Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-08-13
A BROK EN- PITCHER.

L had been home from Oxford for q
couple OF months, and as the end of my
vacation was drawing nigh, one day my
brother Arthur and were sauntering
through lovely vale.
Suddenly my attention was arrested
by Arthur exclaiming, II say, TOm-Oh
!OOk!' pointing to female figure lean
ing against an old stile in the attitude
of the utmost detection. "What beau
tiful face that girl hasp'
And, Obscured though she was by the
dire poverty which was evidenced by her
dress. she was beautiful to behold as she
stood gazing down, with an expression
OF terror in her eyes, upon some frag-
ments OF broken earthenware at her
feet.
could not resist the temptation to
speak, so going up to her side, said,
kindly, my child, you seem in trouble.
Can't help your"
The child uplifted her eyes for a
moment to my face with strange look,
In which distrust seemed to be the upper
most feeling.
Then, appearing to gain confidence
from what she discerned in my features,
she said, 81 have broken the pitcher, and
aunt will beat me for it. Oh, / am afraid
to go homer
"Where is your homer" 1 asked; "and
what is your name?"
what do you want to know for?" she
asked, brusquely.
81 want to know simply because feel
a friendly interest in you. Here" 1 con-
tinued, drawing from my pocket a gold
coin, lis money to buy another pitcher.
Your aunt need not know of the break
ing of this one, and you will escape your
dreaded punishment. Now do you be-
lieve that | mean only kindness to you?"
The dark eyes dilated; then they soft
ened with sudden film of tears, as,
grasping my hand, she exclaimed, in
eager, childish tones:
"Oh, sir, thank you! Now need not
be afraid to go home. l am sorry was
rude; but it is seldom that any but
rough words come to me. Twill tell you
my name. 1t is Annie, and l am old
Hester's niece"
AS listened to her words my heart
filled with pity, for had heard dreadful
stories of the kind of life the old woman
she called aunt led.
The next day 1 babe good-by for an
other year to my home. Amid the duties
and distractions of college life the above
episode slipped from my mind, to be re-
called once more on perusing a letter
from my brother.
"You remember the little girl with the
beautiful face you befrIended when she
broke her pitcherp" he wrote. "Well,
she and that dreadful old woman, Hester.
have left the place and no one knows
why or where they have gone. l fear
that poor child has sadly pitiful future
before her."
Ten years had passed since the date of
the abOve-years which had wrought
many changes. In them my father had
died, and, later, my brother Arthur,
grown to mans estate, had brought to
the old home bOnny bride.
Then in the course of year little
stranger had arrived, who grew and
thrived, and in due time learned to
stretch out its arms in welcome to his
bachelor uncle.
But the summer of which I am about
to write, Arthur, his wife, their three
year-Old son, and myself, had come to a
retired nook by the seaside, to spend the
summer months. There were only a
few people staying in the same hotel be-
sides ourselves.
Two of the number, an elderly, gray
haired lady and her beautiful companion,
who supposed was her daughter, inter-
ested me at first sight. Their names
were Mrs. and Miss Carter.
suppose might as well make a clean
breast of it, and confess at once to my
readers that the heart which had deem
ed so impregnable had succumbed at
last. At length chance placed in my |
way an opportunity to draw nearer to the |
object Of my fancy.
1t happened in this wise: My brother
and had started off one morning to at
tend to some necessary business matters
In the neighbOring town. We had reach
ed home earlier than we expected, and
before returning to the hotel we decided
70 while away an hour by stroll upon
The beach.
AS we approached the bathing-hOuses
we were surprised to see large thrOng
# people gathered together and CONVEX
,ing excitedly.
AS we came up, the crowd parted, and
LII at once, with cruel suddenness. Ar
hur learned that while he had been
offering only a short distance away.
hose nearest and dearest to him had
)een in deadly peril.
While bathing in fancied securitv.
'earing her laughing boy in her arms.
lis wife had been caught by the treach-
rOus under-current and carried in an
Instant beyond her depth, and out of the
each of her companions, who could none
( them swim.
No man had been in sight at the time,