The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-01

NOT the Sn1alie9C trace mad 0eens found OF the
child and nurse, except that the detectives were
practically certain that they had gone to Lon
don, and there disappeared utterly. What had
induced the woman to take this extraordinary
/ step DR.. and Mrs. Bradley utterly failed to
imagine She had always been steady honest
girl, and the mystery was beyond their compre-
hension. Soiwith mighty effort the poor Col
onel forgave isfriends and settled down into a
life spent In unremitting, toilsome. and
ever tautalizing search of the lost child. He
spared neither money nor trouble in the one
object of his existence. He searched every
work house. hospital, infirmary and school In
London, until his, eyes were. weary and his
heart sick with disappointed longing! He made
fruitless: journeys all over EnglanG in search of
fancied- resemblance, or led by the plausible
tale Of an impostor And after a year SO spent
he was forced to confess to himself that his
, chance OF success grew more and more remote.
Mrs Poland's health had somewhat improved by
the change of climate, but she, too, had small
pleasure in life so,long as her son could not be
found.
The Coloners relatives laughed at him behind
his back for mis- useless persistence.
"Of course the little beggars dead, remarked
to his friends young Martin Poland, who by way,
was the Colonel's presumptive heir Always
was weakly brat. Just imagine spending your
life In running about from Poplar to Seven
Dials, and from Lands End to John O, Greats,
to see every child ia the kingdom who happens
to have light hair and blue eyes! Its positively
irritating to see the head Of the family make
such an idiot of himself."
cit would be rather awkward for you, too, if
the child is found, suggested malicious old
gentleman, whose mission in life was to rub
people theswrong way.
"Oh. Il should be too delighted" replied Martin.
But I'm afraid the old Colonel will be imposed
upon, yet aud adopt some scrap of humanity
that does not belong to him at all"
In spite. however, of such sneers, Col. Po-
land and his wife hoped against hope, and took
somewhat melancholy pleasure in doing all
they could to relieve the wretchedness OF the
poor little gutter children whom they found in
work houses and hospitals, and even in the
streets.
Christmas was drawing near, and the Colonel
according to his custom, was full of benevolent
plans for the welfare of these waits and strays of
infant humanity One day an announcement
caught his eye that certain paper proposed to
raise fund for providing toys as Christmas
presents for these children.
''Asplendid ideap cried the worthy man. 'I1l
send them subscription at once. And we'll go
around the shop, Bessie, and buy some toys for
them as WE'LL"
His wife eagerly assented, and they spent an
afternoon and great many soverelgns In buying
such an assortment as they felt convinced would
do much to relieve the misery of many friend
less little sufferer
'.By the way, DEAR said Mrs Poland IT see
that there is competition for the best home
made toy l used to be rather clever at that sort
of thing" The mothers voice failed her as she
thought of the lost darling, whose eagerly
expeetant face had dong so much to inspire her
dexterity.
The Colonel pressed her arm in mute SYM
pathy.
DO, DEAR he replied; sit will be nice occu
patton for you"
They spent q good part of the evening in
deciding whatfOrm the proposed toy should take.
What do you say to adolls housea" asked Mrs.
Poland, after several other suggestions had been
discarded as impracticable made, you know,
as model of our bungalow. / don't think it
would be difficult"
Capital, my dear; you must set to work at
once, and Ill help YOU"
So the bungalow was duly begun, and in time
finished off to admiration. Mrs. Poland was
really sorry when the moment came to part with
it; the sweet and bitter memories it called up,
although they cost her many tears seemed to
lift her out of her terrible sorrow, and woman
like she took sad pleasure in reproducing in
miniature the house where she had endured so
much misery. The little model seemed to bring
her nearer to her lost boy, and she loved it al
most as friend.
said to the Colonel, when the dolls house had
been duly packed and sent off to its destination.
I'm afraid can't say, dear" answered her
husband, shut believe we can easily find out"
II think should like to know what becomes
of it."
Colonel Palaa.,1a, always eager to crafty her
every fancy. .
The scene was ward of an East tend hospital
for children.
Low-voiced, neatly-dressed nurses were pass
ing to and fro among numbers of little cots,
each Of which contained some tiny scraps Of
suffering humanity But the restless limbs
were quieter than usual the queTulous cries less
frequent; there was rare look of delighted ex-
pectation upon the upturned faces; eyes were
brighter cheeks flushed with color that was
not altogether hectic and small tongues showed
an invineible disposition to chatter, which the
nurses authority could not altogether restrain.
For Christmas was close at hand, and with
Christmas came, so the children had Heard, all
sorts of beautiful toys such az none had ever
dreamed of being able to call their own; Christ
mas cards, new sixpences, and joys wonderful
and altogether beyond imagination. And pres
entity rapturous expectation ended in blissful
reality; chorus Of delight and surprise filed the
long formal room where cries of pain were,
alas! much more frequent, and every child in the
ward fondled some toy which chased the look of
suffering from it's face. and infused into its dull
life new and exquisite pleasure.
One little fellow alone did not seem satisfied
with the splendid woolly donkey which had fall
len to- his share. He cast wistful and wondering
looks upon the prize which had been bestowed
upon his neiehbor-3 dolls house OF somewhat
unusual pattern.
whats the matter Bob2' asked anurse, with
whom Bob was special favorite.
please, nurse, may I see Adas dolls houseW
pleaded the child
But, Bob, you know you ought to be content
with your own donkey"
80, please, nurse, may I look at itp
Ard the good woman had not the heart to re-
fuse Ada was contented child, and was readily
prevailed upon to relinquish her claim to the
dolls house and to transfer her affections to the
donkey And Bob lay staring at his new toy as
il Ne could never take his eyes off it.
Are you satisfied now, young mapp
But Bob's eyes flied with tears and he touched
the house with trembling and careful fingers as
thorch he half expected it to vanish away from
his sight.
..Its like the house we used to live in nurse,
ever 90 long ago." he said. This is where the
nursery was: and mamma used to sleep here.
o, nurse, nurses shalr ever see mamma
againq'
'.Of course you will Bob" answered The nurse,
with catch in her throat, and wondering what
the little fellow could be thinking about But
cheer up darlingi YOU mustn't cry to-day, Of all
the days in the year"
81 ciir al oyd Of