Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-05-15
street corner with one crust in her bask-

gold. Through all, she had kept it until
now. Must it go? The thought was
worse than begging.
Becky took step forward, another one
back. Then she began to cry little
Nick's ring that he bad put On her hand
so long ago-oh dearl oh dear!
But she grew brave again and walked
into the shop and pawned the ring. 1t
was not much they gave her for it, but
it would buy supper, and perhaps Nick
wouldn't notice, and perhaps she could
get it back. That was very faint per
haps, however.
A woman was in the pawnShop as she
waited bargaining with the proprietor
over suit of little girls clOthing-co
things, strangely out of place in her
hands. Becky noticed this, saying to
herself that they were never fairly come
by. But she had forgotten all about it
when, coming out of the bakers, little
voice fell on her ear, and, looking down,
she saw barefoot child of four, Ill
wretched rags, sobbing piteousIy.
Becky was soft of heart; but in poor
quarters crying children were common
enough, and her own were waiting for
the loaves in her basket. She walked on
hastily, and so upset the toddler. Then
Becky must needs stop and pick her up.
why don't you go home to your moth
er this night time" she said, and not
stand here to be knocked down."
And little silver thread of voice an
swered:
4 can't find mamma. I can't find my
home. Where is mamma? Oh, mann
MAJ
Becky knelt down. A white head Of
crumpled curls and pair of blxe eyes,
swimming in tears, she could just make
out.
But the child could tell nothing. 1t
was plainly lost. Becky took it in her
arms and made inquiries at the corner
grocery, where she bought slice of ham;
but no one knew the child. 1t was grow
ing late, too, and Becky could not leave
it to its fate.
"I'll take it home," she said, "and to
merrow find its folk"
So when the cobbler and his children
saw the door open at last, there entered
by it not only their mother, and basket,
but baby also.
Its poor lost child" said Becky. 'I'm
going to keep it tonight. Its parents are
poorer than we are; you can see that by
its bare feet and only one little frOck,
poor thing! Now hold her Nick. while
cook supper. 1 didn't beg it, Nick-sO
don't fret"
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 milk-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 a
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
as nasty had taken away the child's
blue dress and other garments and had
whipped her.
Becky listened intently.
THAT dress was blue, Nick" she cried
Il knew it weren't hers-a tipsy ragged
woman; and folks that own them things
don't come to pawning. /"
Then she paused the secret was out
Nick's eyes had danced toward her we'd
ding ring. and back again to her face.
"Oh, Beekyl" he cried, Becky, we
didn't think"
Becky flushed scarlet.
81 didn't mean to tell" she said, "but
now it is out. 1t was at the pawn shop
l saw the blue dress" And she told them
of the woman whom she bad watched,
and of her suspicious. THE child has
been stole. Nick" she said. 'It's gen
teel child, you can see; and if we can but
find its name out, we may save some one
trouble we've never had. Think of one
of ours being gone all night, Nick"
The baby's name seemed to he Minnie
Smith-though NJ. 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
pawnbrokers.
The man was good-natured, and looked
at the garments. They were marked NJ. 5.
"I'm 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 IA mother can
tell"
But think of all the Smiths" said The
pawnbroker. There's thouSaneS of
them"
And thousands of them," said Becky
But these men, the pOlice-they may
know"
And out went Nick and Becky to
question the guardians of the night, un~
til, at last, despairing of an answer, they
were turned homeward, when blaze of
light from an open door fell over them,
and they saw on the steps weeping wo-
man, and tall, handsome man.
Hush! we will find her if alive" said
the man.
My precious little Minnie" cried the
woman.
Then Nick and Becky gave a sort of
little cheer in unison.
Its Them" said Becky, "them certain
sure. Oh, mum, if your name is Smith,
and you've lost little girl, we've found
her."
And the cobbler and his wife were
pounced upon, and the story told.
In half an hour the six poor 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 CONSERVATION, for they had
counted on keeping her.
And Nick and Becky forgot their own
troubles in the parents joy. And Nick
said it was like poetry and Becky said
it was ikea play
And so it was s-one with happy end
ing-for what could 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. Then the dark hours
ended and day broke; and there was food
in the house. and fire; and as it happened
that baby Minnie's father just needed
such an honest man for work that poor
Nick could do. he gave the place to the
cobbler; and since that day there was
enough and some to spare in the little
home, because of the simple goodness
shown to baby Minnie.
SO it's never time thrown away to do
a kindness tn anv one" SAWS Becky often