Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-10-07
THE JUDGES SURPRISE.

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Oity, as winter hHys most generally are IN
that Alpine town, and though the sun was
bright, It's rays were 40 cheerless and emil
almost az moonbesms Wiid gusts
whistied through the streets, breathing
ioicles and frost In their furious course,
and drivins every hVing thing away TO
seek shelter from IFS b'tlnR, penetrating
breath Ana yet not every one was
housed and Hheiier-d from the pitliess
gale, Tor be Wh' hAd "ofs IT, d" or busl
ness to transact Was summoned by inexnrd
Die duty to cone form to his post ''r else
when the day OF rrckollng came aolue
by the consequence o' these 'uckless
exceptions, Abe DsnnlnR TIE baker, was
one In sunshine or s'ofm, nali, rsin or |
snow, people must eat eat, IN fact, all |
the more voraclouly because II hoes hail |
or snow, as II TO perp9tfate an unseasona
BILE Joke upon the baker who especially
In appetizlng weather, must see 10 IL that
his customers iarders be properly stored
with the rarest and best productions OF his
oven.
Even such cola weather as this dih not
deter Mi Dann'ng irom attending 10 tue
~aots of his customers with the e7siduiiv
and attention characteristic OF ms class.
Wnle dl9anptar.ns INTO customers
house with an armtul of bread, g'rl OF
some fifteen years of age emerged from Il
miners cabin close hy, and, first casting
wild and hurried chances around her,
rushed TO the bakers cart, and had Just
abstraeted tnerefrom three ioaveS OF
bread and was carrying them OIL, when
the baker returned and caught her III the
act
Unfortunately, an officer was passing
inst at the time. and the baker. the
spur of the moment, ard without giving
the case that consideration which heotber-
WISE might, gave her IN custody on
charge OF THEFT me giri' without any
attempt at eXpostulation or explanation,
burst into an agony OF tears sufficient
evidence, perhaps, that sue was but
novice, after all, IN the art OF stealing.
,oh she exclaimed don't take me
IN this way. List me wrap shawl around
my head or the people vii! know me-"
The Officer eonssnting, accompanied
her into tho cabin, while the baker drove
away, telling the policemen he would be
in court next day, to prefer the charge
before the police Judge
The othcer, 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, alarmed at the presence OF the
ofhcer, exhibited dlscolored eyes and
faces, which bore evidence of suffering
ard recent tears; while little Willie, the
youngest, was crying and indispensable,
moping almlessly around the cabin, look
ing into the empty closet, anu putting his
little hands mechanically into the empty
dishes on the table.
what made you steal the bread, my
girlr' asked the officer. at mention of
the word bread little Willie looked tear
fully and plteonsly IN the mans face. The
girl Rugged the little fellow frantically in
her arms, covering him with tears and
kisses.
"Oh, my poor little BROTHER she cried
bitterly. What will become of you now
This man is going to take your Lena away
with him
Here the child threw his arms around
her neck, as If to detain her by force !;
while the other two children screamed
piteously.
The officer suspectlng the actual state
of affairs, began to investigate.
rs there no COAL or nothing at all to
eat in the house ?" said he
mo coal, no bread, nothing to eat -
replied the girl, wrlnging her hands
and poor Willie and the rest of us have
had nothing to eat since yesterday
morning
Here the officer went away, saying that
he would be back again in short time
''Is the man gone for bread?' asked
the Oldest OF the children.
"Hush, Mollie, dear said Lena. Il
don't know what he is gone for. He's no
bad man, anyhow, for he hasn't arrested
I l. .
In very few minutes the officer re-
turned with bread and groceries, not for
getting some cakes and condiments for III,
smallest children; while another man
his heels carried big sack of coal on BIZ
back
At sight of tine bread the childrel
screamed with delight, and while Lena Gu
up large slices of bread, and helped til
children and herself, the two men set t
work and made a large fire in the stove
the glow of which soon difused warmt
and comfort through the cabin The
they cooked the meat, and made tea, 81
spread steaming mesl on the table fo
the four orphans, while they carved an
attended to their wants till they were full
satisfied.
Happy, happy childhood, whose pr,
negatives are innocence, rnirth and ioy
The children, after their dinner, dldu
look like the same children at ell The
faces were bright and Joyous, happy an
HANDSOME and in a few minutes the
were playing ard laughing and rompint
as happy as If they mad never fell Il
pangs Of hunger.
And now, said the officer, delights
at seeing tie children SO happy. g
down, Lena, and answer me few que
tons. Have you no father or mother y
'We have no mother" was Lena
reply. 'She died about year ago. 81
father went away to Eureka, to wor
about eight months ago, and we haiL
seen him ever since.
"What is your fathers name :"
"Dawson-Jim Dawson
"And he mas sent you no money
nothing ?"
"Nothing. Never heard of him sin
he went away But when he was goii
he left US bag of flour, and lots of u
ceries and things-as much as would ID
us for six months; and said he'd be su
and be back before the provisions we
all out.
''And you got no letter from him
ALI"
mot one " replied Lena, with a de-
sigh,
Poor Dawson had written to his chi
rem, however. but. postal communicati
being at that time very irregular and t
certain in the Silver State, the children {