The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-10-29

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In very few minutes the officer re-.
turned, with bread and groceries, not
forgetting sothe cakes and condiments
'or the smallest children; while an.
o'Icr mHn at his heels carried big sack
Of coal on his back.
At sight of the bread the children
screamed With Ge.ighl, and while Lena
Gilt up large slices of bread, and helped
the children and herself the two men
set to work and made large fire in the
sloVe, the glow of which soon dlirused
warmth and comfort through the cabin.
Then they cooked the meat, and made
tea, and spread d steaming meal on the
table for the four orphans, while they
carved 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 romp.
ing, as happy as if they had never felt
the pangs of hunger.
"And now," said the officer, delighted
at seeing the children so happy, "sit
down, Lena, and answer me few ques-
lions. Have you no father or motherP"
"We have no mother" was Lena's
reply. "She died about a 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 nameP"
"Dawson-Jim Dawson"
"And he has sent you no money
nothingP"
" Nothing. Never heard of him since
he went away. But when he was going
he left us bag OF flour, and lots of gro.
ceries and things -as much as would
last US for six months; and he'd be
sure and be back before the provisions
were all out"
And you got no letter from him
at alp"
mot one" replied Lena, with deep
sigh.
Poor Dawson had written to his chill.
dren, however, but, postal communica
ton being at that time very irregular
and uncertain in the Silver State, the |
children did not receive his letters.
We'll, 1 must go now," said the off, |
Ger, after a pause, "but | will call for |
you tomorrow, and you'll have to
accompany me to the police office, for I |
must do my duty, you know. Good
bYe." And Lena Dawson was LEFT
alone with her little brothers and sis.
tiers. She felt sad and lonesome after
the departure of her kind benefactor,
but the buoyancy of childhood soon
gained the ascendancy, and before bed !
time the orphans were as happy as any
group OF little children in Virginia
City.
Meantime, the report about The steal.
ing of the bread and the destitute con-
dltlon of the children got abroad. Jim
Dawson, n miner himself, was well.
known and popular among the miners,
and the case created such sympathy, and
elicted 80 many "reminiscences and COM
mentaries that quito n crowd was at
tracted next day to the police court.
Judge Moses presided. Tie Judge bore
the name of being an upright and
honest, kind and benevolent, and if
fault he had at all, it was thought to be
a somewhat uncompromising rigor in
the discharge of his official duties. 1t
was hard to say how the case would 90.
After the transaction of some prelimin-
ary business, the case was called. The
baker swore to the stealing of the bread,
and identified the defendant as the
thief. The officer testified to the fam
shing condition in which he found the
but said not "a syllable about
what he had done to relieve them,
Poor Lena stood trembling before the
udge. Thereupon a miner rustled
through the crowd and stood before the
bench, eyeing the judge with depreca-
ing look. :" declare to the Almighty,
edge" said he, Il never knowed the
tate of Jim Dawson's children, and if
did" he dropped twenty into
Lena's trembling hand.
"You jest knowed as much about it
Is other folks" exclaimed another
miner, excitedly walking up and putting
mother twenty into the girls hand
With an indignant air that flung back
my latent suspicion that he knew any
hing of the children's distress any
more than anybody else,
Here Long Alec, miner-so called
n account of his height and size-slid
imidly and bashtully up to Lena's side.
Leeny," he said, in half whisper,
hold yer pinatore," and he slipped
Wo twentles into her apron, and then
lid back behind the crowd into cor
er, and, holding his hat TO his face,
lanced timidly around, to see that he
vas completely out of sight.
Then came Wabbling Joe, who was
lr more bashful than even Long Alec.
ut put on bold face, and laughed and
alked loud to make believe that he was
ot bashful at ell.
"Jedge," said Wabbling Joe, laugh
lg and nodding familiarly at the court
disarm that functionary of possible {
lOor in thp trial of tbo ooso Z, L.s1
jedge, let the girl slide. She amt
one nothing but what you or would do
we was hungry" And poor Lena was
nee more the recipient of another {
resent.
The court held down his head and