Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-10-02
haven't any saucepan to cook it in."

More we haven Z, said Iom. lnen
hope dawned upon him. I'VE could
roast the corn" said he, "and i bet
there's an apple-tree somewhere"
They wandered about looking for the
tree or more berries OF some sort. The
tree did not appear, but at last they
found some berries-just one or two at
a time-and the poor children had moth
ing else to eat. Hungry Tom could
have devoured his own shoes. Meek
Jane, before she lay down on the hard
yet damp ground, asked just one ques-
ton:
"Do you think the beans will grow
tonight, Tomg"
81 told you to say Husband" " said
Tom; then added, graciously: "Yes,
Ma, l suppose they will"
Then Jane put the "Child" close TO
her cheek, and slept the sleep of the
weary.
Good Farmer Morton and his plump
wife, coming homeward from visit 10
their married daughter about dark next
day, let the old mare walk as slowly as
she pleased through the wood-path.
They had had tea and were in no hurry.
Suddenly, amidst the sobbing of the
little brook the old lady heard u louder
sobbing still.
"Peter," she said, "there's a child
crying"
"'Tisn't nothing but the water" said
the old man, whose hearing was less
sharp than his wife's.
''It's a child" persisted the old lady,
81 vow, l think | see one sitting on the
fence. Stop the mare, Peter! Who is
there ?"
one, ma 'am-Jane," said little
voice. 81 heard carriage aud l
thought it might be doctor. y, please,
he's so sick!''
"who is sick, dear?" asked Mrs.
Morton.
"My husband"
Husband? Peter, isn't that ehildr"
eyes, ma'am," said Jane; "but he's
sick. | don't know what ails him. lie
shivered, and then he was hot, and he
seems so strange. And our farm didn't
come up-I mean the corn and the beans
and it rained yesterday, and came
through the house and wetted us all
over. o, please come and see what is
the matter with my husband!"
"Lord, preserve u.s." cried the good
old lady "is that child crazyf Come,
Peter, let's see what she means"
And the two good people followed
Jane to the damp spot where Tom, sud-
denly smitten with the ague, lay de-
lirious, half in and half out of his leafy
hut. He could say nothing, and Jane,
mindful of the warning he had given
her over and over again, would tell
nothing of the poor-house and only
said they chad no parents" and that
she was his "wlfe."
"Wherever they come from we must
take 'em home tonight" said Mrs.
Morton. "Poor babies You carry the
boy, Peter; III fetch the little GAL"
Jane looked up thankfully into the
old lady's face, and said: "Wait, please,
,III 4 ,at .rba Child -
"The child?" cried Mrs. Morton.
Gland sakes!"
Then Jane dived into the hut and
brought forth her doll, with its scratched
features and yellow robe; at the sight
of which the old lady laughed so heart
ily that she had much ado to get into
the gig again.
The children were comfortably hous-
ed that day, aud the whole truth was
coaxed from them at last; but no one
had the heart to return them to the
poor-house. Jane staid with Mrs. Nor
ton to be brought up as "help," and
Tom was apprenticed TO carpenter.
The innocent little family was broken
up: and "the Child" carefully treas
ured in James trunk-for soon she had
a trunk of her own and clothes to fill
twas only memento Of the past.