Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-11-04
In q yery few minutes the officer returned


dren while another man at his heels carried
big sack of coal on his back.
At sight of the bread the children scream
ed with delight, and while Lena cut up larg'
slices of bread, and helped the children ant
herself, the two men set to work and made
large fire in the stove, the glow of which soor
difused warmth and comfort through th'
cabin. Then they cooked the meat, ant
made tea, and spread steaming meal on th'
table for the four Orphans, while they carved
and attended to their wants till they wer'
fully satisfied.
Happy, happy childhood, whose preroga
tives are innocence, mirth and joy! I'M
children, after their dinner, didn't look lik'
the same children at all. Their faces wer
bright and Joyous, happy and handsome ant
in few minutes they were playing ant
laughing and rompling, as happy as if the.
had never felt the pangs Of hunger.
"And now,9 said the officer, delighted a
seeing the children so happy, "sit down, LIE
ma, and answer me few questions. Hav'
YOU no father or mother p
eve have no mother" was Lena's reply
"She died about year ago; and father wen
away to Eureka, to work, about eight months
ago, and We hain't seen him ever since"
"What is your fathers name?"
"Dawson- Dawson"
"And he has sent you no money-noth
ing?"
went away. But when he was going he left
US bag of -four, and lots Of groceries ano
things-as much as would last US for SIX
months; and said he'd be sure and be back
before the provisions were all out"
"And you got no letter from him at all"
"Not one," replied Lena, with deep sigh
Poor Dawson had written to his children
however, but, postal communication being al
that time very irregular and uncertain in the
Silver State, the children did not receive his
letters.
"Well, must 90 now," said the officer, af
ter pause, "but 1 will call for you tomor
row, 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 sisters
She felt sad and lonesome after the departure
of her kind benefactor, but the buoyancy Of
childhood soon gained the ascendancy, 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 sympa'
thy, and elected so many "reminiscences and
commentaries that quite crowd was attract
ed 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 be 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 60. After the
transaction of some preliminary business, the
case was called. The baker swore to the
stealing of the bread, and identified the de-
fendant as the thief The officer testified as
to the famishing condition in which he found
the children, but said not syllable about
what he had done to relieve them. Poor LIE
ma stood trembling before the judge. There
upon miner rustled through the crowd anc
stood before the bench, cycling the judge with
a deprecating look. 81 declare to the AL
mighty, jedge," said he, 81 never knowed the
state of Jim .Dawson's children, and if
did" he dropped twenty into Lena'
trembling hand"
"You Jest knowed as much about it as 9th
er folks" exclaimed another miner, excited
ly, walking up and putting another twenty
into the girls hand with an indignant all
that flung back any latent suspicion that hi
knew anything of the children's distress any
more than anybody else.
Here Long Alec, miner-so called on &C
count of his height and size-slid timidly
and bashfully up to Lena's side. "Leeny,
he said, in half whisper, "hold yer pima
fore," he slipped two twenties into her apron
and then slid back behind the crowd into 6
corner, 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 ia,
more bashful than even Long Alec, but pu,
on bold face, and laughed and talked louc
to make believe that he was not bashful al
all.
"Jedge," said Wabbling Joe, laughing and
nodding familiarly at the court to disarm thai
functionary of possible rigor in the trial o.
the case in hand-"jedge, let the girl slide
She amt done nothing but what you or
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 defense Of the &C
cused but Immediately recovering his grav
ity, said: -,
"Gentlemen, appreciate your liberality
and generous sympathy for the young offend
er, and am particularly impressed with the
ingenious defence made by my friend, Wab
bling Joe"-here a good-natured laugh es
capped the whole crowd, as if to put the judge
in good humor-"but," continued his honor
"whatever might be the sympathy of the
court for the sad condition Of the accused
there is public duty to be performed, anc
the case must therefore proceed"
"What is your name, my girl" asked the
court.
"They call me Lena Dawson, sir" was tb'
reply. :,
Lena Dawson is your name, is it not?" OBJ
served the judge.
"No, sir, it amt" returned the girl. "My
father died when I was only three years old
and my mother got married to MIR. Dawson
some time afterward. My proper name il
Madeline Winters, but they call me Lena
for short"
"Madeline Winters! Where were you
born ?" asked the judge.
"In Kansas City," was the reply.
"In Kansas City!" echoed the court, in O
voice of still deeper gravity than before
"And what was your mothers maiden name
do you know?"