St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-09-29
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tnItItt lllN WIG = DOuuOlls anu
her kneeling before a low chair, on
which was a boy baby with large,
round and wondering eyes. She got
up and came rustling in her silken robe
de chGmbre to meet me. She reached
out her hand and greeted me not more
heartily, nor yet more formally, than
we were accustomed to greet each 9TH
er in those days.
"There it is" said my wife, pointing
to the child.
'"What ?" asked l.
"Well, you know-did we not read
of it in the newspaper ? Don't you
remember-the day before yesterday t?
And is it not beautiful ~
Now did recOllect that few nights
before she held the Gazette under the
light of my student lamp, and, point
ing with her finger to an advertisement,
said to me, "Please read that" 1t was
the well-known appeal, the cry of de-
spair from bleeding heart, addressed
to good people" A child was offered
! for adoption to persons well off. "What
would you think of our taking it ~ my
wife had said and had returned the
paper with a shrug of my shoulders.
"But, Martha, what have you done p
cried |, in a tone vibrating with anger.
you have really g"-
"Certainly, as you see. And then it
| belongs to me | myself have settled
everything with the poor mother, who
| is in reality to be pitied. | have sworn
to take good care of it and so | will
indeed
She took the little head, with its
blonde, silk curls, between her white
hands, and fOndled and caressed it.
'Ts it not so, little one g-yOu will be
loved ?"
Bnt the somewhat sickly and deli
cate little face showed no signs of un-
derstanding.
at once gave up all serious Objec-
tion. Had we not been accustomed
| for years to act independently of each
other Our marriage was not happy
one, although we had not married for
love. During the noise and hustle OF
the crowded exchange, our fathers had
contracted this union.
AT the commencement we were tC
each other silent reproach ; after
which followed a declared war, until
finally we came to a polite but gloomy
peace.
To be sure, she was beautiful, she
was good and bright and sparkling
And II Well, believe was no mon
ster either. The analysis showed tho
brightest colOrs, still the sun was miss
ing. We were six years married and
had no children. Perhaps had heaven
sent us them
Well, this child belonged entirely tC
her heard later that she had given
Il 900, the price of set of jewels
which she sold secretly.
"Why did you not tell me of it ="
said |, half angrily.
because it would have been too
late, if | had waited for your return tC
the city and, besides, | wanted il
entirely for myself; want to call il
my own"
My horses, my dogs her canaries
her gold fishes-I could endure that
but that she wanted to have her chile
for herself alone, that was too mucl
for me. The thought of it tortured mt
one, two days long. On the third day
my wife having gone out i'll her car
riage, there came yelled woman an'
demanded entrance. 1t was the moth
er. Like IL shadow she glided into til,
room, and, with half-suppressed sob
begged to see her child once more
She could not part from him foreve
without imprinting one more kiss upol
his checks. | opened my safe quickly
'.Here, my good woman" said "tak
that; they have not given you enough.
Hot tears fell down her wan cheeks
she begged me not to judge her to-
harshly; she had another child, IA Grip
pie and helpless she herself was sicl
and would not live much longer, AM
what would become of the children
Then she Thought myself had t
finish the sentence which violent fl
T. of coughing had interrupted. Eyes,
> she had thought II will sell til
healthy one, in order that the none
may help the cripple when | am dea
70 and gone
7 When my wife returned | gave he
an account of the call | had had, add
ing that had given to the unfortu
nate one exactly the same amount ii
she had. "And now" said |, ''yOu Sc
that the child belongs to both of us.
4 She bit her lip with her little whit
:. teeth.
r at is all the same to me-" said sh,
u after n moments reflection.
"Our child ~ | scarcely ever saw i
And the changes that were made in Ou
household for his sake were made ell
tirely without me. Sometimes, aft,
the most important things were decid
|. ed, my consent was then asked.
My wife and did not talk niue
Z about the child, and when we did mel
y ton it, we only used the name at
rs But this "It" could be heard throug
- the house at almost any time of ii
- day.
"Hush not so much noise !
sleeps 1t must have its dinner
should be taken out for a drive-It h;
hurt itself y and so the whole houi
began to turn around our "It.n Th
nameless neuter vexed me.
j. at must have its own name,H said
~ entirely forgot to ask the moth
i mean the wOman-what its nan
r is" answered my wife. "She intend,
to come again. But she is certain
sick. Now | call it Max. Max is
pretty, short name, is it not y
p "H'm," returned |, between tv
draughts of my cigar, Fritz won
also be quite a pretty name" sol
- cannot change the name now, on Il
count of dOmestics," answered 5
shortly, and then called out loudly, -
,e Max up already T.
ast Once, though, played my justifiat
m part toward our child. At dinner
was always served at little table
, an adjoining room. AT such times