The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-12-09

u
rhythm Her cold, loveless nature in the pres
ence of this tiny girl was already becoming
Christ-iike in its tender ministry.
Dot offered her evening prayer and was put
in Miss Roxbury's own stately bed.
"Good night, dear" said Miss Roxbury, with
kiss.
.sDood night" said Dot, burying herface in
the great bunch of white roses she had brought
| to bed with her; 81 feel zif I'd died an gone
to Heven."
Miss Roxbury passed wakeful night, but
not restless one. Her mind was filled with
plans, and then it was such pleasure to lie
and listen to the soft breathing at her side,
and occasionally to touch the little hand on
the counterpart, still holding the treasured
roses.
The next day Dot ran nearly wild with de-
light. She reveled among the daisies in the
deep soft grass, and 1t was pitiful to see how
small an object could charm her hungry mind.
Gods commonest gifts were unknown to her
| In their bounty and purity. Sunshine, sweet
air, flowers and bird-songs were en- ,ugh to
| make her happy, aud when she found the brook
| that danced across the meadow herdelight was
unbounded. After day or two Miss Roxbury
took the morning train down to Bradleyvllle to
do some shopping. She was gone until night,
and all the way home she thought OF the glad
voice that would welcome her, and her face
grew SO radiant with the new JOY in her soul
that when she alighted, laden with parcels, at
| to recognize her until she had passed him.
"Wall, declare, " he said, Reliance looks as
| II she'd diskivered q gold-mine."
Miss Roxbury reached home, and soon had
| the ''gold-mine" In her arms.
After tea the parcels had to be opened. There
were paper patterns, rolls of muslin, embroid-
cry aud blue flannel pair OF child's slippers,
dainty hose, bright ribbons aud large doll.
20, oh, II" was all that Dot could say, but
her tone expressed more than the most ex,en-
| sive volume on philanthropy that ever was
| written. The village dressmaker was installed
| in the house for week The Rock Mountain
| patchwork was consigned to the seclusion of
| the spare room closet, and Miss Roxbury de-
veloped taste in Mother Hubbard dresses and
ruffied aprons that was truly marvellous.
In the meantime she wrote q letter to Dots
mother, to which Dot added picture OF the
cat, which, although not absolutely true to
| nature, resembling In fact the plan Tor a
house, was great satisfaction to the young
artist. There came no reply to this letter.
Dots cneeks were getting rosy, and her step
buoyant.
| ssff it wasn't for my mamma" she said, 81
wouldn't want to go back forever'n ever.
| When Mr.. Knox, the gentleman In charge
OF the party, called to see that Dot would be
ready to return at the appointed time, Miss
| Roxbury exclaimed, almost ferceiy:
~ can't let her go. l need her. Why may
not keep herP'
| Il 90 not DcDcVe 0er tuOJllcI Wouiu part
| with her, {" said Mr. Knox.
| Miss Roxburv was silent for q few moments,
| and looked out on the lawn where Dot was
swinging In a hammock with the doll and cat
"It will be dull house without the child, |"
she said, "but will bring her to the station"
".
When the morning of Dots departure came
| Miss Roxbury arrayed herself In her second
| best black silk, put few articles in satchel,
| filed small basket with fresh eggs, new
| biscuit, pat of butter aud bottle OF currant
wine, and said to Hannah:
81 may be gone two or three days. Have
the east chamber thoroughly aired and dus ed
| before get back, tell Hiram to take a peck of
peas down to Mrs. Alder, don't forget to see
il those canned strawberries have worked or
| not, and be sure the front door Is kept bolted,
and put that last brood Of chickens in the
other coop. and keep a newspaper over the
| geranium slips in the afternoon"
Eyes, ma'am.
Sand, Hannah, be very careful to keep out
| the flies, and tell Hiram to fix the well curb.
| He is so apt to forget things"
| Dot was bathed in tears as she mounted to
her place In the rockaway.
"1sn't comm backl" she said.
II hope so, dear" replied Miss Roxbury
who appeared preoccuped and anxious aud
scarcely heard Dots chatter on the way to the
| station.
"why, Miss Roxbury," said Mr.. Alders as
he assisted her to the platform, you are a
vertically fairy grandmother. This rosy, dainty
maiden cannot be the same bit OF humanity
that held in my arm fortnight ago. You
will miss her, will you not!"
II shall go with her to New York, anyway"
said Miss Roxbury, land don't mean to come
back alone, either. Mr.. Alder, hope God
will forgive me for the empty house I've had
all these years"
/ y
he replied. "I'm glad you're going with the
child"
That afternoon Miss Roxbury and Dot, at
tended by Mr.. Knox, wended their way
| through . dark alley in one of the most
squalid districts of New York City, aid
climbed high. after fight of rickety stairs in a
| rear tenement.
The hear, the filth, the scenes of misery
| were ndescribable. Miss Roxbury felt as II
| she were on the confines of the bottomless
| pit.
Dot darted down a long passage and disap-
peared In q room beyond. The friends fol.
lowed and beheld her clasped tightly in the
arms OF wan figure that lay on pallet The
| woman had tainted.
Mamma, mamma, look at mep' pleaded
Dot, and began to cry.
| There was no water in the room, and Mr..
Knox took q cracked pitcher from the shelf
and went with Dot in search of some. Miss
| Roxbury knelt beside the woman, who was
only about thirty years OF age and had been
very attractive as young girl. There was a
CLEAN of gold on her left hand. Her hair was
sunny like Dots and her features delicately
| shaped. The letter that Miss Roxbury had
written lay crumpled and tear-stained on the
| pillow.
While Miss Roxbury gazed the woman
opened her eyes. They were beautiful eyes,
but sad with want and q struggle against de-
spair. She tried to sit up and moaned:
"My baby-please give me my babyl''
just then Dot returned and carried the pitch
er of water to her mother, who drank long
and eagerly; then holding out her arms to
Dot, said feebly to Miss Roxbury:
20, madam, will you take care of my little
girls l think Pm going to die"
You're not going to die--not bit of It,"
said Miss Roxbury, pouring out some wine
into teacup, 'but I'll take care OF you both.
There, drink this and you'll feel better right
away. How long since you've had anything
to eatl"
"Day before yesterday" was the faint reply.
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