Iron County register., 1886-04-22

was uuHS III the way OF the fO0t-trayeI-
err. Ill-tempered, snarling dogs ran
out of the tumble-down tenements,
whose human inhabitants looked equally
snarllng and ill-tempered.
''What if l have made a mistake in
coming here at alp" thought the anx-
lous mother. with shudder, as she
looked into the face of her delicate child.
chow hard it is to know what is best
but L could not stay any longer with
| them. They hated me, and they hated
my child. though their own son was his
father! All, William-dear William!
How could you leave me to fight their
hard hearts alone?"
A sob of anguish tried to struggle up
| from the almost bursting heart, but the
held her child closer to her breast
Night was coming on, and she felt
the urgent need of food and shelter for
BERTHE; inexperienced as she was, she
had but dim idea of the difficulties be-
| fore her-alone. and in a great city
the first time She began to glance
about anxiously, eagerly-how dark it
| was.-and how suddenly the night had
come on. Then for the first time she
| observed that the heat was not so
great: cool breeze had sprung up,
and it blew straight in from the country
| fields she had left so far behind her. 1t
was cool and moist, and it bore the
sweet odor of wet grass and hay and
of the damp earth. While she was
| feeling rather than thinking of this
change in the atmosphere, came the
rumbling roar of thunder, at first far
off, but gradually coming nearer.
| The clouds gathered more darklv, and
from out their gloomy depths leaped
forked tongues of lightning. Then
came peals of thunder that shook the
| ground she walked on. while little Be-
tie trembled and clung more closely
to her. Anxiously now - wildly - the
poor little mother glanced to and fro in
search of some shelter. Her breath
came quick and short-a dizzy tumult
possessed her brain-she heard the wild
throbs of her own heart, then it seemed
to stop beating. A terrible faintness
overpowered her: the darkness grew
blacker She had an indistinct vision
of an open door little further on; she
struggled blindly toward it. tottered.
swayed to and fro, made one last eff
fort and ran. then fell, fainting, across
the threshold.
Thank Heaven! there are kind hearts
to be found, even in the midst of squalor
and misery that too often harden the
gentlest. Bertie's mother had scarcely
reached the floor when she was caught
by a pair of strong arms and good
natured voice exclaimed:
God bless us. but look at that. now,
and the child in her arms nigh killed.!
Is it dhrinkin' we've been?, An bsrn-
in shame fur We. with that swate ctsd
to take care of-the Lord forgive me!
What was l sayin'? Sure there's little
sign of dhrink in the pale face av her.
but dead bate entOirely. an tainted
away altogether. Come here, Biddy.
an take the child"
A tall girl came forward and took
Bertie in very motherly manner. like
one well used to the task of caring for
children. She disappeared with him in
to an inner room, and divining that
food and drink were his chief wants, fed
him copiously.
In the meantime. Mrs. Flynn had car
ried the mother to a small apartment
little better than a cloSet-which did
duty as her own sleeping-room. There
she placed the insensible woman on the
bed, united her bonnet, chafed her cold
hands. marveling at their whiteness.
anu oOStlNSu Win aii iio'
the plain gold ring on the third finger.
"Poor craythurer' she murmured:
ga wildly. l suppose. like meself."
1t was long before a faint color came
back to the pallid lips and fiaxen face;
but at length the large blue eyes opened
and gazed wonderingly into the red,
good-natured countenance that met
them-the next moment the poor moth
er remembered. and asked in an anxious
whisper.
Where's Bertie?'
"Whist, now! don't be afther worrith-
in. The child's cared for. ven be
bether in moment an thin yez can
talk"
..But he's hungry, and I've money to
buy food
:.Be aisy, now! Dye think we're
haithens here? Yer baby's had all he
wants. an no thought av pay
The tears that shone in the grateful
mothers eyes spoke mute, but eloquent
thanks. She was too weak to speak and
gladly refrained from making the effort
for awhile.
Mrs. Flynn was a widow. with large
family, which she managed to suppc3,
as she said herself, .'by turning he
hand to siveral trades" She did waiel;
ing and ironing by the day, or dozeTshl
also scrubbing and house cleaning. 81
kept small store for the sale of eghe
milk and butter. which friend on 'gsf
outskirts of the town supplied her thu
Then her two eldest boys sold p@ltht
and swept crossings. while Biddy4perS
was housekeeper and care-taker in-whet
eral to the family, in her mother: gen-'
sence-had great gift at knitting alb
often made few extra shillings in ana
way. 'ii''
After much talk on the subject =,
Flynn now consented to add anothepirs
bar ,or,o,,s ,,o5aS of ,,onav-m.lr to
and aoraed to tote Rertie and his King;
er as boarders. io'n-
At first the arrangement had
''until they could find better pl: si, oeen
but weeks and months grew into w.,
and Mrs. Tingler and her little boy ali Il
continued to board with Mrs. F. s',n
BERTHE was now five years old, n5 I
though still slender and del 60
child, he was stronger and hhrdier
than on that hot summer dav
when his mother had Carried
him till she had tainted at thq donr
of Nanny Flynn. He was still 1ao,o
but he walked with the help off I;..1.
crutch: and the doctors gave his ,,othar
good hope that he would. in tin nnt-
grow his lameneSs. During -
years in which she had beetle AZ NJ
haa Lnon'n n,,,.r S;sarnaiu.s l;.v.o mother
.i'" knt aId