The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-05-09

way
"'I will not detain you,' replied,
and if possible, will rejoin you in a
few moments
:" Very well, sir, if you persist in
this l must leave you, for my duties
are imperative, and the wind which
sweeps round this corner is terriic;'
and, with a stately bow, he hurried on.
Il went up to the child, and asked,
perhaps little thoughtlessly: whats
the matter, my little maid or fellow?
/ am sure cannot tell which you are
THE figure Strengthened up, and
before word was uttered the red
skirt was gathered up by the half
frozen hands and hid under the dilapi-
dated overcoat.
"' l amt a girl--I'm Willie Hale,
and I've lost my way = and then the
nands went up to the face, and tie
despised skirt dropped down into sight
again.
"Tell me where you live, said /,
and will take you to the street.
"' don't live on any street-only
way off by the water, and l can't find
my way back, cause the storm comes
in my face So
81 took his stiffened fingers in my
warmly-gloved hands and bent over
him so as to shut out the blast, bidding
him cheer up and think of something
(which would indicate the direction of
his home, and l would take him
there.
"Finally, he thought of a great big
chimney, which, he said, went most
up to the sky and added, quantity:
If it should ever fall down it would
bury us up so deep we could never get
out; but l haven't told mother of it,
because 'twould worry her, you
know
Il drew him closer to me, for he
had touched my heart by his thought
fulness of his mother. 1 told him 1
would take him to the big chimney and
then he could find his mothers house
himself. He kept firm hold of my
hand as we started off, and said with
happy look into my face: you can
walk fast and l can run, and we will
get there quick, won't we?'
"Curious looks were cast upon us
as we trudged along the slippery
street, but we needed them not, and
so much interested did l become in
the little fellow that l forgot to leave
him when he came to the place he had
designated, and the first 1 knew he
was leading me into a long narrow
lane, and stopped before a miserable
dwelling. 1 followed the child up
some rickety stairs and soon found
myself in the presence of a sick woman
who was propped up in bed, trying to
sew.
al could not find him., said the
child, and got lost, and this good
man brought me home
"She looked up wistfully into my
face. Thank you, sir, for bringing
my darling back to me; it's something
new for him to 60 out alone, but 1 am
helpless now.' She kept on with her
work, though her hands trembled and
her face was covered with tears.
"It was different scene from any
had met with in my short experience
of pastoral life, but my sympathy, ex-
pressed in words and manner, soon
drew from the poor woman her story.
1t came out by degrees broken in upon
by sobbing and weakness. AS is often
the case, 1T was not always thus
She had begun life with fair prospects,
but after few years of great happi-
ness her sorrows commenced with the
loss of her husband, by terrible acci-
dent. He had always been prudent
and industrious, but when she paid
the last cent due on his burial she had
scarcely dollar TO help herself with
and three children dependent upon
her. After she buried her baby she
took the other two, girl of seven
, and Willie, who was then four, and
came to this city, because she had
brother living here who was sure to
help her, if he only knew her necessi-
ties. A frail hope, as she found. He
had acquired wealth and position, and
was troubled with poor relations.
They had had the same chance to
make their way in life that he had,
and if they had been careless and i'm
provident he was not going to suffer
for them.
ellis wife gave me some sewing to
, do but so scanty was the pay might
have starved on it, only for the assist
aDce of my neighbors who, though
poor, are very kind. When my little
girl died l sent for him again, and he
helped me, through the Benevolent So
: ciety, with the understanding that l
: should keep our relationship secret
, and let him alone in future. l would
not have accepted It, only to keep my
/ darling girl from being buried publicly
: by the city.
/; "She wept during the recital un-
, controllably, and at the close added bit
terly: understand that my brother,
, Howard Blank, has the reputation of
, being exceedingly generous, and that
he is connected with all the benevolent
? enterprises of the day