Connecticut western news., 1886-03-17


 be uneasy about the youngest inhabitant of the town-house.
 ''She can't be drowned, for the brook isn't deep enough" said Mrs. Calf. "But l s'pose strange child could be lost in them woods. I'm almost sorry now I let her go. Elf she ain't back by dark, I'll send Foolish Frank after her. l guess he's got sense enough to bring her home if he finds her."
 Uncle Feb and Aunt Ruey Waterson were sitting at their supper-a pot of weak tea, some bread and butter, and a dish of stewed peaches-when the door opened softly, and in came a little girl of five years old, with sunbonnet flung back from her brown c,lrls, and her apron full of pale pink arbutus, slender-stemm- ed wild-howers and blue violets. Aunt Rucy started back.
 '1t's Nelly" said she, startled at the wonderful resemblance to the fair face that was now coffined and buried.
 ''Lord save us!" gasped Uncle Feb, who, like most illiterate men, was not without spice of the superstitious in his nature. Don't go a-nigh her, Ruey. Maybe she ain't real!'
 "Yes, I'm Nelly" said the child, emp tying her flowers into the old lady's lap. ''Pve brought you some Easter flowers"
 And she looked solemnly around her at the fire in the deep chimney place, the shining copper kettle, the blossoming rose-tree in the window, and the red re- | factions of sunset on the wall
 La sakes!" said Aunt Ruey, looking helplessly first at the flowers and then at the child, "where did you come from9"
 "From the town-house," said Nell. ''But tomorrow is Easter Day. count ed it up from the calendar that hangs under the clock shelf in Mrs. Gaff's room. Mamma said was to come home on Easter"
 Uncle Feb put out his coarse, wrinkled hand and touched Nell's hair as softly as if she had been piece of Dresden china, in danger of cracking.
 ''She's a pretty little creetur, ain't she?" said he ''Come here, child. Will you give me kiss?"
 "Yes," answered Nell, putting up her coral lips to the old mans withered face, and climbing unceremoniously upon his lap. ''Now give me some bread and milk"
 "Well, Ideclare, Zeb!' cried his sister. ''Ef you don't look queer with a little child a-settin' on your kneew
 Uncle Feb wriggled himself this way and that.
 ''1 dunno 'zactly how it looks, " said he, 'but tell you it feels mighty slick. An't she got our Nelly's eyes right over ag'in2 Get her some bread and milk, Ruey. Easter! Is it really Easter to- morrowa You and me, Ruey, we ain't been to church in powerful long time. Let's try how it seems tomorrow. Ye s'pose we could make the little gal up a bed on the old trundle in the west room?"
 ''You ain't going to keep her2" said Aunt Ruey. with eager, questioning eyes full of a certain joy. ! Uncle Feb stroked the soft, brown curls.
 'Well, dunno" said he. Ut seems most pity to send her back there, | doesn't it2"
 Aunt Ruey reflected. ''Pve most a mind to try how I like her." said she. 'I allus was partial to cats, and it does seem as if well-behav- ed child needn't be much more trouble about the house than catn
 And when she had brought in a blue edged bowl full of milk and goodly slice of bread, she actually gathered up the fast willing flowers and put them in cracked pitcher on the mantle
 ''La!" said she, as she turned around, Eff the poor child hasn't fell dead asleep, with her head agin your waistcoat, Zebe- dee"
 'I guess you'd better undress her and put her to bed," said Uncle Feb, gently laying down the limp little figure, with its cheeks flushed with slumber. "We'll go right up and put the j'ints of the old trundle together, you and me-" l Aunt Ruey was little awkward with the buttons and strings It was a long time since her stiff, oldhands had wrought such work as this; but Nell never woke | up.
 "She does look dreadful pretty there, fast asleep" said she. 'I-I guess we'll keep her, Zebedee."
 'I guess we will, said the old man. ! ''Folksll call us dreadful silly"
 'Let 'em," sad Uncle Zebedee. When Foolish Frank, from the town house, came to know 'ef they hadn't nowhar seen little girl," Uncle Zebedee informed him that they had decided to keep little Nell Arbush
 'Eh2" said Foolish Frank. "For good and an?
 "Yes," said Uncle Zebedee, 'for good and all. Go and tell Mrs. Calf so." Foolish Frank went back, much wond- ering.
 But little Nell woke up, the next morn ing, with glittering eyes and rose-red lips apart, as in smile.
 'It's Easter Day!" said she. 'I dream ed mamma came to me and put her hand on my shoulder, and said we had both got home."
 Uncle Feb and Aunt Ruey looked at day-the first in half score of years