The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-08-13

end 10 this scene. but the children came
ia from school and began 70 cry, partly a.
the sigh, OF their PROSTATE father, partly
because OF hunger, aud Nick forgot him
self 10 do VIA, be could for them.
| He had no dinner. but he had . great
deal Of lore for them. aud scme pieces 81
red lid. Only the youngest chewei the
kid. And the fact that mother aud the
basket we're gone together Impressed them
with hope OF provisions
Meanwhile. Becky had gone begging.
II would be horrible. no doubt she thought
to take food from strangers; but she found
there was one thing even more terrible
not to take it. f.t,
Door after door was slammed in her
face Once a dog was set at her. or shc
thought 40. 8
| Professional beeears make themselves
nuisancss to many people. and how wore
they 10 knos real povsrty whou !. asked
almss AA GA a. ia8QlNs Aa4a 4,
fAt aix M sweating Bssky asteod d !
street corner with one crust In her basket
mo more.
Beyond lay . psvnbroksr's shop, and
Becky looked st its golden bAlls and at
her wedding ring. She had worn II AZ
teen years. and II Was thin and frnil. but
pure gold. Through al she had kept IL
until now. Must it go9 The thought WAS
worse than begging.
Becky took a step forward, another bsck.
Then she began TO cry little. Nick's
ring that he put on her finger 90 long ago
oh dear. oh, dcarl
But she grew brave again and walked
into the shop and pawned tho ring. "
was not much they gave her for II, but y
would buy supper, and perhaps she could
get II back.
A woman was in the pawnshop as she
waited, bargaining with the proprietor
over suit OF little girls clothing costly
things. strangely out Of place in her hands.
Becky noticed this. saying to herself tha
they were never fairly come by. But she
had forgotten oil 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
piteously
Becky was soft OF heart; bat In poor
quarters crying children were common
enough, and her own were waiting for the
loaves in her basket She walked on hasti
ly, and SO upset the toddler. Then Becky
must needs stop and pick her up.
Why don't you go homo TO your mother
this night time. she said, and not stand
here to be knocked down?
A little silver thread voice answered
sorrowfully.
cant find mamma cant find my
homo. Where is mamma? Oh mammal
Becky knelt down. A little white head
Of crumpled curls and pair Of blue eyes
swimming IL tears she could just make
out.
But the child could tell no thing. 1T
was plainly lost. Bekcy took II in her arms
aud made inquiries at the corner grocery
where she bought slice OF ham; but no
one knew the child II was growing
late, too, and Beky could not leave it to
its fate.
I'll take it home, said she. and to-mor-
row find its folks.
So when the cobblsr and his children
saw the door open at last. there entered
by it not only their mother and . basket,
but baby also.
new baby came frequently to this es-
and the children In their ju.
venile view OF such matters, opined that
they had another little sister.
It's poor lost child, said Becky I'm
going to keep itto.night. It's parents are
poorer than We are; you can see thst by
it's bare feet and only one little frock.
poor thingl Now hold her Nick while
sock supper. didn't beg it Nick. 70
don't fret
And then kept her ring finger oat Of
sight, Becky fried the ham. and sent for
,wo cents worth OF milk and water and
,ried to be cheerful.
The lost child cried, bnt Becky Ted II,
md then came story Of "bG dess' and
. ''nassy woman"
The youngest, who had chewed the red
Kid, acted as Interpreter. Soon it was dis
covered that some woman, described ~
'nassy," had taken away the childs bne
lress aud other garments. and had also "
beaten her.
Becky listened intently. I
That dress was blue. Nick, she cried I
knew it wasn't hers-a tipsy ragged
woman; and folks that own them things
ion't come to pawn. L
Then she paused; the secret was out. /
Sicks eyes had danced TO the wedding
ing, and back again to her face,
Oh, Becky. he cried, now. Becky, We
lidn't think :
Becky flushed scarlet =
/ didn't mean TO tell, she said; bnt nov
Is out; I'm married all TIE fame. thank
jod. II WAS at the pawn.shop | saw the J
Dlue dress. Aud she told them OF tho |
oman she had watched and OF her aus. d
oicions. The child bas teen stole. you /;
zee, Nick. It's 3 genteel child. and II We
IAN but find IT'S name out, We may save
oms one trouble we've never had. Think
II one OF ours being gone oil night. Nick.
The babies nsms seemed ~ be MinDie
smith, although m. y. might bc any !,
hing else; and putting the children to
,ed, all 10 row, like the little ogres 10
he fairy tales, save that they Lsd no =
.rowns on. Nick and his wife started of q
o the pawn brokers' shop. The msn |,
o,La al al the gsrmsnis Thev vera y