Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-12-22

he bounded up the steps, glad to get out
of the damp, sickening atmosphere.
There was much to tell his wife, when
he reached home; and many plans were
discussed to help the family of Sandy,
before one was decided upon. The first
question was: Gould the sick man be
moved to a more comfortable place?
The doctor said yes, and in less than
week he was resting comfortable in
sweet, clean room OF the city hospital.
Mrs. Dooley did not like to give up her
charge; but she was persuaded to dc 50
when told it was for his good; and she
was soon consoled by an invitation to
work for a week ut Mrs. Winnerton's
getting ready for the holidays. Of
course, Norah went with her--bright lit
tie Norah, with her pretty face and mod
est manner. And Sandy was there too;
for Mr.. Winnerton had suddenly dis
covered great scarcity of wood in his
shed, and Grandma Winnerton must have
a wood fire In her room, "if it took her
last cent.
What grand times they had in the
kitchen; nights, with cook and coach
man! How they told stores and laughed,
while the children kept Norah up stairs;
and everybody declared it was nicer to
live just little way out of town, and
then people could stay all night. The
Dooleys were to stay over Christmas;
and one day Sandy and the children were
going for tree, taking an open wagon to
bring it home in. 1t was q lovely morn
ing when they left the house for their
ride of 1--WE miles, and everybody was in
high glee; for Mrs. Winnerton went too,
to keep the chlldIen in order, and little
Norah sat close by her side.
AT last they came to the woods, and
every one began searching fer pretty
tree; for there was no snow on the ground,
and it was great fun to run about and
hear the leaves rustic.
Norah was delighted. Sometimes she
screamed with pleasure, and again she
would sit, apparently thinking. Once,
when she had been quite q long time
pulling leaves to pieces, Mrs. Winnerton
asked, kindly, "what she was thinking
OFF"
81 did just SO once before" said the
child. "Once with mamma. And had
papa then-a big, long while ago."
Where, dear?'
CT don't know where. But it was all
pretty like this; and had wee, tiny,
tiny lights on table; aud so many peo-
pie came; and there was a Christmas
tree; and somebody sang-I guess it
was mamma. Mamma Dooley says my
own mamma was sweet singer"
"Can you remember more about your
mamma and papa ?" asked Mrs. Winner
ton, more interested than she cared to
show.
"Only papa was tall, and had pretty
buttons on his coat; and he went away
once, and came back; and he went away
again and didn't come; and mamma was
sick. And then lived with Sandy and
Mamma Dooley."
"Thank you, dear. But tell me, did
mamma call you 'Norah p"
Mamma called me sweet and 'pet; :
and papa said Lily Lily just like
music"
By that time Sandy Lad the tree cut
down, and the children were watching
him get it to the wagon, and were won
dering where and how they could sit
without breaking the pretty branches.
That night Mrs. Winnerton called Mrs.
Dooley into her room and asked her
about Norah
"It's little to tell, and not satsfyin' to
hear, mum, for [ can never just fix it in
my own mind. Ye see, when / first see
the lady she was sick, and she used to
get me to go errands for her-selling her
pretty trinkets, and the like to get her q
bit of coal or sup to drink. And
never thought her dyin', until one morn
In [ went up to see would she drink
some hot tea before she tried to get up.
And there she lay, with the child on her
arm, a sleepin' sweet as you please, an
she cold an still, my lady. It would
have broke your heart to see her, the
poor dear; and all [ could do was to take
the little one and bury her motherdecent.
She was quality, my lady-that I am
sure Of; for her clothes was beautiful
And when I laid her OH. there was q
locket on her breast, with two pictures
in it; and tied to the string was little
card, which Sandy read out to me (fo1
Sandy has bit of learnin', you know.
and it said: please, kind stranger, sell
this, and bury me properly. NJ. III. S.
There was two pictures in it, and ]
thought they would be of no account to
the jewelers.; so took them out and sold
the gold part. And we buried her de-
cent, the poor soul; and her pretty
clothes are all saving for her child"
evil you let me have the pictures?''
asked Mrs. Winnerton.
"Indade, an I will, mum. I was
thinkin' maybe I had better speak to you
about it, or put the child with the sis
tiers; only I'm thirkin' would her poor
mother like it. But she's fine child,
and needs some learnin', like he1
mother"
| Mr.. and Mrs. Winnerton pondered
over the pictures for an hour that night,
as also a little prayer-book and Bible,
which had written IN them only, "Fo1
my darling, from Will" But they
could make nothing of them, and decided
to dream over it.
The result of the nights sleep was q
decision on Mr.. Winnerton's part to put
] q notice in the r,a1,er and await raa,,lto