Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-01-19

In the meadow, III frantic and unbe-
coming manner, very unlike his usual
quiet rnd dignitied conduct.
"1t's rat, as likely as not" said Jane
turning homeward.
what, Jane; listenp 1t wrs Susan
who spoke hurriedly and low.
THAT isn't rat, nor hen cacklin
neither; it sounds like a cry" said Deb
by, looking sternly at the haystack.
Its a cry. girls! Come, Tower is
tormenting there, as sure as you live"
Susan ran nimbly as young girl
down the hillside and across the road
and had reached the bars and entered
the meadow before the two elder ones
had come to the road.
"Towzer,-stOp! Here, Towzerw call
ed Susan, and Tower yelped and barked
louder than ever, while the cry of hui
man voice came more distinct at every
step.
what can it be?" cried Susan, break
ing into a run as she neared the stack,
Tower barking excitedly, met her, lead
ing her quite around to the other side,
where the object of his annoyance was
! found, crOuched under the stack, almost
hidden from sight.
Lord pity us ALL" cried Susan-who
never said that, excepting under extraOr-
binary circnmstances-and then the
tears ran over from her loving brown
eyes, and dropped down, one by one
upon Towers head.
"A child under the haystack! How
on earth did it come here, and when?"
Susan, in her pity and bewilderment,
never thought of questioning the child,
therefore she only stared while Tow
ger. seemingly quite content with hav-
ing accomplished his ohiect-that of
bringing the family down to the
meadow-sat down and painted, over
come with his exertiOns, as Debby had
been after chasing the hens.
"A childi'' cried Jane, looking over
Susan shoulder, in a helpless, beSOtted
way.
"A boyl" ejaculated Debby, aghast. =.
Susan mopping away the tears from
her face, recovered tone and spirits in Il
flash. For bright idea, such a brilliant
idea, had come to Susan. There's some
thing queer about this, Debby; there's
Providence in this, mind it. Come boy,
come right out now, we're friends"
Debby started and Jane laughed nerv-
" u,
famishing looking boy to his feet.
"Your dog" he gasped, ,crOuching close
to Susan's side.
"Bless youl Tower wouldn't hurt a
fly" said Susan to assure the frightened
child.
"He took my breakfast" The great,
hungry eyes looked up to Susan, who
said beneath her breath, Lord, pity us
allr
"Towzer, you thiefp' said Jane, harsh
ly, and with desire to conciliate the
boy. What did your breakfast consist
of, poor boy?"
The famished lad made no reply to
this question of James, but the brown,
hungry eyes were raised appealingly to
Susan. and rested a moment on Tower,
before they closed, and the long black
lashes lay thick and dark upon the white
Sunken cheeks.
Lord pity us ALL He's tainted dead
awayF cried Susan, as she gathered the
frail boy in her strong, mOtherly arms
and, without a word to astonished Deb
by and Jane, she strobe like determin-
ed general across the meadow, with
Tower quietly at her heels, up the hill,
over the cool porch, through James clean
kitchen, dropping bits of hay at inter
vals, on through the darkened sitting
room, to the little bed room beyond, and
deposited her burden upon the white
bed, Then she ran-yes, really ran-tO
the kitchen closet, and returned-as
Debby laughingly told the story years
after-with not only camphor and BRAN
dy bottles, but also the salt and pepper
together with the saleratus and mustard
cups, just as Debby and Jane entered in
amazed silence.
"She has taken him to the sitting-room
BEDROOM said Jane surprised beyond
measure. at the same time conceiYing a
great admiration for this little Susan,
who could always think and perform
twice, before Jane or Debby could arrive
at even the shadow of conclusion.
1T was the nearest bed, Jane, and
such comfortable spot; when l had
fever'n ager, why L quite enjoyed lyin
here" apologiZed Susan, as she was about
to deluge the wan-faced boy with cam
phor and brandy, which Debby, with
strong hand, prevented just in time.
Debby, you see, had reached a conclu-
sion or two, and she was now ready to
act with the foremost, as she always was
after deciding.
He's comm to, Susan; never mind
all that stuff you've brought in here from
that closet. This boy is starved out,
that's all he doesn't want your camphOr
and mustard nor salt, neither, but you
just weaken bit of the brandy, and
Jane, you be quick and see if that broth
| smell isn't most done, or boiled itself
to death, and bring bowlfal in here;
take one of the blue bowls, Jane
they've got comfortable, healthy sort
of look, owing to their amazin' size.
There now. sonny, swallow this weak
brandy"
Susan was bending down over the
white face, smoothing the brown hair,
and smiling succession of sunbeamy
smiles, right into the face and heart of
this outcast. A wan smile answered her;
and the weary eyes looked up a moment
at Debby, gratefully, as he swallowed
the weakened brandy, but they returned
to Susan's face and rested there.
81 don't suppose. Debby, we know how
to deal with children exactly, never hav-
in had any around" said Susan,
mournfvlly and apologetically; at the
same time. one plump hand was tender
ly smoothing the boys hair, while The
other clasped one of his thin hands,
which was not yeryIclean, either
Never mind, Susan, we know how to !
feed them, any way; and reckon that1l |
reach their hearts as soon as anything. !
Right, Jane? you've brought one of the |
blue bowls, haven't you? That broth
smells amazin' good! Now, then, Son.
nyf
Debby took the spoon from James
still holding the bowl-and |
to feed the famished boy.
"I1l raise him up, Debby, so that he
can eat better" And accordingly, Susan |
raised the boys head to her shoulder,
when he looked up with the feeble smile
again, while his lips moved painfully