Connecticut western news., 1880-08-27

condiments for the smallest children
 while another man at his heels carried a big sack of coal on his back.
 At sight of the bread the children
 screamed with delight, while the officer
 now laughed, now coughed, and f1e-
 quently applied his handkerchief to his face to wipe off the precipitation, as it | were. No ..r~st .. | While Lena cut up large slices of bread, and helped the children and her self, the two men set to work and made @ large fire in the stove, the glow. of which soon dffused warmth and comfort through the cabin. Then they cooked the meat, and made tea, and spread a steaming meal on the table for the four orphans, while they carved and attended to their wants until they were fully sat isfed. ~.
 Happy, happy childhood, whose pre- negatives are innocence, mirth and joy 1! The children, after their dinner, didn't look like the same children at all. Their faces were bright and joyous, happy and were playing and laughing and romping, as happy as if they had never felt the bangs of hunger. t.-s-s. .
 "And now," said the officer, delighted at seeing the children so happy, "sit down, Lena, and answersme few ques- tions. Have you no father or mother ?"
 "We have no mother" was .Lena's reply. "She died about year ago, and father went away to Eureka to work about eight months ago, and we hain't seen him ever since -sa-s, ..z., ...v,
 What is your fathers name ?'' !.
 9 sDawson-Jim Dawson. 9 .a .s& as
 "And he has sent you no money nothing?" 9 Iaa fa
 :" Nothing. Never heard of him since he went away. But when he was going he left us bag of flour, and lots of gro celies and things-as much as would last us for six months, and he'd be sure and be back before the provisions were all out. eet 5+ ... .a
 "And you got no letter from him a an?" -. -
 " Not one" replied Lena, with deep sigh.
 Poor Dawson had written to his chil- dren, however, but postal communication being at that time very irregular and un- certain in the Silver State, the children did not receive his letters.
 We'll, l must go now" said the officer, after a pause, sbut I will call for you tomorrow, 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- tlon of the children got abroad. Jim Dawson, aminer himself, was well known and popular among the miners, and the case created such sympathy and eicited so many "reminiscences and commen- taries, that quite crowd was attracted 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 had at all, it was thought to be somewhat uncompro omising rigor in the discharge of his official duties. It was hard to say how the case would go.
 After the transaction of some pre- hminary business the case was called. The baker swore to the stealing of the bread, and identified the defendent as the thief. The officer, testified to the fam ishing condition in which he found the children, but said not 8 syllable about what he had done to relieve them. s
 Poor Lena stood trembling before the judge thereupon miner rustled through | the crowd and stood before the bench, | eyeing the judge with deprecating look. 1
 (" I declare to the Almighty, Jedge, :" said he, q never knowed the state of Jim Dawson's children, and if I did"
 He dropped 8 twenty into Lena's | trembling hand. E
 "You jest knowed as much about it as other folks" exclaimed another miner, excitedly, walking up and putting another twenty into the girls hand with an indignant air that flung back any latent suspicion that he knew anything of the children's distress any more than anybody else.
 Here Long Alec, 8 miner-so called on account of his height and size-slid timidly and bashfully up to Lena's side.
 'Leeny," he said, in half whisper, hold yer pinafore, '' and Ne slipped two twenties into her apron, and then slid back behind the crowd into the corner, and, holding his hat to his face, glanced timidly around to see that he was con- pletely out of sight. .-t .-.....
 Then came Wabbling Joe, who was far more bashful than even Long Alec, but l put on bold face, and laughed and talked loud to make believe that he was not bashful at all.
 " Jedge," said Wabbling Joe, laugh ing and holding familiarly at the Court, to disarm that functionary of possible | rigor in the trial of the case in hand st Jedge, let the girl slide. She ain't done nothin' but what you or I would do if we was hungry p
 And poor Lena was once more the re- | ciplent of another present.
 The Court held down his head and smiled .gravely at Wabbling Joe's de- fense of the accused but immediately recovering his gravity, said:
 "Gentlemen, I appreciate your lib erallty and generous sympathy for the young offender, and I am particrlarlv