, 1881-02-25

The children, after their dinner, didn't
look like the same children tall. Their
faces were bright and joyous, happy and
handsome, ard IN Il few minutes they
were playing and laughing and rompinS.
as happy as if they had never felt the
pangs of hunger
And now" said the officer, delighted
at seeing the children so happy, sit
down. Lena, and answer me few queS-
tions. Have you no father or mother
I'VE have no mother, Was Lena re
ply. ''She died about a year ago, and
father went away to Eureka to work
about eight months ago, and We ham
seen him ever since"
What is your fathers name?'
'Dawson-,Jim Dawson"
And he has sent you no money
nething?"
Nothing. Never heard of him since
he went away: But when he was going
he left Us a bag of -four, and lots of gro
oeries 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 all?"
Not one" replied Lena, with deep
sigh.
Poor Dawson had written to his chill
dren, however, but postal communication
being at that time very irregular and I'M
certain in the Silver State, the children
did not receive his letters.
"Weil, l must go now, sald the
officer after pause, but l will call to-
| morrow, and you'll have to accompany
me up to the police station, for l must
do my duty, you know. Goodbye"
And Leno Dawson was left alone with
| her little brothers and sisters. She felt
| sad and lonesome after the departure OF
her kind benefactor, but the buoyance of
childhood soon gained the ascendency,
and before bed time the orphans were as
happy rs any group of little children IN
Virginia City.
Meantime, the report about the steal
ing of the bread and the destitute con-
dition of the children got abroad. jim
Dawson, a miner himself, was well
known and popular among the miners,
and the case created such sympathy and
elicited so many "reminiscences and com
mentaries, that quite crowd was at
tracted to the police court.
Judge Moses presided. The Judge
bore the name of being upright and hon
est. kind and benevolent, and if fault
|
what uncompromising rigor III the dis
charge of his official duties. 1t was
hard to say how the case would go.
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 officer testified to the famisning con-
dition in which he found the children,
bnt said not a SYLLABLE about what he
had done to relieve them.
Poor Lena stood trembling before the
Judge Thereupon a miner rustled
through the crowd and stood before the
bench, cycling the judge with depre-
eating look.
II declare to the Almighty, Jedge,
said he, II never knew the state of Jim
Dawson's children, and if did"
He dropped a twenty into Lena's trem'
bling hand.
You Jest knowed as much about il
as other folks" exclaimed another mi
ner, excitedly, walking up and putting
another twenty into the girls hand,
with an indignant air that flung back
any latent suspicion that he kney any
thing of the children's distress any more
than anybody else.
Here Long Alec, a miner-so called on
account of the height and size-slid tim
idly and bashfully up to Lena's side.
''Leeny," he said, in a half whisper
"hOId yer pinafore," and he slipped two
twenties into her apron, and then slid
back behind the crowd into a 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 IL bold face, and laughed and
talked loud to make believe that he was
not bashful at all.
"Jedgei'' cried Wabbling Joe, laugh
ing and nodding familiarly at the court
to disarm that functionary of possible
rigor IN the trial of the case in hand
"Jedge, let the girl slide. She AIM
done nothin' but what you or 1 would
do if we was hungry"
And poor Lena was once more the reel
pient of another present.
The court held down his head and
smiled gravely at Wabbling Joe's defense
of the accused, but Immediately recoV'
ering his gravity, said:
Gentlemen, 1 appreciate your hber-
ality and generous sympathy for the
young offender, and am particularly i'm
pressed with the ingenious defense made
| Dy my 1fienu, WADDllnB JOG -Here d
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 ac-
eused, there is public duty to be per-
formed, 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 Eawsonl And I sup.
pose Lena Dawson is your name, is it
not 2" 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 2" asked the judge.
''In Kansas City, sir" was the reply.
I'm Kansas Cityr' echoed the court, in
a voice of still deeper gravity than be-
fore. "And what was your mothers
maiden name, do you know"
Madeline Moses. sir" responded