The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-10-21

work, about eight months ago, and we
haint seen him ever SINCE"
"What is your fathers name?''
'EDawson-Jim Dawson"
"And he has sent you no money
nothing?"
'Nothing. Never heard of him since
he went away. But when he was going
he left us bag of flour, and lots Of
groceries 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"
"Not 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.
"Well, I must go now" said the Off
Ger, after pause, 'but will call for
you tomorrow, and you'll have to &C
company 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 sisters. She
felt sad and lonesome after the depart
ure of her kind benefactor, but the
buoyancy of childhood soon gained the
ascendency, and before bedtime the
orphans were as happy as any group
of little children in Virginia City.
Meantime, the report about the
stealing of the bread and the destitute
condition of the children got abroad.
Jim Dawson, miner himself, was we'll
known and popular among the miners,
and the case created such sympathy,
and ELECTED 80 many "reminiscences and
comm entarics that quite a crowd was
attracted next day to the police court.
Judge Moses presided. The Judge bore
the name of being 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 go.
After the transaction of some prelim-
mary 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
furnishing condition in which he found
the children, but said not Il syllable
about what he had done to relieve
them. Poor Lena stood trembling be-
fore the judge. Thereupon a miner
rustled through the crowd and stood
before the bench, cycling the judge
with deprecatiug look II declare to
the Almighty, jedge," said he, II
never knowed the state of Jim Daw-
sons children. and if l did" he
dropped a twenty into Lena's trem-
bling hand.
"You jest knowed as much about it
as other folks" exclaimed another
miner, excitedly, walking up and put
ting another twenty into the girls hand
with an indignant air that flung back
any latent suspicion that he knew any
thing of the children's distress any
more than anybody else.
Here Long Alec, a miner-so called
on account of his height and size-slld
timidly and bashfully up to Lena ) side.
"Leeny," he said, in half whisper,
"hold yer pinafore," and he slipped
two twenties into her apron, and then
slid back behind the crowd into a cor
ner, and, holding his hat to his face,
glanced timidly around to see that he
was completely out of sight.
Then came Wabbling Joe, who was
far more bashful than even Long Alec,
but put on bold face, and laughed and
talked loud to make believe that he was
not bashful at all.
"Jedge," said Wabblirg Joe, laughing
and nodding Familiarity at the court to
disarm that functionary Of possible
rigor in the trial of the case in hand
ledge, let the girl slide. She ain't
done nothing but what you or I would
do if we was hungry!" And poor Lena
was once more the recipient of another
present.
The court held down his head and
smiled gravely at Wabbling Joe's de.
Tense of the accused; but imme diately
recovering his gravity, said.
Gentlemen, 1 appreciate your liber.
atty and generous sympathy for the
young offender, and I am particularly
impressed with the ingenious defense
made by nv friend, Wabbling Joe,"-
here good-natured laugh escaped the
whole crowd, as if to put the judge in
good humor-"but," continued his
honor, whatever might be the sym.
pathy of the court for the sad condition
of the accused, there is a public duty
to be performed, and the case must
therefore proceed.
"What is your name, my girl?" asked
the court:
"They call me Lena Dawson, SIR
was the reply,
"Call you Lena Dawson! Aud I sup
pose Lena Dawson is your name, is II
not?" observed the Judge.
mo, sir, it ain't," returned the girl
"My father died when I was only three
years old, and my mother got married
to MIR. Dawson some time afterward