Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-09
NO. SO.
Gales ano Skettbes.
WE THREE LOAVES.


was bright. it was rs cheerless and chill
almost rs moonbeams. Wild gusts whistl-
ed through the streets. breathing icicles
and frost in their furious course. and
driving every living thing away to seek
shelter from its biting. penetrating breath.
And Yet not every one was housed and
sheltered from the ptiess gale. for he
who had work to do or business to tran
sact was summoned by memorable duty
10 come forth To his post. or else. when
the day of reckoning came, abide by the
consequences; but. with such exceptions
us these. the male population generally
sought the warm and friendly atmosphere
OF the drinking saloons. where with 'hot
Scotch" and a glowing furnace. they man.
aged to keep themselves from freezing.
OF these luckless exceptions. Abe Den
ming. the baker, was one. In sunshine or
storm, hail. rain or snow. people must eat
eat in fact; all the more voraciously be-
cause il does hail or snow. rs if to pcrpe-
trate IN, unreasonable joke upon the baker.
who, especially in appetising weather.
must see to il that his customers larders
be properly stored with the rarcst and best
productions of his oven.
Even such cold weather rs this did not
deter Mr.. Denning from attending to the
wants of his customers with the assiduty
and attention characteristic of his class.
While disappearing into a customers
house with IN armful of bread. girl of
some fifteen years of age emerged from
miners cabin close by, and, first casting
hurried glances around her, rushed to the
bakers cart, and had Just distracted
therefrom three loaves of bread. and was
carrying them oil, when the baker re-
turned and caught her in the act.
Unfortunately. an officer was passing
Just at the time, and the baker, on the
spur of the moment, and without giving
the case the consideration which he other
wise might. gave her in custody on charge
of theft The girl. without any attempt
at expostulation or explanation, burst into
an agony of tears. a sufficient evidence.
perhaps, that she was but novice, after
all, in the art of stealing.
"Oh" - she exclaimed. don't take me
in this way. Let me wrap a shawl around
my head, or the people will know me-"
The officer. conserving, accompanied
her into the cabin, the baker having driven
away, telling the policeman he would be
in court next day to prefer the charge be-
fore the police Judge.
Ihe officer, on re-cntering found no one
in the cabin but three children-the young
est about three years old, and the eldest
sin The hut was cold and cheerlcss
there was no fi:e. The two elder children
alarn.ed at the presence of the officer.
exhibited discolored ewes and faces, which
bore evidence of suffering and recent
tears; while little Willie, the Youngest.
was crying and inppeasble. moping aim
lessly around the cabin, looking into the
empty closet. and putting his little hands
mechanically into the empty dishes on the
table
.'What made you steal the bread, my
girl9" asked the officer.
At the mention of the word bread"
little Willie looked tearfully and piteously
in the mans face. The girl hugged the
little fellow frantIcally in her arms COW
ering him with tears and kisses
'Oh. my poor little brother" she cried
bitterly. "What will become of you now
This man is going to take your Lena away
with him"
Here the child threw his arms around
her neck, as if to detain her by force
while the other two children screamed fit
to break their hearts.
The officer, suspecting the actual state
Of affairs. began TO cough convulsively:
but instead of applying his hands to his
chest or throat, as most people do on such
occasions, he applied his handkerchief to
his eyes.
''ls there no coal. or nothing at all to
eat IN the house? ?" said he. in gurgling
sort Of voice.
mo coal. no bread, nothing to eat, b" re-
piled the girl, wringing her hands, land
Willie and the rest of us have had nothing
to eat ever since yesterday morning"
Here the officer had another hard fit of
coughing . and went away saying that he
would be back in very short time.
as the man gone for bread ?' asked the
oldest of the children.
"IIush, Mollie dear" said Lena. 81
don't know what he is gone for. He's not
bad man anyhow, for he hasn't arrested
me, as / thoaght he would"
In few minutes the officer returned
with his arms full ot groceries, not forget
/ ting some cakes and condiments for the
smallest children. while another man at
his heels carried big sack of coal on his
back
At sight of the bread. the children
screamed with delight. while the officer
now laughed, now cOughed, and frequent
ly applied his handkerchief to his face. to
wipe off the Precipitation. as it were.
When Lena cut up the large slices Of
bread. and helped the children and her.
self, the two men set to work and made a
large fire IN the stove, the glow of which
soon diffused warmth and comfort through
the cabin. Then they cooked the meat.
and made the tea, and spread steaming
meal on the table, for the four orphans,
while they carved and attended to their
wants until they were fully satisfied.
Happy, happy. childhood, whose pre-
rogatives are innocence, mirth and joy !!
The children, after their dinner, didn't
look like the same children at all. Their
faces were bright and joyous, happy and
handsome, and in a few minutes they
were playing and laughing and romping
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 questions.
Have you NJ father or mother?''
I'VE have no mother" was Lena's re-
ply. ''She died about year ago, and
father went away to Eureka to work
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