Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-06-07

little shop in the house he had been
directed to, and the keeper thereof said
that she had bought it of Ann Golden;
"but haven't seen her since," she
said; "only there's bit of card with
her number on it-that is, if [ 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 1o
one could remember.
At Clumber row, whittier the captain
drove in cab, q woman owned to hav-
ing had her for lodger.
''She had child staying with her,
too" she said. "Little Ned she called
him; but, to tell the truth, she drank
so that I turned her out. couldn't
abide such doings. She went to Fossil
Lane, No. g."
To Fossil Lane the captain went. It
was a filthy place, and there was
drunken woman at No. 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, applied to the authorities for
help; and after many days of great un-
happiness he heard of Ann Golden who
lived in quarter of London so low and
dangerous that all decent people shun-
ned it,"
''No WONDER" the captain thought,
''if she lived there that she should have
had his remittances sent to the post
Office, and left him to believe that his
child was still in the decent home to
which she had at first taken him."
Almost i'll with excitement, the poor
captain drove, with policeman as pro-
tector, into the maze of hideous lanes
and courts that led to Ann Golden's
dwelling, and, following his conductor,
dropped into O filthy cellar, where,
amid the horrible leakage of drain pipes
and almost in utter darkness, sat an old
woman with bottle beside her, who
started up when the captain and his
guard entered, and cried: "What now?
What's the perlice here for? Is the
boys wanted againS"
And, altered as she was with years
and drink, the captain knew his wife's
old nurse, Ann Golden. He gave cry
of rage, and darted towards her.
"My boy ?" he cried.
And she screamed, "It's the cap
tain |"
Is my boy living9" he asked.
SgVnc - AIo oIaI III
over; "he's alive and WE'LL"
"How dare you keep him here ?" c4ied
the captain.
"How can help being poor ?" whin-
ed the woman. Z" l couldn't give up the
bit you pay for him. I'm very old; I'm
very i'll. Don't be hard on me-"
"Good heavens |" cried the captain.
"My Ellen's baby in place like this |"
He dropped his head ON his hands;
then he lifted it and clasped them.
"Ill have him away from here now I"
he gasped. cts over, and he's young
and will forget it. Where is he? Have
you lied? Is he dead2"
"No, no." said the old woman.
"He'll be here soon. hear him now.
That's him. He'll be here in minute.
Don't kill poor body, captain don't. "
"I could do it" cried the captain.
"Listen There is some one coming.
My child My child"
The door opened softly, a head peeped
in low down, then drew back.
"Come in" piped the old woman.
"The perlice arnt arter you-leastways
for harm. Captain that's him-your
boy Ned"
An d as the captain stood with out
stretched arms there crept in at the
door-whop what2 The wan, deformed
and dirty creature who had picked his
pocket-whom he had fed for the sake
Of his beautiful dream -child-the wretch
ed waif forgotten utterly in the last few
days of anxiety.
"That's him, "sScroaked the old crone
again. That's your boy~-thst's Ned. I"