Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-10-08

her 10 her dainty little crib and went
about my mornings work,
| felt wronged and Injured ! and
while | worked away, dastlng OF the
SCOT aud ashes and serabblng uP tho
mud, tue hot tears Tell SO fast as to
almost blind me, My husband was
cruel, herlless, | thought TO take me
from q home where all was beauty
and pleasure, aud bring me 10 THIS
dredlal place 10 wear my lie out IN
drudgcry, ! would sooner 10
dead and In my grave than TO i've Oh
30 from year 10 year
In the midst Of this despair !
heard the sick man calling from above
and hurried to him, Ills fever was
rising again he needed cooling
draughts and iae.olothS 10 his head
| went 20 work TO prepare them WIN
nervous haste, Tor the morning w"
slipping by, and the noon meals must
be- IN readiness Tor the farm bands Ia
the midst ofmy work aud hurry, little
Pearls sharp imperative voice came
niulno from below. What should dot
/ had juss spent over halt m hour
lulllng her TO sleep, aud here she was
on my hands again
4 won't go down, ! cried In real
anger. she may have heI cry out
oh, dear I wish had no baby
But tho instant the unwoman'
" wish had passed my lips l
repen,cd Of having uttered It, No
baby, no liale Pearl The bare
thought filed me with a shudde'ing
terror. Hurriedly administering the
SICK man, potion, ! has'ened down.
eager 10 compensate for my unmolher'
" words by fond cares'es.
There stood the little cradle IN the
accustomed corner, the dainty lace
coverlet thrown back, the pillow still
damp and warm from the the i'm.
press of the curly head, bnt Pearl was
gone
For an instant ! stood dumb
breathless, then IN frantic ioollshneSs.
| | searched the rooms, the yard calling
upon the child's name rs il she could
hear and answer me. And then OF
last happy thought broke like sun.
shine upon me. My husband had
been home and stole away the child
to tease me, | set about preparing din
ner, looking every minute to see hun
come ~. In little while the noon
|
bell rang, bringing the laborers from
the clearing hurried ont to meet
them.
where is Mr.. Weslonl' lqueslion-
ed, with my heart in my mouth.
.Havn't seen him maam since NOR
ming
Not seen him ! You surely have
he's got my baby
But the men shook their heads, and
catching up my shawl l hurried Oft III
the direction OF his office.
Half mile from the cottage l met
him on his way home.
why, Belle, he cried catching my
arm and looking down in conster
nation at my draggled garments AM
muddy feet, where are you gong
What is the mattcr1
"Oh, Philip the baby, little Pearl
what have you done with her?
Done with Pearl ! Are you going
mad Belle IL? Tell me what you mean
She's gone-little Pearl is gone,
} came down stairs and found her cradl
empty and l was sure you had her.
He stood silent tor moment, his
, face growing as white and stern a
death then he said solemnly:
mo, Belle, haven't seen the chill
I havn't been home since morning.
He started on before me with lonl
: rapid strides, into the cottage and IT,
to the little cradle, standing in tn
= corner, as If to satisfy his own eyes
Then he turned back to the yard an
began TO examine the tracks in tn
! mud around the doorway. The farm
hands were examining them also.
r. "AIocassin.tracks, boss said on
: old man, significantly, pointing to Al
i iudenture in the yielding soil. :.'lnjuu
1 guess
l My husbands face grew shad
winter.
= Yes he responded, that's it; com
4 nv lads we havn't a moment to lose
He started off followed by the lat
y orers, but few rods from the hous
= he turned back.
3 Poor Belle, he said, putting his arm
t around me, 'this is terrible tor you
Il L. ~