The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-06-22
SUCH A PRETTY CHILD!
By MAJOR d. p. CONYNGHAM.

She stood in the store, her large black
eyes staring around in a kind of be-
wildered wonderment, her unkempt hair
hanging in golden curls around her
pretty face, looking, despite her rags
and her poverty, cherub of childish
Ioveliness and beauty.
She did not speak, but imploringly
held out her little hand. as if seeking
charity.
Mr.. Barton, who was a junior partner
in the firm of Townsend, Davis & Co.,
large importing house in one of the
business streets branching off Broadway,
chanced to be passing at the time.
The beauty, as well as the mute, ap-
pealing attitude of the child, attracted
: his attention, and, going over to her, he
said in a CHEEKY voice:
''Well, little Sunbeam, what do YOU
wantp'
1t is remarkable with what intuitive
instinct little child will recognize q
gentle, friendly nature, and with inno-
cent confidence she will open her heart
to such a one
The little one looked into the kind
face of Mr.. Barton and murmured:
Mamma is sick, sir, and. oh! so
poor"
Mamma sick and poor, child. Moth
ing new. in this modern Babylon, where
the rich and poor are jostling each other
ON more wealth, the other for a crust of
child, is half-dollar It will get man.
mas dinner, and when she's hungry
again come and see me-"
- <rI,sfo,nI ~, tha "a
pretty little mite as she looked at the
piece of money in her hand. 1t was to
her a fortune, and her childish mind
formed all the nice things it would pur-
chase for mamma.
''Oh! tank-ee, zur," she whispered
Now mamma will get well, an she
won't be cryin'. Won't she zur?''
Il hope SO. DEAR said Mr. Barton.
.'But that is a small sum to purchase
happiness"
Several of the clerks, attracted by the
loveliness of the child and her artless
prattle, stood listening. So interested
were they that they did not notice the
approach of the head of the firm until
he stood beside them.
Mr.. Townsend was rather pompous
and austere man. 1t was whispered
among the clerks that his nature was
soured by some deep family affiiction,
and the old clerks who knew him in for
mer years declared that they would not
recognize him at all, SO much had he
changed.
'Can you find nothing to do," ex-
claimed Mr.. Townsend in bitter tones,
''but to stand around here fooling with
a beggar child?"
The clerks SUNK away, but Mr.. Bar
ton quietly replied:
Look at her, Mr.. Townsend. She
is such a pretty child. / must confess
that have a weakness for children. and
somehow this poor little one seems to
stir chord in my heart"
"Pshaw! beggar bratm muttered the
man whose heart had been hardened to
the tenderest instincts of nature, as he
walked back to his private office.
Not so with Mr.. Barton. He, having
gained the confidence of his protegee,
asked her several questions. but all he
could learn from her was that she and
mamma had come from some big town
to New York. that papa was dead anu
mamma sick.
''But what is-your name, dearT'
"My name is Ella, zur."
ELLA what?'
''That's the only name ma calls me-"
''But surely you have some other
What is it?'' -
Eyes, zur, let me Think
And she paused and closed her eyes.
After moment she exclaimed:
Il have it zur." #...
'Well, what is it, pet?''
celia Stanly, zur,"
A strange spasm shot through Mr..
Barton's heart. He had to support him.
self against the counter. What if his
conjectures were right, the poor little
waif before him was no other than the
granddaughter of the cold, proud man
who had Just left him, and the child of
the woman to whom he had given his
Young affections, and for whose love he
had led lonely bachelor life.
al will 90 home with her and learn
all. My heart tells me that have found
the lost one. and il so it shall be my
duty to restore her to the heart and
home of her father"
AS the junior partner took the little
thing so tenderly by the hand, as if she
were the child of the proudest lady on
Fifth Avenue. and led her from the store,
the clerks smiled and exchanged signifi-
cant winks and mods, but of course did
not venture to give expression to their
uncharitable suspicious.
Mr. Townsend, too, was peering
through the window OF his office, and
with subdued whistle he exclaimed:
81 declare, that Barton is chickens
hearted fellow. Just see how the fool
goes off with that dirty little girl, who,
no doubt, is trained to tell all kinds of
stories in order to get money for her
drunken tramp of father or mother. !"
Though Mr. Townsend spoke harshly
and uneharitably, still there was some
thing tugging at his conscience that
made him feel anything but happy.
How rapidly the years had passed
since he fondly dandled a sweet little
cherub which called him papa.
She grew up to be beautiful and
fascinating woman. loved and admired
| by all. He had selected for her a wealthy
husband, but she disobeyed her father g
commands and married poor young
! clerk
The proud, stubborn man of the world
flung from his affection his discarded
and disobedent daughter, and closed
his door against herself and her husband.
He even carried his resentment so fal
as to get the young man discharged
from the house where he was employed
as bookkeeper, and thus flung him and
his tender wife hopeless and helpless
upon the world. They had left New
York; what had become of them since
he had never learned, for he had per
emptorily refused holding any commu-
nication with them.
AS the winning ways, the childish
prattle, and womanly grace and lowell
ness of the discarded one flashed before
his mind, he sat down to his desk, rest
ed his head upon his hand, and groaned
The ragged little begar-girl logged hii