Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-05-14

| seen him ever since"
what is your fathers name?
"DawsOn-Jim Dawson.
And he has sent you no mOney-n0th
ing%
Nothing. Never heard of him since
he went away. But when he was going
ne left us bag of flour. and lots OF
groceries and things-aS much as would
last US for six months, and he'd be sure
to be back before the provisions were
all out"
And you have got no letter from him
at alp" -
Not one," replied Lena, with deeI
sigh.
Poor Dawson had written to his chill
dren, however, but postal communities
tiOn being at that time very irregular
and uncertain in the Silver State, the
children did not receive his letters.
SWELL, / must go nOw," said the officer
after pause. 'but l will call tomorrow
and you'll have to accompany me up to
the police station, for 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
ihOA hAhu UChCAoStOl, OuV bil0 UuOydHC1
of childhood soon gained the ascendency
and before bed time the orphans were as
happy as any group of little children in
Virginia City. - hHl
Meantime, the report about the steal.
ing of the bread and the destitute cOndi-
tiOn of the children got abroad. Jim
Dawson, miner himself, was well
known and popular among the miners,
and the case created such sympathy and
elected so many "reminiscences and COM
mentaries, that quite crowd was at
tracted the next day to the police court.
Judge Moses presided. he-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
uncOmprOmising rigOr in the discharge
of his official duties. 1t was hard to say
how the case would 60.
After the transaction of some prelimi-
nary business the case was called. The
baker swOre to the stealing of the bread,
and identified the defendant as the thief.
The officers testified to the furnishing
condition in which he found the children,
but said not a syllable about what he
had done to relieve them.
Poor Lena stood trembling before the
judge. ThereupOn miner rustled
through the crowd and stood before the
bench, cycling the judge with deprecat-
ing look.
Il declare to the Almighty, Jedge,"
said he, II never knew the state of Jim
DawSOn's children, and if | did"
He dropped twenty into Lena's trem-
bling hand.
you just 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 lat
ent suspicion that he knew anything of
the children's distress any more than
anybody else.
Here Long Alec, a miner-sO called on
account of his height and size-slid tim
idly and bashfully up to Lena's side.
'Leeny" he said, in half whisper,
"hOld yer pinafOre;" and he slipped two
twenties into her apron, and then slid
back behind the crowd into corner, and
holding his hat to his face, glanced tim
idly around to see that he was complete
ly out of sight.
Then came Wabbling Joe, who was
far more bashful than even Long Alec,
but put on bold face. and laughed and
talked loud to make believe that he was
not bashful at all.
ledger cried Wabbling Joe, laughing
and nOdding Familiarity at the court, to
disarm that functiOnary of possible rigOr
in the trial of the case in band-"Jedge.
let the girl slide. She amt done nuth-
in but what you or l would do if we
were hungry"
And poor Lena was once more the re-
cipient of another present.
The court held down his head and
smiled grav9ly at Wabbling Joe's defense
of the accused, but Immediately recover
ing his gravity, said:
Gentlemen, 1 appreciate your liber-
ality and generous sympathy for the
young offender, and am particularly
with the ingenious defense
made by my friend. Wabbling joe
here good natured laugh escaped the
whole crowd, as if to put the judge in
good humOr-"but" continued his honor,
whatever might be the sympathy of the
court for the sad condition of the accused,
there is public duty to be performed,
and the case must therefore pro-
ceeded." - @ -
What is your name my girl?" asked
the court.
"They call me Lena Dawson, sir" was
the reply.
"Call you Lena Dawson! And I suppose
Lena Dawson is your name, is it nOt?"
observed the judge.
mo sir, it amt" returned the girl,
"My father died when was only three
years old, and my mother got married to
Mr.. Dawson some time afterward. My
proper name is Madeline Winters but
they call me Lena, for short"
Madeline Winters Where were YOU
bOrn?" asked the Judge.
I'm Kansas City, sir" was the reply.
"In Kansas Cityp echoed the court in
voice of still deeper gravity than before.
And what was your mothers maiden
name, do you knOw?"
Madeline Moses, sir" responded Lena.
Madeline Moses! My Godi my GOdl
She was my sisterl" = >
And Judge Moses. overcome with emo
ton, bowed his head on the desk, while
a torrent of tears flowed down his face.
Just as the crowd, in obedience to the
dictates of delicacy, were emerging from
the police court, to let uncle and niece
indulge the sacred joy of mutual recog-
milton, Jim Dawson appeared at the
door, having just returned from his pros
pectlng tour in Eureka, and with an
innate sense of prOpiery that did honor
to his acquaintance, who were all re.
jOiced to see him, was quietly permitted
to join his relatives inside.-San Fran
cisco Argonaaa.
HRritou Snva