The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-06-11

WIG lou must know that, when tho
old wagon-mahcr died, and tie children
divided his little property, Rosa-she
could never be induced to marry-you
can imagine why well, Rosa gave her
share TO her brother, on condition that
he would give her home for the rest
OF her life. Now, more than ever, she
gave herself up to nursing the sick and
helping the poor; and so when, after we
had been married about year. my hus-
band fell sick and was not able TO work
for a long time. Rosa did everything
for us she could; and, but for her, am
sure he would have died.
you ought to be and doubtless are,
very grateful TO her. said Slacts
Aye, that we are, mynheer, replied
the broOm-makcr.
'Well, few months later, continued
the woman, "lIeaven sent us the little
boy you have on your lap Rosa want
ed to be the childs godmother, and
Peer, my husbands brother was to be
godfather. Well, Rosa wanted the child
called Joannes, but the godfather in
sisted that it should be called Petrus
after him. So, after long discussion,
the child was baptized Joannes Pctrus.
We call him Pcerken, because his uncle
would be angry if we called him by his
'thrr mime, hut Rosa always calls him
janncE"n, aud the child knows that he
IS called 50 because it is your name,
mynhceE"
>lacts pressed the boy Pccrken TO his
bosom with all the tenderness OF par
ent, while the woman continued:
"Rosa'S brother had entered into
some speculation with a man in Ant
werp, aud thought hewas goingto make
n fortune, but, instead of that, he lost
all he bad, and more, too; and then,
poor man, he died afterwards from grief
Rosa then went to live with the Flincke
family there on the corner She had not
been there long when young Flincke
came home on leave Of absence-he was
a sOldier-with bad disease of the eyes.
In nursing him Rosa caught the same
disorder. and in two weeks she was
blind. Then we asked her to come and
live with us"
but she begs," said Slaets.
"ies; but mynheer. that's not our
fault replied the woman in tone
which showed that her pride was touch
ed. you must not think we have for
gotten what Rosa did for us. For more
than six months we prevented it; but
she was burden to us when she want
cd to be of assistance, so beg she would;
and finally we were compelled to let
her She forces us sometimes to accept
portion of what is given her-but we
return it all twofold; for, although she
does not know it, she is better dressed
than what we are, and has better food.
There is always An extra dish for her at
dinner. See, there it is now, before the
fire"
Having finished her narrative, and
seeing that mynheer was absorbed in
reflections, the woman resumed her spin
ming. After maintaining strict silence
for some time, Slaets suddenly put the
child on the ground, and turning 10
the broom-maker said in peremptory
tone:
put away your work"
The broom maker was startled at this
commanding tone, aud arose unable to
make reply.
away with your work. say, and
give me your hand farmer Nelis."
Farmer murmured the broom
maker, still more astonished.
Come, come" cried Slaets; "throw
your broom corn out of doors, or into
the fire, if you like, will give you a
hide of land, some cows and horses, and
whatever else is necessary TO complete
establishment. Do you not believe me-"
he continued. showing the bewildered
broom-maker Il handful of gold. II
could give you this money, but esteem
you too highly to offer you money. l
will make you the possessor of farm;
and, as for your children, | will be their
benefactor, even after my death
The good people looked at each other
with tears in their eyes, and seemed TO
doubt their senses. AS Slaets was about
to repeat his promises, Peerken grasped
his hand as though he had something to
say to him
What is it my child?" he asked.
"Mynheer Jan, " replied the boy, "see,
the people are coming in from the fields.
] know where | can find Rosa now. ---
Shall | 90 and meet her, and tell her
you are Gomez"
Slaets seized the child's hand, saying;
Come, lead me to hertz
The child led the way hastily toward
the middle of the village. AS they pass
ed along the people came out of their
houses, or stopped on the road to gaze
at them, as though they saw something
wonderful. The villagers could not un-
derstand what the rich gentleman, who
seemed to be a baron, at least, could
have in common with the broom-maker's
Pcerken. And still greater was their
establishment when they saw the stranger
stoop and kiss the child. The only solu-
ton that any of them suggested to the
mystery was that the rich gentleman
had bought the boy of his parents in
order to adopt him as his own. This
was something that happened occasion
ally in the neighborhood, and was more
likely TO occur in Peerkens case than
that of most poor children; for, with his
big blue eyes and profusion of blonde
curls, he was undeniably the handsomest
little boy in the village.
In the meantime, Slacts, led by Peer
ken, walked on. The whole village APP
peared to him in rose-colored light the