The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-12-27

stances, she sought the residence of her
brother. It was yet early in the morn
ing, and she hoped to catch him before
he went down 10 his place Of business.
At The door Of his palatial mansion the
colored servant said he had not yet gone
out, and she was allowed to 60 into the
hall only, her appearance being such
that in the eyes OF the well.drilled menial
she was hardly even deserving of being
asked that far in tine house. Her BROTH
er met her with astonishment and bitter
sueers of contempt and educated brutali-
ty, which is far, far worse to a sensitive
soul than intense anger or studied cold
ness. But remembering only her stary-
ing baby, the poor woman, literally
placed her bleeding mothers heart at
her brothers feet. Piteously, with great
sobs that almost choked her utterance.
she begged, by all the recollections of
the past when they happily played to-
gether as brother aud sister in the inno-
cent hour of childhood; 10y all the ties
of blood which bound them; 10y the
memory OF their dear mother, and for
her sake to give her aid for her starving,
dying child. She might just as we'll
have appealed to the massive, relentless
grauite in the quarry, or the cold cruel
sea for aid
II told you," he said, with n sneer
born solely Of the devil, "what you
would come to if you married that man
who you said would do so much for You.
And now you are there. Well, people
who make their beds must lie in them
I've got nothing for you."
At that moment a bright, happy little
girl, Just about the same age as Little
Forget-me-not, not only warmly but ele.
gantly dressed, with the sparkle and
blo)m of youthful health and joyous
ness shining in every line of her face
ana form, ran into the hall and cried,
"Oh, papa, who is that nasty, ragged
woman? What does she want? Send her
away quick"
She is only beggar. my darling"
was his reply.
Mrs. Robertson waited to hear NO
more. 1t was her only brother who had
thus spoken, aud il was TO her own niece
| ba bo 4 BALLAD Lar ,uoh =, mama 49,,
thing, anything was better than this
Even charity from the hands of strang
ers. Weak and faint with mental anguish
aud physical weakness and sickness, she
fled from the house of this liend incar
nate in human form, whom the business
and social world. in which he lived, re-
garded with eyes of esteem aud envy as
most successful business man of renowr
and ability. She directed her falterin(
steps towards the Office of the neares
local charitable organization. There sht
:old her tale of distress. All pride wa
now gone. She had but one object anC
aim; one burning desire only over
whe!med her aching heart--to save Lit
tie Forget t-me-uot, her darling child
from starvation; TO carry back with he
the 'oceaus" Of nourishing food which
she had promised to bring on her return
Tue manager Of this local charitable in
stitu.ion listened calmly TO her touching
appeals, then. after asking certain ques
tions, told Mrs. Robertson that mem
Der Of the investigating committee woul,
call upon her that afternoon, if the,
were not all to busy, in which event i
would have to be deferred until to-mor
row, and if her condition was as sh
represented. proper relief would be ex
tended. This was all that she could oh
tain. No money or food Immediately
,, just that moment-but the investigation
first. After beseeching the manager t
send the member of the committee tia
, afternoon without fail, to which he kind
ly consented, if possible, she returned
her desolate room, and dying Little Fol
get-me-not.
AS soon as she entered this abode c
suffering and death. Little Forget-mt
/ not. all anxiety and excitement. partl
rising in bed as far as her weak stat
$ would admit Of eagerly exclaimed
, 'oh, mamma, have you dot the ocean
9 of food? Dive me some, quick, pleast
| Oh, I'm so hungry. Don't wait till
= diets cooked, hut dive mo some rigL
n away"
"My darling child, they are bringin
it. 1t will be here directly, and the
g you shall have plenty" the mother II
, piled aloud, and in her heart of heart
4 she silently groaned; Great God, no
e long? How long9 MercIful Father, sent
oh, send help! Let me perish, but say,
d Almighty God, save my dying child"
The day slowly passed away. Tt
mother spent the long, dreary tim
silently praying and running TO the doc
S watching for the expected visit of Il
member of the investigating COMMITTEES
a The child passed tho hours nlternatel
!. crying aud begging for food, and fallir
into the uneasy, ftful slumbers whic
frequently precede death in many of |
varied forms, Darkness at last cam
and now there was no hope of food unit
the next day. 1t was Christmas EY
I Mirth seemed to be holding grand ca
l, nival among mankind, and bappine
apparently reigned supreme, THROWN
e. its beams of Rladness in the heart
ID even the humblest of Gods creatur
l. among the million people in that gre
', city. The streets were all aglow wi
Id crowds of well-dresssd and laughil
III throngs, who hurried to comfortabl
happy homes laden with presents {
ID loved ones, and eagerly anticipating /
DO pleasures and mutual surprises of t
of morrow. All in the crowded thoruug
SIX fares was plorious life eNcitement busI