The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-10-16
friendless; and such child for her age

And went on nay way again, thinking
not of Aletta, but of the dead folders
>grandchild- the Drowned wait, so
simple and ignorant and friendless and
alone. d
I was young yet mot five and twenty
IA bachelor, and likely to be one my
life long. I had no proper home to take
her to, and no friend to aid me. At last,
in my extremity, I thought of Betty old
Betty, who had once been my nurse, and
who loved me as she might her own son
and in the cleaning I made nay way
to her poor home. / 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. ~-' ...%@lsa ..."
"I've been thinking of you," she said.
II knew it was you as soon as I heard
some one coming. Tisn't every young
gentleman would weary himself coming
to see an old lady like me. Sit down,
honey, and rest" 4a".at' }&@%. mf'
II came to ask favor, Betty"
"Just name it, Master Bertie."
"Will you take boarder, Bette"
"Bless me! in m y two rooms2" l.'
"Only child, Betty" 7"t n..
"A child, Master Alberto .a't" -.
I told her of the fiddler's death, and of
the girl. e7~.
II have money enough" I said, "but
no female relative. I can only come
to YOU" ..4." =. ~,
sYou always were kind hearted from a
hoy" she said. "Ill take the little girl,
Master BERTHE" "% -+.''' "
Then she put both hands on my shout
ders..' ..'. .'.'>5".f . i ...
"You haven't fretted, have you9" she
asked. ="
"Fretted9 Why?" J asked.
,'"Nay, why indeed9" said old Betty.
''Better fish in the sea than ever were
caught yet" Then in moment more
she added, give been to see the we'd
ding" .''. &"H ~,
I felt my face flush. -.
"Shall I bring the girl tomorrow after
her grandfather's faneral9" asked.
"When you please,' said Betty.
"But Master Albert, what do you mean
to do with her? You are doing all this in
hurry. Just think bit.'' r..a a.a.
II am going to adopt the child"
laid. "It will make me happy to have a
young thing to care for.
Betty laughed. -. 800"
"YouM 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.
~ wish you was back again bah on
my knee, master Bertje," she said. I'D
like to sing you to sleep as I did then
All it's 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 for anything that will cheer
you, Master BERTHE. ought to say Mas
ter Albert always, now, 1 suppose, but
the old times do come back sop
I left her leaning over;her gate looking
wistfully at me, knowing as mother
mlght have known the grief which I had
buried in my heart. And if her words
had given me pain, it was like some oint-
ment which makes the wound smart in
its very healing. It was something to be
loved so we'll, even by the old nurse.
Late the next day led my young
charge from her grandfather's grave tc
Betty 8 cottage. She kept my hand upor
the road as a little child might. Inad nc
thought but that she was one, until ole
Betty's cry Of "Goodness, Master BERTHE
I though you said young child! Why
this is grown grip startled me int
consciousness. IT.
ut doesn't matter, does it Betty2"
asked. She turned to the girl.
"Take off your bonnet" she said lit
tle grimly. II want to look at you
What is your names"
i She obeyed. "I'm only Nellie Hay.
she said, and stood to be looked at. Bett,
looked sternly at first, then pittyingly.
lila, no! Master BERTHE, it don't mat
ter" she said. Il don't see any harm il
her. ''Tnere's a peg behind the. door
child. You can hang your bonnet o.
that" And left the two together.
Not long, though; every day foun
some new errand to take me to the col
tage. I pnt on elderly airs, and CAV
advice. had sent to school, and wen
( through grave examinations on Saturda
afternoons. told Bette that when
was man Of middle age should tax
e my little daughter home, and she shout
keep house for us. And I began to tanc7
l very soon, that there could be no sue
s happiness as that a parent felt. The gi
was growing tall, and I was only te
e years older than she was; but when ST
r checked Ter light tread to keep pace wi,
d me, when the childish laugh bubble
J and rippled at something which CON
d only make me smile. 1 felt that yea
IS are not the only things which age us.
was working hard at my professio
!" too. I had hand and heart full. In
d year I found could pass Aletta Oh h
husbands arm without pang. In a ye
d more wondered whether she had rea
changed, or whether I fancied black cur
}" more than I did golden bands: for
d found myself thinking my littles daught
much the prettiest. f.. -..as.al
n. In the sultry summer evenings I us,
s. to leave red tape and parchment and |
W out to .Betty's cottage to have tea wi
le my adopted child. Then. while she pt
It, ished up the cups, Nellie Hay and I us
N to walk down to the river side. Tall
g she was growing, I had a way OF holdi