The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-11-18
The Judges Surprise.

chill almost as moonbeams. Wild gusts
whistleds through the streets, breathing
icicles and frost in their furious course,
and driving every living thing away to
seek shelter from its biting, penetrating
breath. And yet not every one was
sheltered from the pitiless gale, for he
who had work to do or business to trans
act was summoned, by inexorable duty,
to come forth to his post, or else, when
the day ofreckoning came, abide by the
consequences. Of these luckless excep-
tions, Abe Dennins, the baker, was one.
In sunshine or storm, hail, rain or snow
people must cat; eat, in fact, all the more
voraciously because it does hail or snow,
SO if to perpetrate an unreasonable joke
upon the baker, who, especially. in appe-
tizing weather, must see to it that his
customers larders BE- properly stored
with the rarest and best productions of
his oven.
Even such cold weather as this did not
deter Mr.. Denning from attending to the
wants OF his customers with the assldui-,
ty and attention characteristic ofhis class.
While disappearing into customers
house with an armfnl of bread, girl of
some ffteeny years of age, emerged from
miners cabin close by, and first casting
wild aud hurried glances around her,
rushed to the bakers cart, and had just alb
stracted therefrom three loaves of bread,
and was carrying them off, when the
baker returned and caught her in the
act.
Unfortunately, an officer was passing
lust at the time, and the. baker, on tie
spur of the moment, and without giving
the case that consideration which he
otherwise might, gave her in custody on
charge of theft. The girl, without any
attempt at expostulation or explanation,
burst into an agony of tears--a sufficient
evidence, perhaps, that she was but
novice, after all, in the art of stealing.
"Ohp she exclaimed, 'don't take me
in this way. Let me wrap shawl
around my head, or the people willknow.
me-"
The officer, consenting, accompanied
her into the cabin, while the baker drove
away, telling the policeman he would .be
in court the next day to prefer the charge
before the police judge.
The officer, on entering, found no one
in the cabin, but three children-the
Youngest about three years old, and the
eldest six. The hut was cold and cheer.
less; there was no fire. The two elder
children, alamed at the presence of the
officer, exhibited discolored eyes and faces,
which bore evidence of suffering and re-
cent tears; while little Willie, the young
est, was crying and inappeasable, mopiDg
ainllessly around the cabin, looking into
the empty closet, and putting his little
hands mechanically into the empty dishes
on the table.
"What made you steal the bread, my
girl?" asked the officer. At mention of
the word "bread," little Willie looked
tearfully and 'piteously in the mans face.
The girl hugged the little fell,w frantical-
" in ::her arms, covering him with tears
and kisses.
20, my poor little brother "' she cried,
bitterly. "What will become of you
nowf This man is going to take your
Lena away with him!"
Here the child threw his arms around
her neck, as if to detian her by force;
while the other two children screamed
piteously.
The officer, suspectiDg the actual
state of affairs, began to investigate.
"Is there no coal, or nothing at all to
eat in the house 2" said he.
emo coal, no bread, nothing to eat!'
replied the girl, wringing her hands; and
poor Willie and the rest of us have had
nothing to eat since yesterday morning"
Here the officer wentaway, saying that
he would be back again in short time.
sIs the man gone for breads" asked
the oldest of the children.
"Huslr, Dlollie, dear!" said Lena. ~
don't know what he is gone for. He's
not bad man, anyhow, for he hasn't ar
rested me, as thought he would"
In very few minutes the officer re-
turned, with bread and groceries, not
forgetting some cakes and condiments for
the smallest children while another man
at his heels carried big sack of coal on
his back.
At the sight of the bread the children
screamed with delight, and while Lena
cut up large slices Of bread, and helped
the children and herself, the two men set
to ). ork and made large fire in the stove,
the GLOW. of which soon difused warmth
and comfort through the cabin. Then
they cooked the meat, and made tea, and
spread q steaming meal-on the table for
the four orphans, while they carved and
and attended to their wants till they were
fully satisfied.
Happy, happy childhood, whose pre-
negatives are innocence, mirth and joy
The children, after their dinner, didn't
look like the same children at all. Their
faces were bright and joyous, happy and
handsome; and in few minutes they
were playing and laughing and romping,
rs happy as if they had never felt t he
pangs of hunger.
"And now" said the officer, delighted
at seeing the children so happy, "sit
down, Lena, and answer me few ques-
tions. Have you no father or mother 2"
"We have no MOTHER" was Lena's re.
ply. "She died about year ago, and
father went away to Eureka to work, about
eight months ago, and we hain't seen him
ever SINCE"
"What is your fathers name?"
"Dawson-Jim Dawson"
"And he has sent you no money-aoth-
ingw
he went away But when he was going
he left US bag of -four: and lots Of gro
ceries and things-as much as would last
US for six months; and said he'd be sure
and he back before the provisions were all
out"
"And you got no letter from him at
ALL"
"Not one" replied Lena, with a deep
sigh.
Poor Dawson had written to his chill
dren, however, but, postal communication
being at that time very irregular and un.
certain in the Silver State, the children
did not receive his letters.
"Well, I must 60 now" said the Off
Ger, after pause, "but will call for you
tomorrow, and you'll hare to accompany
49,, "a tLo nolica offica fnr must fO NV