Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-10-07

ply. "She died about one year ago
and father went away to Eureka to work
about eight months ago, and we hahn
seen him ever slnce.''
"What is your fathers name9"
"DawsOn-Jim Dawson"
"And he has sent you no money-noth
inga"
."Nothing. Never heard of him sine,
he went away. But when he was geine
he left US bag of -four and lots ol
groceries and a good many things al
much as would last for SIX months, ano
he'd be sure and be back before the pro.
visions were all out"
"And you got no letter form him at aIlE'
"Not one," replied Lena with a deer
sigh.
Poor Dawson had written to his chill
dren, however, but, postal communlca
tiOn being at that time very irregular
and uncertain in the Silver State, the
children did not receive his letters:
"Well, Unjust 60 now," said the officer
after a pause, "but will call for you to-
morrow, and you'll have to accompany
me to the police office, for I must do my
duty, you know. Good-by."
| 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 steal
ing of the bread and the destitute condi-
tion of the children, got abroad. Jim
Dawson, a miner himself, was well
known and popular among the miners,
and the case created such sympathy and
elected 80 many "reminiscences and COM
mentaries, 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 he ha d
at all, it was thought to be a somewhat
uncompromlsing rigor in the discharge
of his official duties. It was hard to
say how the case would 60.
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 famishing con-
dition in which he found the children,
but said not a word about what he had
done to relieve them.
Poor Lena stood trembling before the
judge; thereupon miner rustled through
the crowd and stood before the bench,
cycling the Judge with deprecatinglook.
81 declare to the Almighty, Jedge,'
said he, 81 never knowed the state of
Jim Dawson's children, and If I did,
He dropped twenty into Lena's trem-
bling hand.
"You jest knowed as much about it as
other folks" exclaimed another miner,
excltedly, walking up and putting anoth-
er twenty into the girls hand with an in
dignant air that flung back any latent
suspicion that he knew any thing of the
children's distress any more than any
body else.
Here Long Alec, a mlner-so called on
account of his height and size-slid tim
idly and hashfully up to Lena's side.
"Leeny," he said, IN a half whisper,
"hold yer pinafore," and he slipped two
twenties into her apron, and then slid
back behind the crowd into a corner,
and, holding his hat to his face, glanced
| timidly around, to see that he was COM
pletely out of sight.
Then came Wabbling Joe, who was
far more bashtul than Long Alec, but put
on bold face, and laughed and talked
loud to make believe he waa not bashtul
at all.
"Jedge," said Wabbling Joe, laughing
and nodding familiarly to the court, to
disarm that functionary of possible rigor
in the trial OF the case on hand-"Jedge,
let the gal slide. She hain't done nothin'
but what you or me would do if we wus
hungry"
And poor Lena was the recipient of an
other present.
The court held down his head and then
smiled gravely at Wabbling Joes defence
of the accused; but Immediately recover
ing his gravity, said:
"Gsntlemen, appreciate your liberal
ity and generous sympathy for the young
offender, and I am particularly impressed
with the ingenious defence made by my
friend, Wabbllng Joe''-at this point q
good natured laugh escaped the whole
crowd, as if to put the Judge in good hu.
mor,-"but, - continued his Honor, what.
ever might be the sympathy of the court
for the sad condition OF the accused, there
is public duty to be performed, and the
case must therefore proceed.
"What is your name, my girls" asked
the court.
"They cali me Lena Dawson, sir" was
the reply.
"Call you Lena Dawsonl And sup
pose Lena Dowson is your name, is II
noti'' observed the Judge.
mo sir it amt" returned the girl
MY father died when I was only thres
years old, and my mother got married
to Mr.. Dawson sometime afterward. MY
proper name is Madeline Winters, but
they call nae Lena, for short"
Madeline Winters2 Where were yor
borna" asked the Judge.
"In Kansas City, sir" was the reply
ain Kansas Cityr' echoed the court
in voice of still deeper gravity than be
fore. "And what was your mother
maiden name. do you know2"
"Madeline Moses, SIR" responded LIE
ma.
"Madeline Mosesl My Godl She wa
my sisterr'
i And Judge Moses, overcome with emo
ion, bowed his head on the desk, Will,
a torrent of tears flowed down his face.
| just as the crowd, in obedience to tn
dictates OF delicacy, were emerging from
the police court, to let uncle and nice
indulge the sacred joy of mutual recog
nition, Jim Dawson appeared at the dool
having just returned from his prospect
ing tour In Eureka, and with an innat
sense OF propriety that did honor to hi
. acquaintances, who were all rejoiced t
see him, was quietly permitted to joi
his relatives inside. San Francisco "A
fI QonGsst..