Smyrna times., 1878-06-26
Little Allie.

she had wept till she had no more tears to
shed; and now she stood, with her scanty
clothing Huttering in the chill wind pres
sing her little hands tightly over her heart,
as if to still its beating.
cts no use fretting," said the rough |
man, as he stamped the last shoveful of
earth over all the child had left to love. !
Fretting won't bring dead folks to life. |
Pity you hadn't got no cousins somewhere |
to take you. It's tough world, this ERE,
| tell ye. | don't see how yere going to
weather it. But I'll take ye round to Miss
Fetherbee's; she's got power of children,
and wants a hand to help her, so come
along. If you cry enough to float the ark,
it won't do you no good
Allie obeyed him mechanically, turning
her head every few minutes to take
another look where her mother lay buried.
The morning sun shone in upon an un.
derground kitchen in the crowded city.
Mrs. Fetherbee, attired in gray-colored
Gotten dress, with any quantity of tinsel
jewelry, sat sewing some snowy lace on a
cheap pocket handkerchief boy of five
years was disputng with little girl of
three about an apple; from big words they
had come to hard blows; and peace was
finally declared at the price Of an orange
apiece and a stick of candy-each com
Blatant pulling in" for the biggest.
| Poor Allie, with pale cheeks and swollen
eyelids, was staggering up and down the
room under the weight of mammoth
baby. who was amusing himself by pulling
out at intervals little handfuls of her hair.
"Quiet that child, can't ye?" said Mrs
| Fetherbee, in no very gently tone.
don't wonder the darling is cross to see
such solemn face. You must get life
into you somehow, or you won't earn the
salt to your porridgo here. There, de-
clare you've put half his eyes out with
those long curls dangling round. Come
here, and have 'cm cut off; they do not
look proper for charity child; and she
glanced at the short stuhby crops on the
heads of the little Fetherbees.
Allies lips quvered as she said, Mother
used to love to brush them smooth every
morning She said they were like little
dead sisters; please don't" said she be-
seechingly.
" But | tell you do please to cut them
off; so there's an end of that" said she
as the severed ringlets fell in a shining heap
on the kitchen floor, land do for creations
sake, stop talking about dead folks. And
now eat your breakfast if you want it
forgot you hadn't had any. There's some
of the children's left if you're hungry, i
will 60 down; if you amt, you can &C
without
, Poor Allie The daintiest morseI wouldn'
have "gone down" Her eyes filled will
; tears that would not be forced back anC
she sobbed out
. 81 must cry if you beat me for it, m,
! heart pains me so bad"
! "H-i-ty, t-i-t.y What's all this?" saiC
: a broad-faced, rosy milkman, as he sat hi
! shining can down on the kitchen table
> What's all this, Mrs. Fetherbee? I'd a
2 lief eat pins and needles as hear q chill
cry. Who is she?i he asked, pointing t
! Allie, land what's the matter with her?'
= "Why, the long and short Of it is, she
= a poor pauper that we've taken in out
4 charity, and she's crying at her good lucl
g that's all" said the lady, with vexed to-
4 of her head. "Thats the way benevolenc
is always rewarded. Nothing on earth
do here but to tend the baby and anus
q the children, and run to the door, an
r wash the dishes, and dust the furnitur
q and tidy the kitchen, and go on few e
>. rands. Ungrateful little baggageI'
n Jemmy's heart was as big as his farr
# and that covered considerable groun,
: Glancing pitifully at the little weeper,
d said skillfully, "That child's going to
70 sick, Mrs. Fetherbee, and then what a
too young to be of much use to yo
You'd better let me take her."
"Well, | shouldn't wonder if you W
- right" said the frightened woman. "ShC
o. g been trouble enough already. I'll give h
- =, quit claim"
- % Will you go with me, little maid?' sa
~ Jenny, with a bright. goodnatured smi
W If you please" said Allie, laying b
y hand confidingly in his rough palm.
~ "Sit up closer" said Jenny, as he p
one arm round her to steady her frag
figure as they ratified over the stony pay
ment "We shall soon be out of Il
I'M smoky old city. Concarn it l always fl
he as if was poisoned every time | come il
10. it. And then we'll see what sweet h;
ror fields, and new milk, and clover blossom
a and kind hearts will do for you, you pc
in. little plucked chickenl Where did y
de come from when you came to live with Il
ia. old Jezebel?'
ng "From my mothers grave" replied All
Poor thing, poor thingw said Jemn
wiping away tear with his coat slee
of Well, never mind. | wish had
est asked you. Pm always running my he
of agin a beam. Do you like to feed chit
nd ems, hey2 Did you ever milk a COW,
Fl. ride on top hay.cart, or go a berryr
rll. Do you love bouncing red apples, a
lia. plumS as big as your hstI II snail go hi
wo if you don't have 'em all. What's como
your hair child? Have you had your h'
shaved?"
est Mrs. Fetherbee cut it Off" said Allie
ire The old vixen | wish I'd come lii
of quicker. Was it your curls them yor
ems 'uns was playing with? Well, never mi
the said he, looking admiringly at the sw
It face before him; "you don't need e
irst and they might cause you to look in
glass oftener than would be good for you
Well, here we are, | declare; and tn
llti. stands my old woman in the door"
lrn- shading her eyes from the sun. dare
lcly she wonders where | found you.
ere Look here, Betsy; do you see
, in child? The earth is fresh on her moth
grave. She has neither kith nor
I've brought her from that old skinfin
rom Fetherbee's, and here she is. If
len. like her, it's well and good, and if
life, don't, she'll stay here just the same.
e, a | know you will, said he, coaxingly, as
MP passed his brawny arm round her capac
waist. "And now get her something
will bring the color to her cheeks
heir mind you, | will have no white slaves
tier my farm"
, for How sweetly Allies little tired Ii
ex- rested in the fragrant lavendered she
A tear fingered on her cheek, but its b
was not of sorrow. Jenny pointed it
the to his wife as they stood looking at
y in before retiring to rest.
"Never forget it, Betsy" said he. "E