Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-04-30

way and lead through the country; a
road lonely and unfrequented which was
used only by few far mers.
We'll take bit O. a turn down the
lane, an yell see how mannerly them
horses will cross through the slim creek.
1t is nearer road to ye home, lass, said
Granny Rawley as they entered the
cross road and were swiftly carried far
ther into the deep woods, and soon were
mary miles from the dear old Strow>
bridge.
Twenty-Five long eventful years have
passed. 1t was evening. All day there
had been drizzling rain, but at nights
approach the wind changed. 1t turned
bitter cold, and the ground was covered
with sleet
In dismal basement room poor wo-
man lay apparently dying with none
save her 9-year old daughter. Her suf>
ferings had become almost unbearable
and she begged aloud for help. The
child hastily wrapping thin, torn shawl
about her started out in the great New
York, in the inclement weather. as the
last streak of daylight was fading from
the sky to try to secure aid for her
mother.
Poverty, wretchedness, and ragged
little children are common sights in a
large city, and many pass them by or
jostle them aside unmindful of their
suffering. The-child had with great diff
Eculty made her way through busy
street, but at crossing half way over
she slipped and fell, while an elegant
carriage passed so near that the coach
man, thinking the horses had trampled
the child, stopped to ascertain her con-
dition. She had sprained her ankle in
in the fall, but was otherwise unhurt.
Tom. assist her into the carriage, 1
will take her home,' said the lady.
The little girl cried piteously.
What is you name, my child? Are
you seriously hurt?'
Lucy o please ma'am, let me gol
neither is dying, and want to get DIR.
Hugh Murry, to come quickly and cure
her,
Poor little Lucy! Direct me and 1
will take you to DR.. Murry. We will try
to cure your mamma
o thank you'll Ny poor mammal
The child's plaintiff story touched the
lady's kind heart, and she resolved
to visit the poor woman whose worth>
less husband had deserted her.
Little Lucy was rendered more COM
Portable by the addition of a warm
shawl.
Dr. Murry accompanied them to the
dark. dismal basement room that Lucy
called home-a place destitute of every
convenience, and sight met their gaze
which sickened the heart. The strange
lady could not help uttering an excla
nation or horror.
A woman who had once been beauti+
full but now worn with fever and suf+
feripg, too i'll to notice them, lay on
miserable bed of straw and rags in one
corner of the room. DR.. Murry imme
diately administered restorative, while
the kind lady dispatched her coachman
to grocer's for some provisions.
Taking from her purse a-card bearing
her address, Miss Stanly presented it to
DR.. Murry. telling him that it was her
intention to befriend the sick woman,
Mrs. Barton, and to bear the expense OF
medical attention.
They consulted about procuring a
suitable hurse-Dr. Murry promising to
send one whom he knew was competent.
Mrs. Barton was completely prostrated
by disease, and nothing but constant at
tention and skillful treatment could re-
store her to health.
DR.. Murry went in quest of nurse,
and returned in short time bringing
that valuable assistant, Mrs. Crow, while
Miss Stanly remained with Mrs. Barton,
and with her own delicate hands pre-
pared some food for the half-starved
child. Shortly after DR.. Murry's return
she took her departure.
Strange muttered Tom, as he mount
ed and drove off, my lady should do so
much for them strangers. L specks
them be some poor relations
In the course of time Mrs. Barton had
so much recovered as to be able to ride |
out, and Miss Stsnly took her daily in
her carriage. Finding Mrs. Barton a
lady of culture. she entertained her with |
a brief account of her life.
My situation when child was deplo-
rable. / was decoyed from my adopted |
home, (for at 10 years of age was left
psnniless orphan,)by most cruel, wick
ed woman, who tried to estrange me
from my best friends by inventing horri- |
bic falsehoods She enticed me to visit |
her, but done it only to destroy me.
was kidnapped and taken to New York
where L endured every kind of cruelty |
and hardshipS. / was sent to beg, to
sweep streets, and to pick rags, and was
severely beaten if l failed to perform all
required of me Ny associates were
children well schOuled in deception and
wickedness. Many a time l have cried
myself sick, and have often been forced
to beg for food. All that inspired me
with horror and shame, as 1 knew it was
wrong. and gladly would 1 have sought
my friends. but knew not how to find
them. At last L resolved to leave my
persecutors,and walked great distance,
sleeping the first night in a woodshed