The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-03-18

you no father or mother?''
eve have no mother" was Lena's reply.
"She died about year ago, and father went
away to Eureka, to work, about eight months
ago, and we hain't seen him ever since"
''What was your fathers name %
'DawsOn-Jim Dawson" d"
"And he has sent you no money-noth-
ing 30
''Nothing. Never heard of him since he
went away. But when he was going he left
us a bag Of flour, and lots of groceries and
things-as much as would last us for six
months and he'd be sure and be back before
the provisions were all out"
'And you got ne letter from him at all? ?''
''Not one" replied Lena with a deep sigh.
Poor Dawson had written to his children,
however, but postal communications being at
that time very irregular and uncertain in the
Silver States, the children did not receive his
letters.
"Well, l must go nOw," said the officer af-
ter a pause 'but / will call for YOU tO-mor-
row, and you'll accompany me to the police
officer, for I must do my duty, you know.
Goodbye" And Lena Dawson was left
alone with her little brothers ard sisters.
She felt sad and lonesome after the depart
ure of her kind benefactor, but the buoyancy
of childhood soon gained the aseendencv.
and before bedtime the orphans were as
happy as any group Of children in Virginia
City.
Meantime the report about stealing the
bread and the destitute condition of the chill
dren got abroad. Jim Dawson, miner
himself, was well known and popular among
the miners, and the case created such sym
pathy, and elected so many "reminiscences and
commentaries, that quite crowd was at
tracted next day to the police court Judge
Moses presided. The Judge bore the name
of being upright and honest, kind and beuev-
olent, and if fault lie had at all it was thought
to be a somewhat uncompromising rigor in
the discharge Of his official duties 1t was
hard to tell how the case would go. After
the transaction Of some preliminary 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 furnishing
condition in which he found the children. but
said not syllable about what he had done
to relieve them. Poor Lena stood trembling
before the Judge Thereupon a miner rus
tied through the crowd and stood before the
bench, eyeing the Judge with deprecating
look. q declare to the Almighty. Jedge,
said he, "I never llnowed the state of Jim
Dawson's children and if l did" He
dropped a twenty into Lena's trembling
hand.
"You Jest knowed as much about it as 9th
er folks, " exclaimed anotIsr miner excftedIy,
walking up and putting another twenty into
the girls hand with an indignant air that
flung back any latent suspicious that he
knew anything of the chiIdren's distress any
more that anybody else.
Here Long Alec, a miner-so called on ac-
count of his height and size-slid timidly and
bashfully up to Lena's sidE "Leeny," he
said, in half whisper, '1r5ld yer pinafore.'
And he slipped two twentiesinto her apron,
and then slid back behind the crowd. into a
corner, and, holding his hat to his face, glanc-
ed timidiy around to see that he was com
pletely out of sight.
Then came Wab5ing Joe, who was far
more bashfuI than even Long Alec, but put
on a bold face, and laughed and talked aloud
to make believe that he was not bashful at
all. -
"Jedge," said Wabbling, laughing 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 amt done nothing but 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
gravely at Wabbing Joe'S defense Of the ac-
cused, but then Immediately recovering its
gravity said:
Gentlemen, | appreciate your liberality
and generous sympathy for the young offend
er, and am particularly impressed with the
ingenious defense made by Wabbling joe
here a good natured laugh escaped the
crowd, as if to put the judge in good hui
NOR" but" continued his honor, what
ever might be the sympathy of the court for
the sad condition of the accused, thereisa apub-
lie duty to be performed, and the case must
therefore proceed
''What is your name, my girl ?" asked the
court.
"They call me Lena Dawson, sir, - was the
reply.
"CaIl you Lena Dawson! And 1 suppose
Lena Dawson is name is it not 80
''No. sir it amt, returned the girl. 'NIy
father died when l was only three years old,
and my mother got married to Mr. Dawson
some time afterward. Ny proper name is
Madeline Winters, but they call me Lena for
short"
Madeline Winters! Where were you
born ?" asked the iudge
''In Kansas City, sir" was the reply.
'In Kansas City - echoed the court in a
voice of still deeper gravity than before.
'And what was your mothers maiden name
do you know ?"
Madeline Moses, sir, - responded Lena.
Madeline Moses My God she is my sis
ter -
And Judge Moses, overcome with emotion
bowed his head on the desk, while torrent
of tears flowed down his face.
just as the crowd in obedience to the die
tates of delicacy, were emerging from the
police court, to let uncle and niece indulge
the sacred Joy Of mutual recognition, Jim
Dawson appeared at the door, having Just
returned from his prospecting tour in EuTe-
ka, and with an innate sense of prOpriety
that did honor to his acq uantance8, who
were all rejoiced to see him, was quietly per
mitted to join his relatives inside.-Sap Fran
cisco ATgoHGut.
How THEY SwEAR.-The river says, I'll
be damned The stocking says, I'll be
darned The furnace says, III be blasted !
The doctor says, Plague take it! The teach