The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-05-02

there is some happiness left yet" sale
gentle Aunt Rachel. And though
Helen did not quite believe that sh'
could ever be happy, she knew hel
wealth afforded her large means Of do
ing good, and for that she would try Il
live.
A few months later the winter snow
had covered Eddie and his father witt
robe of spotless white, and 1t wal
near the happy Christmas-tide.
More than one humble home In the
great city had been frightened by Hell
ems generous Christmas gifts, and she
began to take some pleasure in thesf
pleasant duties.
The day before Christmas she had
word Of an aged and bedridden relative
across the river, on the Jersey side, and
she at once went over to see her.
As she stepped upon the ferry boat tC
return, she found it very crowded and
with difficulty got seat next to a
plain, neat countrywoman who
had with her little fellow OF
five or six years, and Helen's hear
thrilled as she looked at the little face
with its bright blue eyes and golden
hair, for it bore quite resemblance to
the dear face of her lost Eddie.
She could not help speaking to the
child, and trying to win it to her, and
presently she had him upon her knee.
"What is your little boys name? ?"
she said, addressing the woman.
"Eddie Hamilton" 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
at once.
''No ma'am, he's not mine. His
mother was a widow, and came to
Brookville, where | live, year ago
next March. She was very poor, and
she had little house right next to us,
and tried to make her living with her
needle. But she made her death, ma am,
| that's what she made-and we couldn't
bear to see the little chap suffer, and
him not friend in the world, as we
knowed of, so we took him, me and my
John, and we've kept him ever since"
''Do you still intend to keep him ?"
asked Helen.
"We can't ma'am. We're poor,
hard-working folks, and we've got five
children of our own. John had bad
fall last week--he can get about the
house, but the doctors say he won't be
able to work lick this winter. 1t
don't stand to reason that we could
keep an extra one, and be just to the
rest, does it, ma'am?"
"No, indeed" returned Helen, po-
litely.
"That's what's taking me to the city
to-day" returned the woman. "We
hated to do it, me and John did, awful
bad, but we didn't see no other way to
do, so Pm taking him to the Orphan
Asylum. DO you think they'll be good
to him, ma'am?"
A thought which had struggled in
Helen's heart for the last few minutes,
found expression now.
81 don't know" she said, eagerly,
"but | do know some one who would !!
You say you are poor-i am rich, and l
| am widowed and childless. l have
lately lost my husband and my little
Eddie, and | am alone and lonely. Give
me your little Eddie, and / will love
him and be good to him, and bring him
up as my own childp
care you in earnest, ma am ?" asked
the countrywoman.
"Indeed | am! He looks like my lost
Eddie-that is what first made me no
tice him-and it seems to me as if Heav-
en- had sent him to me. lie is my
Christmas present. ~, do let me have
him !"
"I can't say no, ma'am. | am sure
he will have happy home with you,"
replied the woman.
"Go with me and see !" cried Helen.
"Your John would approve, | am sure.
Please tell me your name"
"Reynolds is my name"
"Mine is Livingstone. Now, Mrs.
Reynolds you shall go home with me.
1t is not near the distance 1t is out to
the Orphan Asylum, and you shall see
what will do for little Eddie. Oh, l
am so happy to have himw And as
Helen hugged the child to her silken
bosom, she did, indeed, feel that he was,
in some measure, her lost Eddie re-
stored.
SO when Mrs. Livingstone's elegant
carriage met her on the city side Of the
ferry, she took Mrs. Reynolds and little
Eddie to her handsome home. And
over dainty dinner, which Helen Or
dered, they made all arrangements and
plans for little Eddie's transfer to his
new home.
For Helen proposed to adopt and edu-
cate him as her own son, with her own
name, taking pridein the thought that,
after all, an Edward Livingstone might
bear the name, and wear the wealth
and honors of the family.
When Mrs. Reynolds returned home,
Helen sent her to the ferry in her car
riage again to save her the long walk.
"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 |
will bring him to see you. l don't
u,o,t hin, IN forget his kind benefactors.