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


wife. you must know that, when the
old wagon-makcr died, and the children
divided his little property, Rosa-sho
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 whcn after we
had been married about year, my hus-
band fell sick and was not able to work
for long time. Rosa did everything
for us she could; and, but for her, l am
sure he would have died"
"You ought to be and doubtless are,
very grateful TO her. said Sacts.
AYE, that we are, mynheer, replied
the broOm-makcr.
"Well, a few months later continued
the woman, "Heaven sent us tho little
boy you have on your lap Rosa want
ed to be the child's 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 a long discussion,
the child was baptized Joannes Pctrus.
| We call him Pecrken, because his uncle
would be angry if we called him by his
| 'thrr name; Dot Rosa always calls him
jannckcn, aud the child knows that he
Is called 50 because it is your name,
mynhccr,'
>laeis pres, cd the boy Peerken to his
bosom with all the tenderness OF par
emit while the woman continued:
"ROsa's brother had entered into
some speculation with man in Ant
werp, and thought he was goingt omake
a fortune, but, instead OF that, he lost
MI he had, 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 theeyeS.
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.
Eyes; 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 a 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 10 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 to
the broom-maker said in peremptory
tone:
"Put away your work"
The broom-maker was startled at this
commanding tone, and 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 70 complete
establishment. Doyou 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. /
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 tc
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. $780,
Shall 90 and meet her, and tell hel
you are Gomez
SaetS seized the child's hand, saying
"Come, lead me to her"
The child led the way hastily TOWARD
the middle of tho village AS they pass
ed along the people came out Of thei
houses, or stopped on the road to gaz,
at them, as though they saw something
wonderful. The villagers could not un
derstand what the rich gentleman, wht
seemed to be baron, at least, coulC
have in common with the broom maker
Peerken. And still greater was thei
establishment when they saw the strange
stoop and kiss the child. The only solu
ton that any of them suggested to tn,
mystery was that the rich gentleman
had bought the boy of his parents il
orderio adopt him as his own. Thi
was something that happened occasion
ally in the neighborhood, and was NOR,
likely to occur in Peerken's case thar
that of most poor children; for, with hi
big blue eyes and profusion of blonde
curls, he was undeniably the handsomes
little boy in the village.
In the meantime, Slaets, led by Peer
ken, walked on. The whole village ap
peared to him in rose-coored light, tn
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