Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-22
A Child Yoyager.


Rusty coats and pppins
Apple-time for me. -NurserD.
A Child voyager.
As we stepped upon the platform of the
cars on our way west in the middle of the
night, we heard a man say
Here is little girl all alone. Will not
somebody take care of her p
Somebody responded, and we thought no
more Of il until the next day, when we had
dropped our sleeper" and entering one Of
the other cars we saw the sweetest little
child-form we ever looked upon, fast asleep.
so soundly sleeping as not even to be heard
in breathing. Such head of dark brown
hair, lying all loose over shoulders, back aud
face, we never behed features as If the
choice of an artist from thousand beauties;
her long, dark eye-lashes lay across the open
ings into world of beauty, and her form
was in beautiful adaptation to the ideal of
her face. We could hardly wait for her to
wake, for we felt sure she was the lonely
child of whom we had heard the night be-
fore, and were impatient for the history of
this interesting but solitary voyager across
the earth. After awhile the conductor stood
over her, as If drawn by her beauty and in
waking her, as if she was an angel, who's
repose it would have been irreverent to dis
turb. Said he, "whose child is this ?" No
one could tell. lie turned away and went
on gathering up the tickets. When he had
finished he came back and she was awake.
He stopped and said
"Whose little girl are you ?"
"Mamma's," said she, looking up trust
fully in his face.
"Where is your mammal Show me who
she u.s.
She said gently, Mamma is not on the
cars, she is in heaven
The gentlemanly conductor grew more in
tently anxious and said
But you have father aboard ?"
"No. sir; my father is in heaven long
time ago. When was "a little baby he was
in the army. Mamma used to tell me about
him. She called him her poor soldier boy"
Aud where did your papa and mamma
live 2"
Z" In Ireland, sir" speaking more gently,
as if not right sure it was best to tell him.
"Where did you come from, my little
darling ?"
"From the same place, sir"
Not from Ireland ?"
"Yes, sir"
"Who came with you 2"
Nobody, sir, but God. He kept me on
the sea when it was awful stormy, aud
was so sick thought | would die"
The conductor in surprise, said You
did not come all the way from Ireland By
yourself ?"
"Yes, sir; God was with me my auntie
prayed for me, and told God to take care of
me on the forecastle of the ship; and she
kissed me and said, Don't be afraid, for
God has told me that he is going with you
all the way and some people on the deck
took me and made me sleep by them until
got to New York, and then they took me to the
railroad station and nice old gentleman,
with white beard, got my ticket. Here it
is, sir" opening a queer, old-fashioned car
pet-sack, and pulling out wooden petticoat
and putting her little hand into the pocket,
took out little pocket-book, tied with a
soiled piece of linen tape" here it is; he
gave it to me, and told me not to be afraid,
because the people would all be kind to a
little stranger orphan girl. Aud he said
when | wanted anything TO ask the man
with band on his hat. Are you the man 2
Yes, what do you want, my little pet !"
81 want you to take care of me, if you
please"
| Will lluG u. ntl Il lllJlS RlTl dOOub
as large as you but she died"
"She is in heaven, ain'G shep She will
see my papa and mamma; won't she p He
-aid, " | hope So" and turned away.
BY this time half dozen men had
gathered about the child, no woman happen.
ing to be in the cars, else that woman's
heart would have been broken. The men
were all rough, good-hearted souls; and al
seemed to be fidgety to do something foi
this strange, beautiful child Oae turned
up tag, which was fastened to ribbon
around her neck, and on it was written;
to her aunt Mr. Nc Fort Kearney, United States Q
mothers darling, who died the llth day of December
ISIS This POOR child all that left Of the family an
her friends sending her to her aunts at Fort Kearne
One rough-looking man asked her if sh,
had anything to eat, to which she replied b,
showing him some little sweet cakes, anC
said
"Do you think these will be enough unit
get TO auntie's q He replied;
"Give me your reticue,' and opening i
commenced filling it out of his wel-storet
basket. Others brought in their supplies
until there was more than the child coult
well carry. An old gentleman, about eight,
years of age, said he would take care Of he
as far as Kansas City, black man said h
mad nothing to give her to eat so he CAV
her half-dollar; but she would not take il
saying, "Mamma said little girls must no
take money from strange gentlemen"
BY this time lady and three children
had j,ined the crowd, and she began taking
off the childs clothing, for she had enough
on for the climate of Russia, and was melt
ing under the heat. The lady gave he
some apples, and the childs life here ap
peared in its simple beauty. She first bi
off piece aud gave it to little girl, anC
then bite was offered each of the group o
gentlemen who had been interested in her
which was respectfully but tenderly de
clined. She became more and more them
of interest for hundreds of miles, until W
,eemed to have forgotten the space, whel
the cry East ST. Louis" startled us, AM
revealed the fact that to some of US at leas
the journey had ended.
We parted from this dear child in ten
1erness and with prayers, for she was fas
asleep, with her little Testament, whicl
she could read, in her pale hand. All wer
the better for her presence; all regretted
that she could not journey on with then
along the way of life. We felt glad aloni
with the rest, but especially so as it CAV
violence of the fact that the wear and tea
of life are apt to make us forget, first, tina
a great deal of the beautiful and good il
human nature survives the wreck of man
fall, and lives through the attritions of Sc
fshness, in the world. Second, that tn
promise of God to the orphaned has multi
tudinous confirmation. Every man am
woman seemed happy when helping thi
child on her lonely journey. They woul
gladly have strewn her lfe's pathway a
through with flowers. So we parted iron
the little foreigner, all thankful for the OF
portunities she gave us to feel and to d
good. She had the blessings of all, saiu
aud sinner, who love beautiful childhood
and of all who feel for its helplessness.-
Presbyterian.