The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-06-09
SUCH A PRETTY CHILD!
BY MAJOR ID. =. CONYNGHAM.


pretty face, looking, despite her rags
ana ncr poverty, a cherub Of childish
loneliness and beauty.
She did not speak, but imploringly
held out her little hand. as if seeking
charity.
Mr.. Barton, who was Junior partner
in the firm of Townsend. Davis Il Co.,
large importing house in one of the
business streets branching off Broadway,
CHANGED 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
want?"
1t is remarkable with what intuitiye
instinct little child will recognize
gentle, friendly nature, and with nno-
cent confidence she will open her heart
TO such 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 jostlng each other
in their mad struggle, the one TO pile
on more wealth, the other for crust of
bread and mess Of pottage. Here,
child, is a half-dollar. 1t will get nam.
mas dinner and when she's hungry
again come and see me"
The tears glstened in the eyes of The
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.
ooh! tank-ee, EUR" she whispered
"Now mamma will get well, an she
won't be cryin'. Won't she zur?"
81 hope SO, dear" said Mr.. Barton.
"But that is q small sum TO purchase
happiness"
Several Of the clerks, attracted by the
loneliness Of the child and her artess
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 affection,
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 fooing with
beggar child?"
The clerks skunk away, but Mr. Bar
ton quietly replied
Look at her, hlr 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 brat" 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 and
mamma sick.
"But what is your name, dear?"
"My name is Ella, our"
ELLA what?n
That's the only name ma calls me-"
"But surely you have some other
What is it?'
Eyes, eur let me think"
nl 81, nd ala al L.,
After moment she exclaimed:
81 have it EUR"
"Well, what is 1t, pet?"
ella Stanly, Zur,'
A strange spasm shot through Mr..
Barton's heart. lie had 10 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,
"a will 60 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 tendcrly by the hand, rs if she
were the child of the proudest lady on
Fifth Avenue and led her from the store.
the clerks smiled and exchanged signii-
cant winks and mods, but of course did
not venture to give expression to their
Ilnpharitn bile suaujpionS
Mr., Townsend, too, was peering
through the window of his Office, and
with u subdued whistle he exclaimed
81 declare, that Barton is a chicken
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 q father or mother"
Though Mr.. Townsend spoke harshly
and unchari,ably, still there was some
thing Juggling at his conscience that
made him feel anything but happy,
How rapidly the years had passed
since he fondly handled sweet little
chorub which called him papa.
She grew up to be a beautiful and
fascinating woman, loved and admired
by ALL He had selected for hera wealthy
husband, but she disobeyed her fathers
commands and married poor young
clerk.