Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-10
NO. 2l4.
Gales ano Skettbes.
VICTORY BROWN,
BY MRS. 5. $. WOOD.
Continued from Yesterday }


side here" and without further parley. the
man deposited his burden Just inside the
door. and walked of.
Il s'pose Knight MS we'll see what it is, )"
soliloquized Victory. as she closed the
door.
The cover of the basket was removed,
and there. in all its sweetness, rested n
sleeping infant, rosy. fresh. and smiling in
its dreams.
Poor Miss Victory was shocked beyond
measure Plain work." she at last gasped
out. '.Oh. tlear,Oh, dcar,' Then bethinking
herself of the note of direction, she opened
it, and twenty dollar gold piece dropped
out. The words were:
The child's name is Madgc. Take
care of her and YOU shall not he unic-
warled.n
Still the infant slumbered on; but Miss
Victory bethoucht herself that it would
not ALWAYS slumber. and fastened to heat
milk for it, The old cradle in which she
herself had lain, the work of her fathers
hands. was brought down from the low
attic. and the sleeping infant transferred
from the basket TO the soft pillows Of the
crib.
The church-goers in that little country
town were greatly surprised the next day
that Miss Victory Brown failed to occupy
her accustomed seat in the plain church.
and later on, when the parsons wife was
seen entering the humble doorway in re-
sponse TO note sent by the small boy of
the village, the gossps were all agog; but
Christianity, (?) fortunately for Miss
Brown. prevented their calling. None
saw, in the gray of the next early morning
Margery, the stout maid servant of the
parsonage, lift the latch of the cottage
door, and shortly after issue thercfrom
with large basket on her arm. They did
however, see Miss Victory, II couple Of
hours later, ascend the steps of the lum-
bcring old stage-coach. when it stopped to
change horses on its way to Boston. and
ensconcc herself as if for the long journey.
Where had Miss Victory gone, and why
had she gone ?n they all gasped.
! The days passed, and though the coach
on its tri-weekly trips through the village.
was eagerly scanned, no one caught sight
of the little drcss-maker until nearly
three weeks had passed, when, just at
dusk one evening il drew up at h r door.
and Miss Victory, followed by girl of
fifteen years. descended and quietly en-
tered the house. Later on in the evening.
Margery knocked at the door; on her arm
time Miss Victory showed no astonish-
ment at the sleeping child revealed when
the cover was removed, but pressed it to
her heart. lavishing many kisses upon the
unconscious baby, asking if 1t had been
WE'LL and saying how much it had grown.
Early the next morning lady, whose
curiosity could not hold out any longer,
called to consult Miss Brown about new
dress what should she buyP and how
must it be made?
Triumphantly our little dressmaker
brought forth a bewildering array of pat
terms which she assured her caller were all
the latest Boston style, while the array of
fashion plates and magazines that were
spread out was truly appalling.
But astonishment only reached its height
when there was heard from the kitchen an
unmistakablc baby's wall, and Miss Victo-
ry called:
Jane, bring the baby to me-
"Oh, La. Good gracious. ] declare,
Miss Victory, you quite take my breath
away. A baby" gaspcd the visitor.
But she was calmly informed that the
child was a relatives. Miss Victory con-
soled her conscience by remarking that
lone Father was over ALL" and that we
are .all brothers i'm Christ
And you have girl, too"' was the
next exclamation.
Yes, girl that she found in TIE Orphans
Home, explains Miss Victory, and brought
to K-to assist i'm the care of the house
and baby, as she could spare so little time
from her business.
The good lady was duly measured, and
orders left for new dress then she sped
to tell the news.
The next comer--was lady at whose
house the good soul had stopped to relate
the tale-.'IIad been so anxious for Miss
Browns return, Could her old cloak
possibly be sponged and recut in a late
style?"
The first caller for the afternoon was a
young lady, whose astonishment at the
sight OF stylish dress, made of paper,
ornamenting headless figure, could
hardly be expressed. Between the influx
OF visitors Miss Victory had found time to
unpack and arrange this curiosity, which
was marvellous wonder to the plain
country folks.
II always liked your cutting better
than any ones else, Miss Brown said
the last conner; and the fit. or sewing, or
lack of taste evinced by the dressmaker
across The way.
Towards evening the minister and his
wife came in, the lady rushing at once to
the crib where baby was lying, wide
awake and Growing, and one would infer
that she had had charge of the child at
some previous time, so glad was she to
see it,
Miss Gaddy told me, Miss Brown -
she said, 'that You had brought home the
child Of some relative from Boston, with
girl TO assist in the care of the house
and baby, and that you had all the latest
styles. You have created sensation,
assure you, and won victory, if you can
keep up the part
''Oh. | can, can-anything for baby :"
laughed Miss Victory.
Well the days passed on. Baby Madge
developed into beautiful child. Miss
Victory grew plump and rosy! A railroad
was built right through the sleepy little
town, q mill erected, and good influx Of
| neonle drawn hifher Mias Rrosu,,,a ,a h.,o