The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-01-26

her go, mamma and l. We went i
the carriage and said good-by, and sh
got in there with Mr.. Williams.
"Who is Mr.. Williams p l said
eagerly catching at a name.
"Ellcn's husband. Our milkman h
was, before he went off to Australia
He's jolly! always filed my cup 70
nothing, when l was up
"And who is Ellen?'
"My nurse"
"What is your fathers namel'
"Papa!
"But his other name ?"
"Harry, dear. Mamma always called
him So
"Where does he live 7"
"He's dead !" said the child in ,
whisper. "Mamma cries all the time
most, and wears an ugly black gowr
every day.
"Well, where does mamma live 2"
"At grandma's, with Aunt Daisy
and Walter, and Sue, and baby, and
amt it funny !-baby's my uncle, and
he's so little he has to be carried, and
Walters littler than me, and he's my
uncle, too; and Sues only six, and she's
my aunt"
"Where does grandma live p
"Why, home, in her own house"
"Well, what is her name?"
"GrandmaH in a very positive tone
and becoming restive, under so much
questioning.
took him from the bed and began
TO dress him, and explain his position
but even when he understood that he
must give up the Australian journey,
and was made to feel something of his
mothers despair at losing him, he could
give me no clue by which to find his
home. Grandpa, grandma, mamma,
who was called Mary by the rest. Aunt
Daisy and the three children, were all
mentioned, and persistent questioning
revealed that he lived in a large house
in the country, but that was all. My
heart grew fairly sick as l looked in
his beautiful face and pictured the
grief of his widowed mother over the
loss of this only child In vain
searched his clothing for the mysteri
GUS ''locket containing the miniature of
beautiful female always found on
the stray children in novels; no "straw-
berry or raspberry mark" disf CURED his
smooth, white skin. His clothing, of
the most dainty material and make, was
marked with the initials "a. NJ"
Days passed away, and still the little
Trot-for he would own no other name
was an inmate of my cottage, the
very darling of Mrs Watson's mother
ly heart. advertised him in all the
large cities, hoping some paper would
reach his country home; yet as the
days wore away, and he became recon.
ciled to his new home, and ceased to
grieve for his family, l began to dread
the hour when he should be claimed
His frank, bright joyousness, his merry
prattle. his loving caresses, began to fill
an unsuspected void in my heart, and
Mrs, Watson was perfect slave to his
loving tyranny. She made him pretty
garments to replace the rich velvet suit
which we put carefully aside, in case
they were ever required to prove his
identity. She furnished for his bed
room small apartment leading from
her own sleeping-room. She made the
day one long act of service for his com
fort, and as weeks glided into months,
and there was no clue found to guide
us to his home, she taught him to call
her grandma, while Uncle Charley be-
came my newly acquired title. TO tell
how he was petted in the village would
be a vain task to attempt. To say
that he was the hero and idol of Hope
dale, will give but a faint idea of his
popularity. Gradually the memory of
his home, Ellen, the visit to Australia
died away, and he seemed to forget
that he had ever lived away from us.
Mamma and Aunt Daisy had been the
two of whom he spoke most but
judged from all he said, that his fathers
death was very recent, and his residence
at his grand parents a brief visit only
in his memory.
Eleven months had this dear little
treasure been an inmate of my house,
when there came into my life a new
dream of hope and happiness. About
five miles from Hopedale there resided,
and had lived for many long years, an
eccentric old bachelor, by name Her,
man Graham, His home, Leehaven,
was far away from any cluster OF
houses, indeed nearly mile from any
other residence; and here, in solitary
state, with only two ancient servitors
for his household, he had lived ever
since | could remember. He was a
morose, ill-tempered man, and some
early cross had made him adopt a per.
fectly hermit-like seclusion, though his
wealth would have commanded every
advantage society could offer, 1t was
early in November that | was summon,
ed to attend this odd genius, profession,
ally. Tie little note brought to my
office by an elderly man on horseback,
was signed Lillian Graham" and urged
my immediate attention.
1t was long, cold drive, but the
man represented his master as very i'll,
80 | prepared to obey the summons. 81
had no idea your master had daugh,
tel" said, referring to my note.
"That's masters niece" was the re
ply; "a nice sweet-spoken young lady
as ever | seen. She comes down on d
visit sometimes from her fathers place
near Albany They were burnt out
her fathers folks, last winter, and tn,
family went to Europe while the new
house was a-bnilding, They came
home about fortnight ago, but the,
wont go to the new house till spring
so some of them's boarding in New
York, and some in Albany, and Mrs
Lillian she's come to spend the winter
with her uncle. They're all coming
down for Christmas, l expect"
found my new patient very ill, and
for week my visits We're frequent
and mora fhon Onoa I .,o..ol