The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-04-08

THE THREE LoAvRs.

sun was bright, IL was as cheerleSs and
chill almost as moon-beams. Wild
gusts whistled through the streets,
breathing icicles aud frost In their furi-
Gus course, and driving every living
thing away to seek shelter from It's
biting, penetrating breath. And yet
not every one was housed and shelter
ed from the pitiless gale, for he who
had work to do OF business to transact
was summoned by inexorable duty to
come forth to his post, or else, when
the day Of reckoning came, abide by
the consequences; but with such ex-
ceptions as thesc, the male population
generally sought the warm and friend
ly atmosphere of the drinking saloons,
where with 'hot Scotch" and glowing
furnace they managed to keep them.
selves from freezing. OF these luckless
exceptions Abe Denning, the baker,
was one. In sunshine or storm, hail,
rain or snow, people must eat-eat, in
fact, all the moro vigorously because II
does hail or snow, as If to perpetrate an
unreasonable joke on the baker, who,
especially in appetixing weather, nust
see to it that his customers larders be
properly stored with the best produc,
tions of his even.
Even such cold weather as this did
not deter Mr. Denning from attending
TO the wants Of bis customers With the
assiduity and attention characteristic
of his class. While disappearing ints
q customers house with an armful oi
bread, girl Of some fifteen years Of
age emerged from miners cabin close
by, and, first casting wild and hurried
glance about her, rushed to the bakers
cart, and had just abstraoted thcrefrom
three Ioaves OF bread, and was carrying
them off, when the baker returned and
caught her in the act.
Unfortunately an oilioer was passing
just at tho time, and tho baker, on the
spur of the moment, and without Civ.
ing the case tho consideration which he
otherwise might, gavo her into custody
en- charge Of thsft. The. girl, without
attemps at expOstulAtion or explana-
ton, burst into a. sgony of tears, a
sufficient evidence, perhaps. that she
was but novice, after all, in the art oi
stealing.
"Oh" she exclaimed, "don's take me
in this way. Let nae wrap a shawl
around my head, or the people will
know me-"
The officer, sonsenting, sccsmt mt,anied
her into the cabin. The baker having
driven away, telling the policeman hs
would be in court next day 70 prefer
the charge before the Police Judge.
The officer on entering found no one
in the cabin bat three children-the
youngest about three years old and the
eldest about six. The hut was cold
and cherries; there was no FIRE. The
two eloer children, alarmed at the pres
ence OF an officer, exhibited discoIored
eyes and faces, which bore evidence o.
suffering and recent tears, while littl.
Willie, the Youngest, wss crying anC
inappeasable, moping aiinlessly arounG
the cabin, looking into the empty close
and putting his little hands mechani
cally into the empty dishes On th'
table.
"What made you steal The bread, m.
grill" asked the officer.
At the mention Of the wsrd bread
little Willie looked tsarfully and pite
susfy in the mans face. The girl hug
ged the little fellow franticslly in be
arms, covering him With tea.s AL
kisses.
"oh, sy poor little brotheli' ah
cried bitterly. "What will become O
you nVwl This man is going to tax
your Lena away with him.
Here the child threw his arms aroun
her neck, as if 10 detain her by force
while the other two children screame
fit to break their hearts.
The officer, suspecting the real stat
Of affairs, began To eough convulsivsI.
but instead of applying his hand 10 hi
chest or throat, as most people do o
such occasions, he applied his hanc
kerchief to his eyes.
"Is thsre no coal, or Rothing ut a
to eat in the housed" said he, in " CUR
ling sert of voice.
"No coal, no bread, J, nothing 10 eat
replied the girl, vringing her hand
"and poor Willie and the rest Of us ha,
had nothing to eat since yssterds
morning"
| Here the officer had another hard
| of coughing, and went away saying thl
he would be back again in sho
time.
| "Is the man going for breadfs ask.
the oldest of the children.
"Hush, Mollie, DEAR said Lena. ;
don't know whas he has gene fc
He's not bad man, anyhow, for
hasn't arrested mo, as l thought
, would"
La very few minutes tho officer r
turned with his arms full Of bread al
groceries, not forgetting some cakes al
condiments for the small childre
while another man at his heels carri,
a big sack of coal on his back.
At the sight Of the bread the ch
! dsen screaned with delight. while t
, officer now laughed, now coughed, al
. frequently applied bis. handkerchief
his face to wipe off the perspiration,
1t were.
While Lena cut ap large slices
! bread, and helped the children and b
self, the two nen set at werk aad ma
large fire in the stove, the glow
/. which soon suffused warmth and conf,
!. through the cabin. Then they cook
= the meat and made the tea, and spre
o a steaming meal on the table for
\ four orphans, while they carved a
e attended to their wants until they W,