The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-20

were as happy as any group of little
children in Virginia City.
Meantime The report about steal
lag the bread and the destitute con
ditiea OF The children cat abroad
Jim Dawson, a miner himself, was
well know and popular among tht
miners, and the case created nucl
sympathy, and elected so many
"reminiscences aad commentaries
that quito crowd was attracted
next day 10 the police court. judy,
Moses presided. The Judge bore
the name Of being upright and hon
cst, kind and benevolent. and i
iaalt he lad at all it was thought to
be somewhat uncompromising
rigor Ia the discharge Of his official
duties. Ii was hard to say how the
ease would 90. After the transac'
ton of some preliminary business
the case was called.
The baker sworc to the stealing
Of the bread, and identified the de
fendant as the thief The officer
testified to the furnished condition
in which he found the children, bat
said not syllable about what he
had done to relieve them. Poor
Lena stood trembling before the
Judge. Thereupon 4 miner rustled
through the crowd and stood before
the bench, eveing the Judge with a
deprecating look. Il declare 70 the
Almighty, Jedge," said he, Il never
knowod tie state OF Jim Dawson 5
children, and il / did" lie drop
ped a twenty into Iena's trembling
hand.
"You jest knowed as much about
il as other folks" exclaimed anoth-
er miner cxcitedly walking up and
putting another twenty into the
girls hand with an indignant air
that flung back any latent suspi-
cion that he knew anything of the
children's distress anymore than
anybody else.
Here Long Alec, miner-so
called on account of his height and
size-slid timidly and bashfully up
to Lena's side. "Leeny,n he said in
half whisper, hold your pima
FORE And he slipped tyo twenties
into her apron, and .ea slid back
behind the crowd, intoa corner, and,
holding his hat to his face, glanced
timidly around to see that be was
completely out OF sight.
Then came Wabbling Joe, who
was far more bashful than even
Long Alec, but he put on bold
face, and laughed and talked aloud
to make believe he was not bashful
at all.
'tJedge," said Wabbling Joe,
laughing and nodding Eamiliarly at
the court, to disarm the functiona-
ry of possible rigor in the trial Of
the case at hand-"Jedge, let the
Girl slide. She amt done nothing
bus what YOU or ! would DO if we
was hungry? And poor Lena was
at once the recipient of another
present.
The court held down his head
and smiled grayely at Nabbling
Joe's defence of the accused, but
then Immediately recovering his
gravity said;
Gentlemen, l appreciate your lib-
erality and generous sympathy Tor
the Young offender. and ] am par
ticuiarly impressed with the ingen-
ious defence made by Wabbling
Joe'-here 4 good laugh escaped
the whole crowd as il to put the
Judge in good humor-"but,
continued his honor, whatever
might be the sympathy oftle court
for the sad condition of the accused,
there is q public duty to beperform-
cd, and the case must therefore pro-
ceed."
"What is your name, my girl =
asked the court.
They call me Lena Dawson, sir,
was the reply.
Call you Lena Dawson And |
suppose Lena Dawson is your name,
is it not, observed the Judge.
"No, sir, it amt" returned the
girl. "Aly father died when | was
only three years old, and my moth
er got married to Mr.. Dawson some
time afterward. My proper name
is Madeline Winters, but they call
mo Lena for short"
Madeline Winters Where were
YOU born ?" asked the Judge.
"In Kansas City, sir" was the re-
I'm Kansas cityr' echoed the
court, in voice still deeper than
before. "And what was your moth
er's maiden name, do you know p
Madeline Moses. sir, responded
Lena.
Madeline Mosesl Ny Godl she
is my sister J"
And Judge Moses, overcome with
emotion, bowed bis head on the
desk, while torrent OF tcars flowed
down his face.
Just as the crowd, in obedience
to the dictates Of delicaey, were emer-
ging from the police court, to let un-
Gle and niece indulge in the JOY Of
mutual recognition, Jim Dawson
appeared at the door, having just
returned from his prospecting tour
in Eureka. and, with an innate sense
of propr;ety that did honor to his
acquaintance, who were all rejoiced
to see him, was quietly permitted
to Join his relatives inside.-SaH
Francisco Argoaaut.
-------.--.----~---~---s.-