Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-25

get me TO do efrandS Tor ner-Selllng her
pretty trinkets, and the like, to get her a
bit of coal or supto drink. And new
Ter thought of her dyin', until one morn
fin l went up to see would she drink
! some hot tea before she tried to get up.
And there she lay with the child on her
arm, sleepin' sweet as you please, an
she cold an still, my lady. 1t would
have broke your heart to see her, the
poor dear; and all could do was to take
the little one and bury her mother de-
cent. She was qnality, my lady-that !
am sure OF; for her clothes were beauti-
full. And when laid her out there was
a locket on her breast, with two pictures
in 1T; and tied to the string was a little
card, which Sandy read, out to me y(for
Sandy has bit of iearnin', you know,
and it said: please, kind stranger, sell
this, and bury me properly. M. Ell. s.
There was two pictures in it, and I
thought they would be of no account to
the jewellers; so, took them out and sold
the gold part. And we buried her de-
cent, the poor soul; and her pretty cloth
es is all saving for her child
| "WIll you let me have those plcturesg''
asked Mrs. Winnerton.
"Indade an I Will, num- was think
ing maybe l had better speak to you
/ about it or put the child with the sisters.
Only I'm a-thlnkin' would her poor
mother like it. But she's foine child,
and needs some learnin' like her moth
er."
Mr.. and Mrs, Winnerton pondered
over the pictures for an hour that night
also little prayer-boek. and Bible,
which had written in them only "To my
darling, from Will" But they could
make nothing of them, and decided to
dream over it.
The result of the nights sleep was a
decision on Mr.. Winnerton's part to put
a notice in the paper and await results
The notice appeared but no response
came: and little Norah, all unconscious
of what was going on, laughed and play
ed with the other children. The notice
had been inall the city papers'for three
days when Christmas morning came,
bright and rosy. And great was the JOY
at Umberly, for every one had a gift pur-
chased for every one else. and
the Christmas tree, which no one had
seen, fairly blossomed with presents
Christmas night came, and papa Winner
ton sat perehed ON some steps, dressed in
which Santa Claus had just brought
him, while he took presents for others
off the tree. There he sat making funny
speeches about the gifts, when suddenly
the door-bell rang. "Dear me-" said
Mrs. WinDerton. "Who can come now
Everybody is supposed to be at home OF
Christmas night"
sIs this Mr.. Winnerton's residence?'
asked somewhat hoarse voice.
eyes, sir. viii you walk inf sale
Hannah, who opened the door.
And the stranger walked in, and tounc
Mr.. Winnerton on the very top seat o.
the step-ladder, holding huge doll il
his hand, which was marked ''For Norah
When the gentleman entered Mr.. Win
merton sprang down, threw his smoking
cap off, gave the doll into Norah's ready
arms, and extended his hand. a :
''You are stranger, sir, and find mt
playing Harlequin for Try little folks
but you are right welcome"
''You wrote notice for the paper
sir, and gave some initials. It wa
brought to my notice about ten O'Clock
last night. l have travelled every mo
ment since, and am here to know tn
worst or best you can tell me. My mann
is Sunderland-William Sunderland
and was captain of cavalry compan,
during our war. I lett my wife in Eu
rope, with, our child, too weak, after
long illness, to come with me when tn
call came for more troops. She urge'
me to leave her, and did so, after re
ce1ving promise that her family il
England would send her to me. Sh
sailed, / learned; on the Inflated Aurora
and no tidings ever reached me. sup
posed all lost. Indeed the papers sail
so. The anxiety threw me into fever
For months I was in the hospital, AM
on recovering, plunged again into tn
thickest of the fight. Last evening
while sitting with an old friend, Il pickle
up New York paper and lead your nc
tice; in FIVE minutes was on the cars
What can you tell me, sir?"
The stranger had spoke rapidly, an
every one stood breathless, looking in
tently at him.
"My dear friend" said Mr.. Winnertor
while the tears stood in his eyes, 6
think we have your child here with us
And this kind Irish friend of ours wi
, tell you the story of your wife's Las
J days"
Mrs. Dooley ran from the room, an
brought the pictures, carefully wrappe
! in cotton. Mrs. Winnerton greeted tn
stranger, and then produced the praye
book and Bible.
"They were Manan's," he said, sadl,
"My poor, poor darl1ng!''
For few moments no one spoke j
the room and the captain buried his fac
) in his hands. Then Mrs. Winnerton lie
Norah to her father. as7
"That must be my little Lilanl' sal
he, Tiny baby Lilianl Her eyes are lik
Marian's Papa has but one arm ft
you, my darling" he said, as b
l held her long and close to his breas
Then the story was all told, and th
gallant captain insisted on the famiI
merriment being renewed. 81 shall b
, quite content to look on, he said, ian
convince myself that / am not dream
Ing" No dream indeed, with Lillian
5 arm about his neck and Lilian's voie
saying: ooh, papa, papa! / was SUI
= you would come for me. Mamma sal
: SO, and prayed such sweet prayer fl
tyou every night. And now you mu
never, never go away"
! "Never without you, my precious
: said the captain. Kind, generous-hear
, ed Mrs. Dooley received a handsome n
! ward for her goodness to the sic
) stranger; and Dick, who was nearl
= wild over the real I've CANAAN WI