The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-11-18
The Judges Surprise.


icicles and frost in their furious course,
end driving every living thing away to
seek shelter from its biting, penetrating
breath And yet not every one was
sheltered from the pitie.s gale, for he
who had work to do or business to trans.
act was summoned, by inexorablo duty,
to come forth to his post, or else, when
the day ofreckoning came, abide by the
consequences. OF these luckies, excep-
tons, abe D,nning, the baker was one.
In sunshine or storm, hail, rain or snow
people must cat; eat, in fact, all the more
voracously because il does hail or snow,
as iftO perpetrate an unreasonable Joke
upon the baker, who, especially. in appe.
tizing weather. must see to it that his
customers larders b, properly stored
with the rlrest and best productions of
his oven.
Even such cold weather as this did not
deter Mr.. Denning from attending to the
wants OF his customers with the assdui-
IT, and attention characteristic ofhis Glass
While disappearing into customers
house with an armfu of bread, n girl of
some fifteen years of age, emerged from n
miners cabin close by, and first casting
wild and hurried glances around her,
rushed to the bakers cart, and had Just alb
stracted therefrom three loaves of bread,
and was carrying them off, when the
baker returned and caught her in the
act.
Unfortunately, an officer was passing
just at the time, and the baker, on tie
spur of the moment, and without giving
the case that consideration which he
otherwise might, gave her in custody on
charge Of theft The girl, without any
attempt at cxpostulation or explanation,
burst into an agony of iears--a sufficient
evidence, perhaps, that she was but
novice, after all, in the art of stealing.
"Oh" she exclaimed, don't take me
in this way. Let me wrap shawl
around my head, or the people will know
me-"
The officer, consen,ing, accompanied
her into the cabin, while the baker drove
away, telling the policeman he would ebe
in court the next day to prefer the cna-ge
before the police judge.
The officer, on entering, found no one
in the cabin, but three children-the
youngest about three years cid, and the
eldest six. The hut was cold and cheer
less there was no fire. The two elder
children, alamed at the presence of the
officer, exhibited discolored eyes and faces,
which bore evidence Of suffering and re-
cent tears while little Willie, the young
est, was crying and inappeasable, moping
ainllessly around the cabin, looking into
the empty closet and putting his little
hands mechanically into the empty dishes
on the table.
"What made you steal the bread, my
girl 2" asked the officer. At mention Of
the word bread" little Willie looked
tearfnlly and 'piteously in the mans face.
The girl hugged the little fell3w frantical-
ly in cher arms; covering him with tears
and kisses.
80, my poor little brother /" she cried,
bitterly. "What will become of you
now? This man is going to take your
Lena away with him p
Here the child threw his arms around
her neck, as if TO detian her by force :;
while the other two children screamed
piteously.
The officer, suspectiDg the actual
state of affairs, began to investigate.
''Is there no coal, or nothing ut all to
eat in the house ?" said he.
'No coal, no bread, nothing to eat p'
replied the girl, wringing her hands and
poor Willie and the rest of us have had
nothing to eat since yesterday morning"
Here the officer went away, saying that
he would be back again in short time.
is the man gone fof bread" asked
the Oldest OF the children.
''Huslr, Mollic, dcar!" said Lena 81
don't know what he is gone for. He's
not q bad man, anyhow, for he hasn't ar
rested me, as thought he would"
In very few minutes the officer re-
turned, with bread and groceries, not
forgetting some cakes and condiments for
the smallest children while another man
at his heels carried big sack of coal on
his back.
AT the sight Of the bread the children
screamed with delight, and while Lena
cut up large slices Of bread, and helped
the children and herself, the two men set
to work and made large fire in the stove,
the glow of which soon diffuscd warmth
and comfort through the cabin. Then
they cooked the meat, and made ten, and
spread steaming meal on the table for
the four orphans, while they carved and
and attended to their wants till they were
fully satisfied.
Happy, happy childhood, whose pre-
negatives are innocence, mirth and Joy
The children, after their dinner, didn't
look like the same children ut ALL Their
faces were bright and joyous, happy and
handsome; and in few minutes they
were playing and laughing and rompi;ig
rs happy rs if they had never felt he
pangs Of hunger.
"And now" said the officer, delighted
Mt seeing the children so happy, "sii
down, Lena, and answer me few ques
tions. Have you no father or mother p
''We have no mother" was Lena's re
ply. "She died about year ago, ant
father went away to Eureka to work, abou
eight months ago, and se hahn. seen hin
ever since"
"What is your fathers name?"
Gawson--Jim Dawson
"And he has sent you no moncy-noth
ing?"
he went away. But when he was going
he left us a Dag of flour. and lots Of gro
ceries and things-as much as would las
us for six months; and said he'd be sure
and be back before the provisions were al
out"
"And you got no letsr from him a
ALL"
"Not ona," replied Lena, with a dceT
sigh.
Poor Dawson had written to his chill
dren, however, but, postal communication
being at that time very irregular and un
certain in the Silver State, tho children
did not receive his letters.
"Weil, must go now" said the off
Ger, after pause, "bus will call for yot
tomorrow, and you'll hare to accompany
me to the police Office, for must do my