The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-02-11

The Prayer Of an Orphan Child That Vs.
Soon Answered.

ing night hung over the quiet valley.
Toward the north the thick-cluster-
ing lights of town sent up a puny
challenge to the radiant stairs massed
overhead.
Toward the south, stretching down
the valley like the tail of little comet,
the lights in hundreds OF suburban
villas peered like curious eyes into the
outer darkness.
The entire scene was one of peace and
repose. In one OF the villas an up
turned curtain revealed pretty sight
A beautiful lady sat in chair in the
center OF the drawing-room, and from
opposite corners two manly little fell
lows were making repeated onslaughts
upon her, their apparent Oh. ect being
to see who should gain the chair first
and be rewarded for his proves with
kiss from its fair, sweet occupant.
A gentleman seated at one end of the
room glared up NV and then, with q
sort of frowning smile, as peal after
peal of boyish laughter disturbed his
calm communion with his favorite even
ing paper, but he had not the heart to
put a stop to this improvised game, as
1t went merrily on.
Meanwhile, wee figure was toiling
up the road from an adjacent house
She was evidently fugitive, for she
was hatless, and her stockings had
fallen down from her knee and were
rolled about her diminutive shoes, leav-
ing the little white legs exposed to the
chill autumn air. A mass of tangled
golden hair tloated back in the breeze,
nd x,nIat
over i'll great tears, which rolled down
her ruddy cheeks and FLASHED upon tho
little hands holding tight to her breast
a ragged doll.
Great sobs convulsed the tiny Great
ure as she half ran along the dusty road.
"Oh, bod, tell me where my mamma
is" the baby implored. And ever and
again that plaintive little cry broke
forth: "Oh, bod. tell me where my
mamma is.
No one had yet missed her from home,
so there was no pursuit.
Presently she arrived at the house
with the updrawn curtains. 1t WAS on
ly few rods from her own home, but
to the weary little feet the distance had
been tremendous.
She paused at the gateway, then hear
ing the sound of laughter within, and at
tracted by the brightly lighted win
dows, she toiled up the steps to the
piazza, and approaching the nearest win
dow, sat down and looked IN.
Something in the merry scene within
seemed to bring fresh sense of desc
lation to the little heart without. The
golden head leaned heavily against the
bright pane, and wall: "Oh, bod, i
want my mamma, too" burst from the
quivering rosebud mouth.
ooh, bod, want my mamma, tool"
The game ceased suddenly, for the
words seemed to cut through the clear
glass to the ears within.
One of the boys ran to the window,
but drew back quickly, and with amaze
ment and pity in his voice, cried out:
'Oh, mamma, come quick There's
poor little girl outside
The beautiful lady came swiftly to
the window. For one moment she
gazed, motionless with pity, on the tiny
creature lying huddled up against the
pane; then quickly raising the broad
sash, she put out her arms and gather
ed the little grl lovingly into them.
at is little Grace nj, redith!" she ex-
claimed in wonder. "Why, darling,
how did you come here all alone?"
The lady pressed the child to her
warm mother heart, and seating herself
IN chair wiped away the tears from
the sweet eyes.
Il want my mamma" was all little
Grace could say.
The tears sprang suddenly to the
lady's own sweet eyes.
John" she whispered to her hus-
band, who had left his paper and was
regarding the group with curious emo
ton, John, go over, please, and tell
Alr. Meredith his little girl is with us,
safe and sound. And" she added.
as the gentleman was about to leave,
task hum, please, to let her stay with
with the children, poor motherless little
darling"
The child looked at the gentleman
with grave, questioning eyes, but said
nothing. Her mother had been buried
the day before, and her little heart was
filled with longing for the dear Ca
resses she had lived and thrived upon
II want my mamma" she said again,
in tones that seemed to imply they
could give her what she so much de-
sired.
Eyes, DEAR" said the lady, soothingly,
and tears dropped from her eyes upon
the golden head. "Yes, dear. you shall
have your mamma one of these days,
one of the beautiful distant days when
God in His goodness shall give the
Child back to its mother and the mother
to her child. Hush darling, hushl
Mamma is waiting for you way, way up
beyond the shining stars, and you
shall go to her, dear, when God has
made you ready for the change"
And so they soothed little Grace, and
sang to her, and the boys brought out
their playthings for her. and all were
so good and gentle to her that she for
got the soreness in her bosom and was
happy.
But that night, after the golden head
had sunk YEARLY TO rest, and tiny,
VIII te-robed form lay still in the crib
that had been found for it, the be uti-
full lady's eyes overhowed as a tremu-
lous sob reached her ear, and in her
sleep little Grace again murmured her