The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-12-26

part with her. said Mr.. Knox.
Miss Roxbury was silent for few mo-
ments, and looked out on the lawn where
Dot was swinging in hammock with
the Doll aud Cat.
1T will he dull house without that
child" she said, but l will bring her to
I the station"
When the morning for Dots departure
came, Miss Roxbury arrayed herself in
her second-best black silk, put few ar
| ticles into satchel, filed small basket
| with fresh eggs, new biscuit, q pat OF but
ter and bottle of currant wine, and said
| to Hannah:
81 may be gone two or three days.
Have the east chamber thoroughly aired
and busted before l get back, tell Hiram
to take peck of peas down to Mrs. Al
| der, don't forget to see if 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 newspaper over
the geranium slips in the afternoon"
yes, ma'am."
"And, Hannah, be very careful to keep
out the flies, aud tell Hiram to fix the
| we'll curb. He is so apt to forget
things"
Dot was bathed in tears as she mounted
to her place in the rockaway.
Isn't toming back p she said.
al hope so, DEAR" replied Miss Rox-
bury, who appeared preoccupied and
anxious, and scarcely heard Dots chatter
ON tho xrou tn tho at afion
"Why, Miss Roxbury," said Mr.. Alder,
as he assisted her to the platform, "you
are a veritable fairy god-mother. This
rosy, dainty maiden cannot be the same
bit of humanity that held in my arms a
fortnight ago. You will miss her, will
you not ?"
"I shall go with her to New York any
way" said Miss Roxbury, "and / don't
mean to come back alone, either. Mr.. Al
der, l hope God will forgive me for the
empty house have had all these years"
"An empty house means a lonely
heart" he replied. "I am glad you're
going with the child"
That afternoon Miss Roxbury and Dot,
attended by Mr.. Knox, wended their way
through dark alley in one of the most
squalid districts OF New York city, and
climbed flight after flight of rickety stairs
in a rear tenement
The heat, the filth, the scenes of misery
were indescribable. Miss Roxbury felt
as if she were on the confines of the bot
tomless pit.
Dot darted down long passage and
disappeared in room beyond. The
friends followed and beheld her clasped
tightly in the arms of wan figure that
lay on a pallet. The poor woman had
tainted.
"Mamma, mamma, look at me ="
pleaded Dot, and then she began to cry.
There was no water in the room, and
Mr.. Knox took cracked pitcher from the
shelf and went with Dot in search of some.
Miss Roxbury knelt beside the woman,
who was oniv about thirty years of age,
and had been very attractive as a
young girl. There was 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 a struggle
against despair. She tried to sit up and
moaned:
"My baby-please give me nv baby !"
Just then Dot returned and carried the
pitcher of water to her mother, who drank
long and eagerly, and then holding out
her arms to Dot, said feebly to Miss Rox-
bury:
"Oh, madam, will you take care of my
little girl? think am going to die"
"You are not going to die, not bit of
it." said Miss Roxbury, pouring out some
wine in tea cup, but will take care of
you both. There, drink this, and you will
feel better right away. How long is it
since you have had anything to eat?"
"Day before yesterday" was the faint
reply. 81 had to stop work four days
ago.
"Now, Mr. Knox," said Miss Roxbury,
slipping her purse into his hand, "just
| step out to the nearest grocery and get
some kindling wood and tea and sugar
l will poach nice fresh egg for this poor
soul, and we will see about getting her out
of this place"
The woman's face frightened, but she
said: 81 am giving you much trouble. :"
"Trouble T" said Miss Roxbury. "I am
all alone in the world and I've a house with
twenty-four rooms in it, and plenty to do
with, and what I've been thinking of all
these years l can't say. have been a
crusty, cold, disagreeable old fossil, Mrs.
Winthrop, and when come down here
and find folks starving to death and crowd
| ed like cattle, / wonder the good Lords
had any mercy on me. Don't you worry
another mite. Here's the fire stuff al
ready"
Miss Roxbury rolled up her sleeves, put
an apron over her silk skirt, and while Mr..
Knox built fire and brought water to
heat, she bathed Mrs. Winthrop's face
and hands and brushed out her hair.
Thank God, why, am better al
ready" said Mrs. Winthrop, with rare
smile.
"Of course you are, child !" said Miss
Roxbury. "We'll see what good food
and mountain air will do for you.''
A few days later found an occupant in
the great east chamber of the Roxbury
! house.
Mrs. Winthrop sat in an easy chair be-
fore the open widow inhaling the fra
GRANGE of the blossoming honeysuckle
that nodded to her through the case
ment.
The morning sunlight fell across her