Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-29


rad absorbed her mind the eveing before,
although she said no more about 1t at this
ime
Outside the door ! met little Elsie as
usual, and stopped her with question:
"Would you not like to hear about the
pretty lady on the second floor 2"
al would like TO very much" she said,
. but mamma told me | must not stop to
salk," and even now / heard sharp voice
cry out;
-" Elsie, come here What are you stop
ping for ?"
That evening my wife unbosomed her
self
"George, dear, don't you think we might
adopt that little girl She cannot be happy
as she is. We could make her happy, and
she would make us happy. l have been
thinking about the matter, and | would like
to adopt her."
al know you have been thinking about
it, and have also been thinking about it.
| am quite of your opinion. But the con-
sent of her mother must first be obtained,
and that think we will have some trouble
in getting. However, we can try"
My wife did not believe in procrastina-
tion, and it was not many evenings after this
until, urged by her, | found myself on the
way TO the old womans room. did not
relish the business much, and | was not san
guine of success.
My knock at the door was answered by
surly Come in ~
So in went, and found the proprietress
in the center of the room, evidently in
passion, with cowhide in her hand. From
the next room came wailing and sobbing
sound. The old woman closed the door be-
tween the rooms, and turning to me said
"Well, sir Z"
She did not look inviting, and concluded
not to waste any words, and plunged right
into the subject
al can tell yon my mission in very few
words. N.Y.
"The fewer the better sir"
"My wife has taken great fancy to your
little girl, and desires to know whether, un-
der any circumstances, you could be induced
to part with her-to allow my wife to adopt
her. ] can assure you -
Enough, sir. It is not necessary to pro-
ceed any further. Let me tell you, once for
all, that under no circumstances can be
induced to part with my child and more,
sir, consider the proposal an insult. Good
evening, sir"
As did not move off with much alacrity,
she repeated "Good evening, sir, under
stand you, and decline; and warming with
the subj j,ct, I" must request that you will
not interfere further with my business
that you will not hereafter speak to or take
any notice of my child"
When | told my wife of the interview,
she exclaimed The horrid old wretch
So she insulted you, as well as abused her
child | hate that woman, George. | can
not help it. / hate her. | hate her for
abusing her child, and hate her for insult
ing you"
Our well-meant interference did not have
any beneficial results for little Elsie.
series of prosecutions began which was far
more severe on the child than anything that
had preceded it. Cuffs and hard words,
which had been frequent enough before,
were even more plentiful now. The poor
child led a miserable life. no longer met
her in the mornings as | went to the office.
| The smile always gave her was ray of
sunshine to the little heart which the old
woman determined she should receive no
more. My wife was in terrible trouble, and
| believe loved the little thing more thor
oughly everyday.
| But the climax came soon after. One
evening as we sat before our bright fire,
we heard the sound of angry words, and the
screams of the child in the room just above
us. My wife was in agony, and exclaimed,
wildly
"Oh, can't you do something, George
| Can't you stop that outrage cannot
stand it."
| knew could do nothing, so could give
her but little consolation. Presently there
was sound of feet descending the stairs.
Our door was thrown open, and little Elsie
rushed in, and throwing herself into my
wife's arms, clasped her around the neck
and begged her to save her.
% Sava mo sava mel She will kill me
she said she would Oh, save me do save
mel
My wife, pressing her to her bosom, began
to cry quite as heartily as the child did.
nice situation was in!
Again feet were heard on the stairs. The
angry face Of the old woman appeared at
our door. She looked fercely at my wife
moment, and then said:
Give me my child Elsie, come here
this moment. How dare you interfere be-
tween mother and child ? | will teach her
a lesson. will kill herl' and she made
grasp at the child.
The woman was very much the worse Tor
, liquor. All this time the little one was
clingng to my wife as if her life depended
ON her, and my wife was clasping her tight
to her breast, as if she had no intention of
letting her go. | advanced to the old wo-
|
"Madame, you will please to leave my
| room Immediately"
"Give me my child, then"
"Wheu you are sober, aud have allowed
your passion to cool, you can have your
child not now"
81 will have her will have her" and
she made an effort TO seize her. She had a
! cowhide in her hand, and made stroke
with it which fell partly on the child's back
and partly on my wife's face, leaving a
J broad red mark. This was carrying it too
far Strike man, but never strike his
/ wife; he can do that, if necessary. took
/ her by the arm, and assisted her from the
9 room as fast as was consistent with polite
ness. am strong man, but it was all
e could do to get her out; she stormed and
t swore outside the door awhile, but finally
e went up stairs to her own room.
What would be the consequence to Elsie
1 when she did return ? That was the ques-
+ ton that agitated us now We had no
5 doubt that they would be very severe. We
t examined the child's back aud found great
: lines as large as mans hand. After some
J discussion, it was decided that should go
) to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
i to Children. Providence, however, disposed
| of the matter in his own way. We heard
r the old woman again on the stairs. She
I opened our door wide enough to thrust her
! head in, and said, fiercely, Take her then,
y and keep her, and curse you all u"
A moment after we heard the front door
slam, noticed the landlady, who went at
once to the old womans room, and found she
, had gone, bag and baggage, leaving a
4 months rent due. paid the rent, glad to
get the little Elsie on such cheap terms
and the landlady handed me an open letter
she had found on the floor in one OF the va
;, Gated rooms. 1t threw some light, though
;, not much, on little Elsie;
"MApAMK You ask for more money have
no more money Your Unsuitable greed for money
has ruined me- have spent the last, and paid
you all my money all Elsie's money all the
s money could lay my hands on, and now leave
q the country forever, You can get no more
!, | money from me. You can do what you like with
:, the child. | shall do nothing more for her oi
J. you | would to heaven | had never been ap-
" pointed had never committed her TO You. II you
"A can find any one To adopt the child you can tel
them that she is well descended, but OF a secrel
| marriage; IL was afterwards, however, openly ac-
u knowledged before her parents died. Perhap:
you had better gives their names.
JAMES HAMMOND"
This accounted for the old woman leaving
the child, which was thankful 10 learn
: was not her child she could make nothing
u more out OF her.
y Novy az vou conld only sea these two