The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-01-14

30 next day Miss Caroline put on
her bonnet and stepped into the cars
on the New London Northern road,
and was carried away to = certain
benevolent institution she had heard
Of. where she asked II she could borrow
a little girl.
"Why, certainly said the matron,
I'VE have the brightest little thing
here-she was sent from the city and
has only been here one day. She has
no living relatives, and am sure you
will soon become very much attached
to her."
THAT is extremely doubtful"
thought Miss Caroline, but she was
really pleased with the dainty Agar
old girl, and went back home with her
sitting on the seat by her side.
''You must be my own nanny, you
are so good" said tho child, looking
up with her clear, blue eyes into Miss
Caroline's face. II am so glad YOU
have come after me-. A great many
nights lay awake and think about it,
and wonder If my mamma will not
como in the morning, but this morning
thought nothing about it" Wasn't it
funnyF'
When Mr.. Downer, the veteran CON-
ductor, whom every one along the line
of that railroad knows and likes, came
along taking up tickets, no said to
Miss Caroline, whom he knew very
we'll:
Whose little girl have you hereP'
Before the lady could frame q reply
that would satisfy the conductor and
not grieve the child, the little thing
spoke up for herself:
I'm Eta. please, and l belong to
this lady; she's my mamma, come back
from heaven, where she's been gone
ever so long, to take care Of me. Isn't
she goodl"
''Better than most people," said Mr..
Downer, but he asked Miss Caroline:
''Do you intend to keep up that de-
lusionp''
''She took it up herself, and 1 fancy
will forget it under the influence Of
plenty Of fresh milk, pureair aud sun
shine"
1T does no harm, anyway, and /
shouldn't want to give her any kind of
a mental shock; she looks as ii sho was
nineteen nerves already, and ] fancy
she won't be away from her mother
very long," and the kind-hearted gen.
tleman went his way. but the next
time he came through the car he
dropped q bunch of arbutus into the
child's thin hands that filled her little
heart with a delight never to be for
gotten.
My first bunch of very own flow
ers," she used to say long after telling
of it.
Farmer Nash was delighted with the
little visitor, having no idea she was
prescribed as medicine, and more
than once he said to his good wife:
1T was the strangest thing, Caroline
fetching that little thing here. 1 never
thought she was anyways fond of chill
dren, but she seems to think enough of
this one"
Indeed they were all delighted with
the little creature, and after she was
quietly asleep at night. they told over
her quaint pretty speeches.
Every morning she asked almost the
one thing on waking:
"Am I to spend the day here to-day
again with the trees and grass and
birds and howersp''
And when assured that she was, she
seemed perfectly happy and at rest.
She couldn't be persuaded to 60 away
out of sight of the house.
''Why, grandpa, We might be on the
cars before We knew 1t, you know, and
never come back again." she said one
day when Mr.. Nash was coaxing her to
ride with him to the mill.
She sometimes told about the fine
houses In the city, but always ending
by saying:
II like this house : great deal bet
ter.''
The great bayfield, with it's butter
cups and daisies she declared better
than the park, and one day she ex-
claimed:
What would the children say If they
knew walk on the grass always here7
They weuld 'spose twas Heaven. We
all love grass so.''
One evening, sitting on the doorstep
holding her pct kitten until the stars
came out. she said:
''Oh, auntie, Just look up and SEQ the
holes whore the rain comes through. -
And lone day after = shower she
teased grandma, as she called Mrs.
Nash, to 60 out and wade In the pud-
dies - she was doing. -.
Il don't think It best said the old
lady, = might take cold and b aisk
.'Oh, wsll, grandma y said Eta, ut
wouldn't b any matter II you should
= = j. ' Is y 4 -