The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-04-21
cost her so much. was gone in an instant.
She dropped her basket and ran.

cost her so much. was gone in m instant.
She dropped her basket and ran.
Out of the house and down the steps
she went, and alcng the street, until she
began to meet people. Then she came
to herself a little, and remembered the
basket, and the whipping she was sure
to get, if she went home without 1t.
She stopped. and finally turned back
toward the old house. But she could
not summon courage to enter it a
second time; neither burst she 60 home
! to her aunt; and thus. between two fears,
she wandered to and fro, the most
wretched little girl in all the world that
night.
, At last. tired out, and not knowing
! what to do, she sat down on doorstep
and cried. A woman approaching the
house saw her there, and started back.
; "What! Becky Fairweather, is it
you'"
"Yes'm, if you please" said Becky,
meekly. Il didn't know it was your
doorstep, Mrs. Cary, III 60 away"
"No, you won't" cried the woman,
"not until you've told me what's the
matter, anyway. Has your aunt turne.'
you out?"
"She hasn't turned me out, not quite,
but she made me 60 to the old house for
shavings in the dark, and got scared,
and left the basket, and she said wasn't
to 20 home without it full Of shavings;
if I did, she'd whip me worse than
ever"
So Becky, amid sobs, told her story.
Mrs. Cary put her arm kindly about
her, and spoke so pitying that the child
cried all the more.
"You needn't 90 home without it, nor
with it, if you don't want TO. She isn't
fit to Bring up a child like you; I've
! known it, and the neigh bors have known
it, long while. So if you'll come with
me, III take you and give you home
till I can find betteN one for you. So
don't think of the basket, but come
along with me-"
Mrs. Cary's house was not far off; and
there tue orphan found comfort and
kindness, such as she had not known
since her mother died. Only one great
fear now troubled her. 1t seemed as
though she might as we'll die at once as
le. the time come for her aunt to light
the fire in the morning, without the
basket of shavings.
But children soon forget their trouble.
when blessed bedtime comes; and Becky
slept we'll that night, in spite of her anx-
ious thoughts. The next day Mrs.
Cary kept her in$the house; and on The
day following, two strangers called to
see her-a gentleman and a lady-who
talked to her kindly. and regarded her
with an interest which Becky could not
understand. At last the lady said:
Becky, we like you pretty well; Mrs.
Cary has told us a good deal about you;
and, as we have no children Of our own,
we would like to have you 60 and live
with US, and be our little girl. What
do you say?"
"Oh, Mrs. Cary" cried Becky, turn
ing to her friend in terrified surprise.
"Yes, dear" said Mrs. Cary, cheer
fully. Il know these good friends very
well; and it is for this that have sent
for them. They will give you good
! home, and all the advantages girl can
ask. They live in another city. and you
will begin new and happier life with
them"
But" Becky faltered, joy and hope
getting the better OF her astonishment,
my auntm :,
"She has no real claim upon you; and
| it will be best that you should not see
/ her again, I think" :,
"Oh! and then I shan't get whipped
for not carrying home the basket"
; "No, no, child" said the lady, taking
the girl in her arms.
II am so gladm exclaimed Becky.
"Only-dear Mrs. Cary-I shall want to
see you sometimes; you have been so
good to me-"