The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-06-26
tomorrow find it's folks"

so when tile CObbler and his
children saw the door open at last
there entered by it not only their
mother and q basket, but a baby
also.
A new baby came frequently to
that establishment; and the chill
dren, in their juvenile view of such
mattsrs, opined that they had ian,
other little sister,"
':lt's q poor lost child" said
Becky. lin going to keep it to.
night. It's parents are poorer than
we are; you can sec that by its bare
feet and only one little frocll, poor
thing! Now hold her, Nick, while
1 cook supper. l didn't beg it
Nick-so don't fret t!!''
And then, keeping her ring-fnger
out Of sight, Becky fried the ham,
and made gravy, and cut bread,
and sent for two cents worth of
which, judiciously diluted,
made quart of milk and water
and tried to be very cheerful.
The lost child cried, but Becky
fed it and soon coaxed it to talk ;
then came story Of ''bu dess' and
''nassy woman
The Youngest, who had cheWed
the red kid, acted as interpreter.
Soon it was discovered that some
woman, described rs NASTY had
taken away the child's blue dress
ard other garments, and Lad whip
ped her.
Becky listened intently.
That dress was blue, Nick" she
cried. Il knew it warn't hers q
tipsy, ragged woman; and folks
that own them things don't come
to pawning. l.
Then she paused; the secret was
out. Nick's eye had danced to-
ward her wedding-ring, and back
again to her face.
"Oh, Becky!' he cried. Becky
we didn't think
Becky flushed scarlet.
Il didn't mean to tell" she said
"but now it is out; I'm married
all the same, thank God. 1t was
at the pawnshop l saw the blue
dress And she told them of the
woman she had watched and Of
her suspicious. 1.-The child has
been stole, Nick" she said. Its
genteel child, you can see, and
if we can but find its name out we
may save some one trouble We nev-
or had. Think Of one of ours be-
ing gone all night, Nick"
The baby's name seemed to be
Minnie Smith--though m. S."
might be anything else, and putting
the children all to bed, all in a row
like the little ogres in the fairy
tales, save that they had no crowns
on. Nick and his wife started off to
the pawnbroker's.
The man was good-natured, and
looked at the garments. They
were marked NJ. S.
Il am right then," said Becky.
They are the child's, and they
were stole. And if we can but
find its poor mother, we'll save her
more than any but a mother can
tell
but think Of all the Smiths,''
said the pawnbroker. There's
thousands Of 'em.
"And thousands" said Becky.
But these men--thc police--they
may know"
And out went Nick and Betty to
question the guardians of the night
until, at last, despairirg Of an an
swer, they were turn homeward,
when a blaze Of light from an open
door fell over them, and they saw
on the steps weeping woman and
a tall, handsome man.
My precious little Minnie"
cried the woman.
Then Nick and Becky gave q
sort Of little cheer in unison.
Its them," said Becky; ''them
certain sure. Oh, mum, if your
name is Smith, and you've lost a
little girl, we've found her.
And then the cobbler and his
wife were pounced upon and the
story told.
In half an hour the SIX little ogres
without crowns were aroused from
their slumbers by an arrival, and
the odd baby in their midst was
taken out, to their distress and con-
sternation, for they had counted on
keeping her.
And Nick and Becky forgot their
own troubles in their parents joy.
And Nick said it was like poetry"
and Becky said it was like play
And so it was--onc with happy
ending--for what should the lady
do but beg and pray Becky to tell
her what she would like best, and
Becky confessed that to have her
wedding-ring back was the hope of
her life; and this led to the cause
of its pawning, and all the story of
poverty and sorrow. The dark
hours ended and day broke; and
and there was food in the house,
and fire; and as it happened that
the baby AIinnic's father needed
just such an honest man for work
as poor Nick could do, be gave the
place to the cobbler; and from that
day there was enough and to spare
in the little home, because of the
simple goodness shown to baby
Minnie.