Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-11-22
"Do you live there P" as the boy turned
toward dingy court with an obscure en-.

latter quite unprepared for burial, though
the woman started up with the cry -
"Oh. thought it was the folks come to
take her."
The young man was certainly much
shocked.
"Whsn did she die ?" he asked the boy,
looking at the child.
She was very pretty baby Of about two
years old, in spite of death and filth. The
long curled lashes lay peacefully on the little
marble cheek, the silken- golden hair was
parted smoothly on the pretty brow, and the
breast; but the dirty garment in which the
child died still enveloped her.
"My poor baby!" sobbed the poor moth
er 'she died last night, sir. An I've moth
in white an pretty to put on her. she ad-
ded. "We are cruel poor, sir Y
Lawrie quickly drew handful of silver
from his pocket, and pressed it into the moth
er's hand;but before she could thank him two
men came into the room. one bearing under
his arm little coffin, and the poor woman
started up with a cry of dismay and an
gush.
"Oh, no, yet" she cried. "She only
died last night. Why need you take her
yet?"
"Sorry fur yer, ma'am," said one of the
men; "but I'll have to attend to the job
right of. Business is business"
The poor woman made no further resist
ance. She stood watching them, and moan
ing, as they lifted the poor baby and laid the
little lifeless thing straight in its narrow
bed.
"An' have nothin' white an pretty to
put on her." she murmured again.
Lawrie was not ashamed to press his
handkerchief to his eyes at the painful sight
of the poor child, who had evidently died
for the want Of the necessaries Of life
cleanliness, fresh air and wholesome food !;
but at the mothers sad murmur, he bent
down and laid the white cambria smoothly
across the little form.
The violets Where are they" he
cried
They had fallen to the floor. The boy
bent and put them in his hand, and tearing
off their wrapper Lawrie laid them in all
their fragrance, upon the chlld's breast.
And the sight was lovely.
God bless you God bless you, sir ~
whispered the boy.
"It's nothing" said Lawrie, hastily. 81
wish could do more"
Then he tore himself away, much affect
ed.
"Oh, Lawrie!" said pretty Zay. al am
disappointed. You have brought me no vi
olets'
NO" said Lawre.
He was still in a daze from the woeful
.;,h, n, boJ saar Tar ,hnurb, u. y a
forgotten.
She was little spoiled. this only daugh-
ter Of doting parents. and turned away, pout-
ing.
To be sure there was plenty Of smlax and
gerAnium leaves in the bay window, and her
mother helped TO pin knots Of them upon
the fleecy skirt but Zay was offended.
In the carriage, on their way TO Mrs. Har-
lengen's he tried 10 explain. but it was rath-
er an awkward task, and Zay was not dis
posed 10 listen.
She danced all the evening with Captain
Burgess, who was the only rival Lawrie had
ever dreaded. and on their return secuted
the subject Of the vioets so entirely and
treated Lawrie so haughtily that the young
gentleman frowned and held proud peace.
In shor, he and Zay fell out.
81 don't suppose it was Just the thing to
give the yiolets to those unfortunate people
and | dare say she'd think | was crazy if |
told her." murmured Lawrie. But how
could hell it p
This worry and a cold which he took
standing bareheaded at the carriage door,
while naughty Gay delayed as long as posi-
Die (makng feint Of arranging her wraps
putting her hand in his and her pretty slip
pered foot on the step, gave him high few
physician, forbade Lawrie going out. So,
the cold and fever proving obstinate, Lawrie
was kept housed for several days.
He tormented himself, meanwhile, imag-
ining Captain Burgess paying court to LAY
naughty little Zay-who probably wished to
have no more to say to him.
But the truth was that Zay was much
more miserable than himself. She gave
Captain Burgess the cold shoulder without
hesitation. Now that she had quarreled
with Lawrie, and he did not come near her
she knew that she loved him. She did not
know that he was sick She believed that
he was angry with her, and with reason.
"After all, l might have listened to his ex-
PLANTATION. believe he did &c. the volets,
and then gave them away, to whom? Oh,
to some other girl - cried Zay, jealous and
miserable. IL don't believe he went to a
funeral. A queer kind Of funeral, late in
the afternoon Oh, know nowhere is
somebody else know he don't love me
as love him.
Zay had favori,e aunt to whom she con-
fded her grefs- sanity Aunt Mercy.
MY DEAR she said, "there is no way Of
forgetting our troubles SO well as by con-
templating the woes of others. am going
on benevolent visit this afternoon. Come
Alley"
bathed her swollen eyes and followed Aunt
Mercy.
God bless the handsome face of the kind
young gentleman who did it ma'am, and if
never see tn likes o him again I'll never say
tn rich isn't kind hearted, with my poor
baby buried in his snow-wh hite handkerchief
with beautiful IL. W. embroidered on the
corner, and covered with the violets-oh
now sweet smellin' they were that ne had
his hand full of, to carry to some lady like
ly! He was beautiful young gentleman
an Dickie an Ill never forget him ~
| Zay understood. They had chanced upon
the miserable basement from which the poor
child had been buried. The tears filled hel
eyes.
She made a call that evening on Lawlie's
mother, which, so far, was good form. bu,
when she heard thut Lawrie was sick, she
cried:-
"Oh, he didn't catch anything in that
dreadful place, did hep"
She was so agtated that Mrs. Wrexham
was astonisned and bewildered, while she
soothed her; and the doctor was sure Law
rie had only bad cold.
Then Zay asked to see him.
"Will YOU 60 up to his room?" asked
Mrs. Wrexham. "We'd rather he wouldn't
come down."
81 think will" faltered Zay, blushing
Lawrie started at the sight Of her as if he
had been shot, but when she said, putting
her hand in his, II have been to that poor
place and know all. Forgive me !" he was
the picture Of happiness.
And in two days the engagement was an
nounced.
I