The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-10

JdcOD! OF SnTlll WAOOp winch pierced
Miss Maria sears. But this was speedily
stopped. What Mr.. Moon said to his
former compeers when he sailed maies-
tically forth and addressed them, history
does not relate; but not so much as an
eyelash did one of them show in the
neighborhood again.
Once in q while Jacob visited his
friends in Cat Alley, and it was clearly
understood that the days of his appear
ance in that vicinity were considered by
them quite equal to Fourth of july or
Washington's Birthday. He always re-
turned 'trif1e more pompous than be-
fore, and waited on table Che had been
promoted TO that dignity with the air of
courtier.
1t was quite late one night some six
months after Jacob had come to his new
home, that Miss Campbell returned from
concert. Usually she did not need to
ring her door-bell, for Jacobs hand had
| flung the door open before she reached
the top of her steps. No matter how
tardy she might be there was always the
freckled face, lighted up with welcome.
Miss Maria would never have believed
six months before that she could have so
missed the visage of red-headed SER
want. 1t was Bridget who came when
| she had rung twice, and to Miss Maria S
| hasty-
Where is JacobP' Bridget re-
sponded:
=" He went out the first of the evening,
ma am, and not hair of him have
| and - 4o,, -
: EleyenAtWelve o'el9ek, and stilf IS
Jacob. Miss Campbell went to bed in
great anxiety.
No Jacob to wait on the breakfast
table! Miss Maria grew alarmed
&c shall go myself to Cat Alley and
see if evil has befallen the child" said
| she.
Why, there he is, ma am. coming in
the gate" cried Bridget.
There he was, indeed with yer sobe r
face. and carrying in his arms what
seemed to be a bundle of rags-or else an
old bed quilt-or-could it be
what have you there?" demanded
Miss Campbell.
Into the kitchen Jacob Moon crept. All
his pompousness had vanished. He
crouched down by the stove and opened
the bundle of rags, A tiny baby-that
was what Miss Campbell saw. A little
red, wrinkled, mummy-like baby some
three days old.
Jacob looked up appealingly.
| d" It's own niece to me" said he, "my
sisters baby, and my sister she died last
night. And there amt living soul to see
to this young one. And 0, Miss Maria l
thought as maybe you d let her have a box
to sleep in. along with the kittens, and
my wages will feed her hearty"
Along with the kittensn' relied Miss
Campbell. Jacob Moon, are you a
heathenpn
claw, mum, she's more likely to be a
heather fetched up in Cat Alley, nor
she would be here with its kits"
Miss Campbell stopped over the baby.
A little, soft, aimless hand hit her cheek.
Miss Maria face flushed crimson. She
caught the baby from Jacob and marched
off into the parlor. From thence she
issued her orders:
Bring warm milk! Along with the
kittens, indeedi Let me see you hurry,
Bridget! Warm milk immediately
O! the feeling of that downy head on
her arm! O! the touch of those morsels
of hands! A sort of fierce frenzy sprang
up in this childless woman's heart "a
wild desire to keep this baby and tolove
this baby and to have this baby loveher
To snatch her away from Cat Alleywith
its vice and dirt. To make sweet
pure lady of her.
Better, more gentle than I am,''
thought Miss Maria, humbly.
as there no one to take care of YOU
niece, JAG OBJ" asked she.
"Not a one, mum. Its pas dead ant
its mas dead, and o, Miss Maria, dc
keep her-never will | let ON I'm rela
ton"
81 have wanted some one Il could
said Miss Maria, in rather an ashamed
way. LAS for you, Jacob"
''Law!'' cried that worthy, quite mis-
taking her meaning, "of course I'm no
body. But oh! III wait on yer day ant
night, if
go into the Kitchen" said Mis-
Maria, sternly, and the crest-fallel
Moon SUNK out.
1t was too late to send back the bah!
to-day. Mss Campbell found an excuse
for keeping her tomorrow. The mex
day, too, for that matter. Then she de
cided she must have some clothes made
That took nearly month. At the emf
of that time no torture would have mad
Miss Campbell send the scrap back t
Cat Alley.
"She shall be brought up as my own,
said she, decidedly, ''and her name shall
be Alice Campbell"
"Law!" said Jacob, and that was all
1t mag have been Law, it certainl
was Gospel, the deed Miss Campbell ha
done. II you could only have seen tn
change that came over that big, drear.
house. There was smart nurse, in
wonderful cap, always running up an
down stairs. There was great com
motion every day, when the baby wen
out to take an airing. Miss Maria wa
SO very, very busy that she quite forge
! to frown. Indeed, those two soft littl
hands patted every wrinkle out of th
stern face.
Then as Alice grew older, all the chi
dren in the street came focking in t
play with her. They swarmed up int
, Miss Maria's lap just as if they had
right there, which, indeed they hat
Sometimes as many as seven would com
, at time to ''spend the afternoon" an
at nightfall Jacob would pilot them a
homo