was the best
policy. Cleanliness came next to godlls
ness. These were the heads of his dis
course.
Then he gave nm halt crown, and
babe hlmago and be good and clean.
And the boy was off like a flash.
thousands just such as he in this
great city," sighed the good captain, and
he walked along. "Ah, meW
Then he went in search Of Mrs. Ann
Golden and his own fair darling.
But Mrs, Golden was not so easily
found as he had hoped. There was a
little shop in the house he bad been di-
rected to, and the keeper thereof said
that she had bought it of Ann Golden
"But havnt seen her SINCE" she said
"only there's a bit of card with her
number on it-that is, if I can find it,"
After search she did find it, and the
captain, thanking her hurried away, but
another disappointment awaited him.
Mrs. Golden had not lived in this
second place for years. She had moved
into Clumber row, but what number no
one could remember.
At Clumber row, whittier the captain
drove in cab, woman owned to having
had her for lodger. az . E
'She had a child staying with her,
too" she said. Little Ned she called
him; but to tell the truth, she drank SC
that / turned her out. I couldn't abide
such doings. She went to Fossil Lane
Nos.
To Fossil Lane the captain went. II
was filthy place, and there was drunk
en- woman at No. 8 who was not Ann
Golden, and who threw piece of WOOD
at him for asking for that lady. And
now every clue was lost, and the captain
nearly beside himself with anxiety, APP
piled to the authorities for help; and at
ter many days of great unhappiness he
heard of Ann Golden who lived in quar-.
ter of London so low and dangerous thai
all decent people Stunned it."
"No WONDER" the captain thought, ii
she lived there, that she should have haC
his remittances sent to the post-ofice, an6
lett him to believe that his child was still
in the decent home to which she had a
first taken him."
Almost ill with excitement, the poo
captain drove, with Iyoliceman as pro
tector, into the maze of hideous lanes
and courts that led to Ann Goldenf
dwelling, and, following his conductor
dropped into filthy cellar, where, amid
the horrible leakage of drain pipes ant
almost in utter darkness, sat an old won
an with bottle beside her, who started
up when the captain and his guard enter
ed, and cried: "What now? What's tn,
police here for? Is the boywantet
again?" s
And, altered as she was with years and
drink, the captain knew his wife's OLE
nurse. Ann Golden. He gave cry O
rage, and darted toward her.
MY boy?" he cried.
And she screamed, "It's the captain !
us my boy living?" he asked.
EYES," said the woman, shaking al
over, "he's alive and WELL"
"How dare you keep him here?" crie'
the captain. ..-..-....
"How can help being poor?" whine'
the woman. Il couldn't give up the bi
| you pay for him. I'm very old; I'm yer
i'll. Don't be hard on me-"
GOOD heavens!' cried the captain.
NY Ellen's baby in place like this
He dropped his head on his hands
then he lifted it and clasped them.
"I'll have him away from here now
he gasped. It's over, and he's youn
and will forget it. Where is he9 Hay
you lied? Is he dead?"
No, no." said the old woman. "He'
be here soon. Ihear him now. That
him. He'll be here in minute. Don
kill poor body, captain DON'T
ST could do it." cried the captain
Listen! There is some one comm.
MY child! My child !" -'
The door open softy, head peeped
low down, then drew back. sI7a
come in piped the old woma
The perlice arn't arter you-leastwa.
: for no harm. Captain that's him---yo1
, boy Ned"
: And as the captain stood with GU
, stretched arms there crept in at the do
; who? what? the The deformed an
dirty creature who rad picked his peck
-wnom he had fed for the sake of b
E beautiful dream chiId-the wretched wa
forgotten utterly in the last few days
anxiety.
e That's him." croaked the old crol
{ again, "That's your boy-that's Ned"
The captain gave cry; he sank dow
ION an old box close at hand, and hid b
|! face and wept.g The sobs shook him te
! ribly; they almost shook the crazy bull
:. ing. They frightened the old woma
and set the policeman to rubbing his ey
with his cuffs. The boy stood and star
for moment, and then vanished.
And what was the wretched faith
Q thinking2 So many thoughts that the
are no words for them; but first of
. this horrible one-that vile little obje
that wretched child Of the streets, W
;, the darling for whom he had searched
!" long.
+ "Better I had nIver found him" moa
i ed the captain, cor found HIM dead!"
e And just then little hand crept oy
q his knee. The thrill of hair was agar
his hand, and apiping voice said meek