Connecticut western news., 1879-01-22
VOL. VIII.


 of cold meat and vegetables, which, she knew by experience, would receive his attention.
 Marshalled around this were loaves of white and brown bread, Q plate of honey, and dishes of entrants and rasp- berries.
 Everything was in readiness except the ten, which Mrs. Bradley left for the last moment, so as to have 1t nice and fresh.
 The sun had gone down behind the hills. Blossom, Q beautiful Alderney, whose big black eyes looked almost human ill their color and expression, was lowing at the bars, as though re- monstrating at this unwontcd forgetful- ness of her claims.
 "I've half mind to milk her my self," said Mrs. Bradley, as she glance ] at the shining pail on it's wooden peg in the porch. "I don't see what keeps Carl"
 Then the remembrance of Carl's part ing injunction induced her to go down again to the gate, to sec if there were any signs of him.
 As she did so she caught 8 glimpse of the wagon coming slowly up the hill, Carl sitting in front, holding something very carefully on his knees. With an inward wonder as to what this could be, she darted back into the Summer kitchen, and had just removed the ashes from bed of glowing coals, when Ca Il entered, coming in through the front way.
 "Why, Carl, what kept you so late ?" "Oh, mother P cried Carl, excitedly, "I've lad such strange adventure ! Come into the front room and see what I've brought you p
 Wondering not little, Mrs. Bradley followed Carl into the front room.
 And there, upon 8 pretty, chintz- covered lounge, lay beautiful little girl, about four years old, fast asleep.
 "Goodness me p she ejaculated, with uplifted eyes and hands. Where did you get that ?"
 T didn't get her, responded Carl, " she came to me-
 "I believe the Lord sent her P added the boy, dropping his voice, solemn look coming into his eyes as they rested upon the sweetest picture before him. And, certainly, there never was 8 sweeteri picture than the round, rosy, dimpled face, with the bright halo of golden curls that encircled it.
 As Mrs. Bradley gazcd upon the little stranger, it's beauty and Lelp1essness appealed strongly to She purest and sweetest instincts of her nature.
 It is very lovely child, Carl. But I don 'tunderstand.
 "Of course you don't" laughed Carl, rubbing his hands with boyish glee as he took another survey of his new-found treasure. "How should you, when ] haven't told you?"
 "To go back to the beginning, the first time saw the little thing she was sitting on Mrs. Morelsnd's steps, cry ing. Mrs. Moreland is the lady who engaged so many of our purple plums, had sold everything but them, and when I went up the steps with the basket I filled the child's chubby hands as full as they could hold"
 s'I was all of fifteen minutes in Mrs Moreland's. I thought should neve get away she had so much to say. an, it took her such 6 time to get chang'
 and have the plums measured. didn' see the littlo girl when came out, an l supposed she belonged to somebody il one of the houses near by, and that sh had gone in"
 "I turned Charley's head homeward and you know how he bricks up his ear , and trots along when I do that I Ina got quite piece out of town when l heard little cry. At first thought 3 was along the roadside, and stopping th wagon, looked around. Not seeing any , thing, drove on. Pretty soon hear
 another cry louder and more impatien and which sounded as if it was just { t the back of me. I turned my head, on there the little thing was, sitting anon
  q "I was astonished enough at frs P and then saw just how it happened
 You see, the wagon was close to u Il steps, and she had clambered into u l. back part, after more plums, and beir
 all tired ont wandering around, gone :. sleep"
 d "But, Carl, you ought to have carrie d her right back" }, So l did, mother that's what mat
 me so late. I drove straight back V Mrs. Moreland's, and she didn't knc [e anything about her. I asked the pc " pie in some of the other houses and tn le didn't either. One man told me to ta m her to the station. But wouldn't
 that-such little bit of baby-so a just brought her home to you." " Here the child awoke and began e. cry, partly from hunger and partly fire ,il seeing the strange faces bent over h. to Those violet eyes, with their grieve ,o wondering look, awoke a strange thu
 in Mrs. Bradley's heart, and claspi ,g their owner in her arms, she carried l Id out to where Carl's supper was waiti
 for him. he Carl would have fed the hungry ch ke with the substantial food so grateful a
 necessary to him, though he yielc an readily to his mothers suggestion tl 5a- warm new milk would be much better
 While he was out milking, Mrs. Br er; ley questioned the child, but could g 10 information, save that her name ' le- Dora and her papa's name "papa."