Sharp County record., 1879-03-20

Dolly Is only 10 years old, but she is
doing the family washing as she sings,
stopping occasionally to rock the baDv's
cradle and lift little Joey out ofthe coal
box, into which he loves to climb as if
IL contained come treasure that, sooner
or later, he is bound to find.
Rub, rub, rub, 90 DOlIv's little hard
hands no and down the washbOard; her
work is almost done, night draws near
and the SKY is heavy with threatening
storm. suddenly, while Dolly ubs
and sings, q quick, heavy step comes up
the stairs, the door opens, and there en-
ters Dick Burns, the D0arder, a tall,
rough-looking boy Of Il. On his arm
he carries child, a title girl of Q, per-
haps, who leans against his shoulder in
heavy sleep She is dressed m delicate
garments, but her pretty clothes are
sOiled, her tiny boots are covered with
mud, and down TO her waist her long
hair hangs in tangled curls.
"Hullol" SAYS Dolly, in amazement; ;
and then she wipes the soapsuds off her
arms. and hegins tn shake M the pillow
on the old lounge.
"-shtn SAYS Dick, under bis breath,
as he laws the child carefully on the
place Dolly has prepared Keep the
young uns still and don'tye wake her
up. Ipicked her up in the street-lost
child-beiOngs TO rich folks. D' Te
mind her clOthes2 She was a-cryin', too,
ike a GOOD un
" Oh-h-hl Dick Burnsi Why didn't
re bring her to her own house2 Couldn't
She tell ve where she livedl"
Dick chuokled maliciouslv.
" She told me where she lived fast
enough; thought [ was fetchin' her
home, yer see, when fetched her here,
and fell asleep on my shoulder
" Why don't ye carry her home right
away, then2 Only think how her folks
will feell And now it's comm night
and every thingl Let me, Dick-i;il
take her, if ye don't want to, and ye
stay with the children VIII ve, Dick2
All, do, nowin and DOlly's face took
on an appealing look.
"Shut up yer mouth The child
amt goin' home till ! get ready to let
her, and that won't be in hurry. Don't
We see there'l be q reward in the pa
pers, and the longer we keep her the
betterl"
The blue eyes blazed
"And make her folks think she's
deadP Ye ought to be ashamed of YOUR
self, Dick Rurnsi I don't carel It's
awful wicked-it's worse nor stealin'?
When she wakes up, how do you pose
she'll feel? Why, wouldn't be as bad
for hundred dollarsl Ye're worse
than q kidnaper-ye are a 6idnaper"
says Dolly, in burst of indignation,
Dick looks at her angrily
90 Shut upl' he says "POlly'll be in
right away. I'm gong down town
again. Mind and keep the young uns
quiet, and tell Polly what [ told ye
She'll see to the child "
"I'll see to the child" says Dolly,
in the depths of her womanly heart,
Almost as soon as the door closes,
however, on Dicks retreating form the
baby stretches out his fat hands, and be-
gins to put mis- little head up from the
cradle like a bird from the nest.
ooh, baby, baby!" whispers Dolly,
reproachfully; but baby is smiling and
quite ready to be lifted, and
equally ready in case of disappointment
to yell as no baby was ever heard yell
before.
"Oh, ye tOrment-ye hateful, naugh-
tY, wicked tOrmeutl'' says Dolly, in pre-
tended Indignation, under her breath,
picking up the baby and squeezing his
face against her neck and shOwering
kisses on his doubled fist. What for
did you wake up? I don't love ye at
all Now, Dolly's going to gether boy
some bread and milk Joey, Joey!
Come out of that coal-boxi Do We
mind Oh, what bad Joey Niger
handsl Go and wash 'em in the little
tub Dear mel what shall I do with
yer"
As Dolly asks this question, almost
in despair, going about with the baby
on her arm and tin cup in her hand,
the stranger-child is sitting up, staring
round her with great brown ewes, and
parted lips, as if scarcely awake, In
another instant she has stepped from
the lounge and runs across to the door,
sobbing piteously.
This isn't my houseI This isn't my
house Oh, | want to 60 homei | want
my mammap And her poor, little fin
gers twist at the handle, and she leans
her forehead against the door, her
slight frame shaken with sobs
Dolly goes over gently and kneels be-
side her She has all she can do to
hold the baby and the mug, but she
manages to spare one hand to pat and
smooth the pretty, dropping head.
Now, don't be cryin'," she says,
" See, here's baby; and Dolly'll take ye
to mamma, don't ye be afraid. There,
now, hushl Look at Dolly. See, no.