Smyrna times., 1885-04-15

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fifteen years, and it was thin and frail,
but pure gold Through all she had
kept it until now. Must it go? The
thought was worse than Digging.
Becky took step forward, another
back. Then she began to cry itrle
Nicks ring that he put on her hand so
long ago-oh, dear, 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
perhaps, however
A woman was in the pawnshOp as she
waited, bargaining with the proprietor
over a suit of little girls clothing
costly 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, in wretched rags, sobbing pite-
ously
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 need stop and pick
her up.
why don't you go home to your
mother this night time, she said, ''and
not stand here to be knocked down ?"
A little silver thread of q voice
ans cred, -
q can't find mamma. 1 can't find my
home. Where is mamma? Oh,
mammal"
Becky knelt down. A little white
head of crumpled curls and pair of
blue eyes swimming in tears she could
/ Just make out.
But the child could tell nothing. It
was plainly lost Becky took it in her
arms and made inquiries at the corner
grocery, where she bought a slice of
ham but no one knew the child. 1t
was growing late, too, and Becky could
not leave it to its fate.
iii take it home, said she, land to-
morrow find its folks.
So, when the cobbler and his children
saw the door open at last, there entered
by it not only their mother and bas-
ket but baby also
A new baby came frequently to this
establishment, and the children, in theil
juvenile view of such matters, Opined
that they had another little sister"
"Its a poor lost child" said Becky.
"Tm going to keep it tonight Its
parents are poorer than we are you can
see that by it's bare feet and only ont
little frocl1, poor thing Now hold hel
Nick, while I cook supper. l didn't
beg it, Nick, so don't fret"
And then keeping her ring finger Out
of sight, Becky fried the ham, and made
gravy, and cut the bread, and sent fo
two cents worth of milk, which, d
luted, made q quart of milk and water
and tried to be cheerful
The lost child cried, but Becky fe
it, and coaxed it to talk; then came
story of a " bu dess and a mass
woman"
The youngest, who had chewed tn
red kid, acted as interpreter. Soon
was discovered that some woman, d
scribed as nasty" had taken away tn
childs blue dress and other garment
and had also beaten her.
Becky listened intently.
"That dress was blue, Nick" sh
cried, "Iknew it warn't hers-a tipsy
ragged woman and folks that own thel
things don't come to pawn I"
Then she paused; the secret wt
, out. Nicks eyes had danced to h,
} wedding ring, and back again to h,
face.
D "Oh, Becky! he cried, now. Beck
t we didn't think"
! Becky flushed scarlet.
, "I didn't mean to tell" she SAID
n "but now it's out I'm married all Il
. same, thank God. 1t was at the paw
4 shop I saw the blue Dress" And s
o told them of the woman whom she h
y watched and of her suspicious. ct
e child has been stole, you see, Nick. 1
= genteel child; and if we can but fl
its name out, We may save some o
trouble we've never had. Think of one
: ours being gone all night, Nick"
= The baby's name seemed to
Minnie Smith, although IN. s." mig
!. be anything else; and putting t
;, children all TO bed, oil in a row, like
little orges in the fairy tales, save IL
they had no crowns on, Nick and
u wife started off to the pawnbroke
shop The mau looked at the carmen
They were marked NJ 8.
= I'm right then, said Becky. eth
~ ! are the child's, and they were sto
And if we can but find its poor moth
We'll save more than any but moti
can tell.
- "But think of all the Smiths" Sc
the pawnbroker. There's thousar
:, of en-"
,, "And thousands" said Becky. "T
= these men-the police-they may kno7
- And out went Nick and Becky
- question the guardians of the mig
% until, at last, despairing of an answ
q they were turning homeward, whe
os =. blaze of light from an open door
= over them, and they saw on the step
- - weeping woman and tall, handso
- man.
Hush we will find her if she
alive, said the man.
a my precious child" cried
q, woman.
" Then Nick and Becky gave q sort
,te a little cheer in unison.
nd Its them," said Becky; eth,
Id certain sure. Oh, mum, if your nam'
Smith, and you've lost little girl, We
,o4 found her. J."
No Aud then the cobbler and his '
,st were pounced upon and the st
90 told.
"a In half an hour the six poor lii
of ogres without crowns were arou
from their slumbers by an arrival,
90. the odd baby in their midst was ia