Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-27
evening threw little light ON things that

with q boy To do all your dirty WORK.
Tinker coughed and stammered few
words before coming 10 the point "Nell, |
now, sir, to speak plain, it's along oil thai |
Wild crowd Of vagabonds as Mrs. Dobbs she's |
seeing of every day. Babies by the score, |
they're brought by impident rascals such as |
/ amt been accustomed to- one of 'em |
she wouldn't go out OF the gate till l called |
the police. 1t Amt respectable In gentle. |
mans house, do assure you, sir"
Somehow or other Mr.. Dobhs managed to |
soothe the outraged feelings of his man scr
want, and prevailed upon him to put up
awhile longer with the inconveuiences of the
situation. The worthy Josiah was concerned
for the protection of his wife.
How are you getting on with YOUR busi-
moss. my loveS" inquired Mr.. Dobbs, that
evening.
"Oh, pretty WE'LL" said the lady cheer.
fully, yet persistently avoiding her hus-
bands eye, a. tnd 1t very difficult to make
up my mind and 1 want pretty little boy,
not quite baby, with no disgracetul con-
neciions TO hang about him. No doubt l
shall see one To suit me in few days
The few days passed without further alu-
sion to the subject, aud tie following curious
advertisement appeared in all the daily
papers:
Wanted for immediate adoption, little
boy between two and tour years old. Must
be healthy and pretty, and sound in body
and mind. The parents or relatives must
surrender all claim upon him forever. tie
Will he comfortably provided for in the
future, Apply daily, to Messrs. Gritlnam
and Grabhsm. solicitors, gOl Parliament street,
Westminster"
After the appearance OF this advertisement
the persecution OF Clarence Villa gradually
died away, and only now and again re-
specialize man or woman, leading little boy,
was heard iuquiring for Mrs Dobbs' resi-
dence OF a local policeman, But the lady
was ohdnrate to all claims made on her pity.
She had hardened her heart to destitute
cases, and penniless widows or consumptiVe
fathers met with scant ceremony at her
hands II their ofsprings were not desirable.
After tins had gone on for forth ght or
more Mrs. DOohS one day visited Messrs.
GriEnam ami Graoham during business
hours.
"I have come about the child, Mr.. Gnil.
ham, she said, going at once to her point.
" How il it you have sent me none that are
pretty and interestingly From the force of
habit, Mrs. DObbs was was apt to speak die.
tstorialiy to strangers.
"My dear madame, pray remember chill.
dreu are not made to ORDER"
Mrs. Dobbs WINGED. I" see | must eN-
pect no assistance from you, SIR she said,
lottiIy. "No doubt my husbands opposition
to my project has influenced you. | will
trouble you no further in this matter. You
may consider your quest at an end. Good
morning"
Weary of her undertaking, Mrs. Dobbs
had almost resolved TO abandon her whim.
She chewed the cud Of bitter thoughts on
her homeward way that day, Providence or
good fortune was against her success.
That evening Mr.. Dobbs came home with
an unusual degree OF haste, aud cheerful
mien.
my love" he said, tripping over the
dining. g.room mat, "l've found child Tor
You"
Mrs. Dobbs looked up coldly. "Irs i'm.
possible | shall like It," she said perversely.
" No one wants to part with a child unless
there il something the matter with it,
MIR. Dobbs besmed yet more brightly. He
was not to be subdued by any wet blankets.
cts a little boy, and he is three years old,
fair, pretty, and most intelligent His father
Is just dead"
"Whst about the mother?" questioned
Mrs. DCbbs, cautiously.
Josiah Redeemed, stammered little. "She,
sh, poor soul. is dead too This is no beg.
gar's brat. lie Is well born, on one side. l
can give you every proof"
The next day the child was brought to
Claphsm, and left At Clarence Villa 10y a
clerk from Mr.. Dobbs' Office. He was poorly
dressed, but handsome little lad, lively and
spirited. Be was not at all shy, and adj
dressed himself freely to the pug and parrot.
The piping, treble voice and shriIl, childish
laughter touched the maternal chord in
DOrOthy's heart She went little sadly
that day while her eyes followed the child.
lie stroked her velvet gown, and fingered
her rings, while he sat upon her knee, chat.
tering about the things around him.
"What Is your name p questioned the
lady.
Harry" answered the boy readily. But
nothing more could be solicited from hun.
He did not seem to understand that he could
have a second name. He was but BABY
boy, scarcely three.
In the afternoon Mrs. DObbs telegraphed to
her husband thst he must make arrange
ments for her to keep the child day or two
1t would not Os necessary to send any one to
fetch him that evening, The day passed
quickly, with little feet pattering beside her,
aFEZ N..F- of dan MT
houses.
Toward o'clock Mrs. Dobbs began to look
anXiOusly for her spOuse's return. She had
quite decided she would keep the child, but
still there were questions to be asked-pre-
Iiminaries to be settled. The little boy must
be hers entirely. None must ever claim him
or interfere with his welfare.
MIR. Dobhs came leisurely up the garden at
his usual hour, carrying his fish bag His
stolid face changed a little when he locke
through the window and saw the child upon
his wiie's knee.
s. He is a pretty boy, Dorothy" he said
nervoIsly, when he came near.
a darling little boy. mean TO keep
him, Josiah she said, gently disengaging
tho chubby hands from her chain. ''Will
you stay with me, Harry?'
The child laughed gleefully, tossing back
his Curls
STAY with 90; pity, pity howors,o he
cried, clappiug his hands.
Tell me all You know about him, Josiah.
What Is his parentsge, and will his nearest
relatives surrender all claim upon him ?'
Josiah shifted uneasily on his seat lie
had tho appearance Of a man oppressed with
guilt.
"He is an orphan" said he, looking specu-
latiyeIy at his own broad toes.
80 much the better for me-" said Mrs.
DObbs &" But l will not have any distant
relatives hanging about. lie must belong
exclusively to me-"
Mr DDhUs drew nearer to his wife.
dorothy, he ought 20 belong to you, ii
any one"
fhe lady put down the child from her
knee. His large blue eyes gazed in wonder
at this sudden rejection.
What IL the boys name" said Mrs.
Dobbs, breathlessy.
"Henry," he rejoined slowly.
"Bll, Henry WHAT she asked moro
Henry Morrison. lie Is your sisters
chlid-a friendly orphan now. God help
him il you don't"
Mrs. Dobhs iell back on the sofa cushion
| and covered her face with her hands. The
| tears were falling through them when little
| fingers essayed to open them
| Has 90 been naughty? Don'tky"
| Perhaps the lady was yery conscious NJ ber
| own nauGhtiness, Tor she cried still more at
| THIS appeal, drawing the child into her en-
| brace.
| There was never any more doubt about
| the adoption. Henry Morrison calls Mrs
| D0bbs mother 10 this day, and Josiah il "A
| little less generous toward asylums and hos.
| pitals There will be a very pretty penny by
| and by Tor his adopted son.--Ihc ArgDSE.
-= =
Tobacco Growing In England.
From the Manchester Guardian.
.n