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

ravs were as cherries and chill al
most as moon-beams. Wild gusts
whistled through the streets, breath
ing ieicles and frost in their furious
course and driving every living
thing away TO seek shelter from It's
biting. penetrating breath. And yet
NOT everyone was housed from the
pitiless gale for he who had work to
do or business 70 transact WIS sii,n-
moned by inexorablc duty TO come
forth to his post, or else. when lie
dav of reconine came, abide by It's
consequences; bat. with such ex-
ceptions as these, the male popula-
ton generally sought the warm and
friendly atmosphere of drinking sa-
looms, where, with shot Scotch" and
glowing furnace, they managed to
keep themselves from freezing. or
these exceptions. Abe Denning, the
baker. was one. In sunshine or
storm. hail or snow, people must
eat, in fact, all the more yoracious-
ly because it does hail or snow, as
If to perpetrate an unreasonable
joke upon the baker, who especially
in appetizing weather, must see 10
1t that his customers larders be
properly stored with The rarest and
best productions of his oven.
Even sach cold weather as this
did not deter Mr.. Denning from at
tending TO the wants OF his custo-
mers with the assidrity and atten-
ton characteristic OF his class
While disappearing into custo-
mer's house with an armful Of bread,
a girl some fifteen years Of age
emerged from a miners cabin close
by, and. first casting wild and hur-
ried glanccs around her, rushed TO
the bakers cart, and had Just alb
stracted therefrom three loayes Of
bread, and was carrying them OFF
when the baker returned and caught
her in the act.
Unfortunately an officer was pass
ing Just at the time, and the baker
on the spur Of the moment, aud
without giving the case that consid-
Grafton which be otherwise might,
gave her in custody, on a charge Of
theft. The girl, without any ex-
postulation or explanation burst
into an agony of tears sufficient
evidence, perhaps, that she was but
anovice, after all, in the art of steal
ing.
"Ohl" she exclaimed, don't take
me in this way. Let me wrap a
shawl around my head, or the peo-
pie viii know me-"
The officer, on entering, found no
one in the cabin but three children
the youngest about three and the
eldest six.-The hut was cold and
cheerless : there was no fire. The
two elder children, alarmed at the
presence of the officer, exhibited
discolored eyes and faces, which
bore evidene of suffering and recent
tears; while little Willie, theyoung-
est, was crying and inappeasable,
moping aimlessly around the cabin,
looking into the empty closet, and
putting his little hands mechanical
ly into the empty dishes on the Ia
bic.
"What made you steal the bread,
my girl? ?' asked the officer. Atthe
mention Of the word '9bread" little
Willie looked carefully and piteous-
iy in the mans face. The girl
hugged the little fellow frantically
in her arms, covering him with tears
and kisses.
"Oh, my poor little brother!"
she cried, bitterly. what viii be-
come Of you now? This man is 60
ing to take your Lena away with
himI p
Here the child threw his arms
around the girls neck, as to detain
her by force, while the other two
children screamed piteously.
The officers, suspecting the act
ual state Of affairs, began to investi-
gate
as there no coal, or anything at
all to eat in the house?" said he.
''No coal, no bread, nothing TO
eat !" replied the girl, wringing her
hands; "and poor Willie and the
rest of us have had nothing to eat
since yesterday morning"
Here the officer went away, saw
ing he would be back again in a
short time.
'Is the man going for bread ?n
asked the Oldest of the children.
flush, Molly, dearl' said Lena.
81 don't know what he has gone
for. He's not a bad man, anyhow,
for he hasn't arrested me as
thought he would"
In very minutes the officer re-
turned with bread and groceries.
not forgetting some cakes and con-
diments for the smallest children.
while another man at his heels car
ried a big sack of wood and coal on
his back.
At sight of the bread the children
screamed with delight: while Lena
cut up large slices of bread, and
helped the children and herself.
the two men set to work to make 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
tea, and spread n steaming meal on
the table for the four orphans, while
they carved and attedded to their
wants till they were fully satisfied.
Happy, happy childhood, whose
prerogatives are innocence, mirth
and joy The children after their
dinner didn't look like the same
children all all. Their faces were
bright and joyous, happy and hand
some; and in = few moments thev
were playing and laughing and
romping, rs happy as if they had
never felt the pangs OF hunger.
And now" said the officer. de-
lighted at seeing the children so
happy, sit down and answer me a
few question-IIaye you no father
or mother?''
"We have no mother, WIS Lena's
reply. "She died about year ago.
and father went away to Eureka. to
work, about eight months AGO. and
ne hain't seen him over since >