The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-17
SHE FOUND HER MAMMA.
Alex. Sweet. in New York Mercury


 Alex. Sweet, in New York Mercury.
 The north-bound train had left Aus tin, Tex, and Conductor Hughes was making his usual round collecting tickets He stopped in front of little girl who was crouched in a corner near the stove Notwithstanding that a cold northwestern was blowing, she was thinly clad in torn calico dress, and her feet were destitute of shoes and stockings.
 As she appeared to be alone the con ductor asked:
 Have you got ticket, little girl
 What is that?
 ] Didn't whoever put you OH the car five you a ticket?'
 Nobody put us on the car We came all by ourselves, didn't we, dolly? she said hugginE a olilapidated old doll.
 Didn't your papa put you on the car?
 "No; we didn toll him We were com ing, did we. dolly?"
 The conductor took the little girl x hand in his It was burning hot Her thin features were flushed, and her eyes were glistening with fever.
 Y our clothes are thin Don't you leel cOlu sometimes.
 les, we feel so cold, but we hug up close together, don't we, dolly? When I find mamma she'll give Ills some new clothes and some shoes
 Where is your mamma?
 "I don't know, but I'll find her. She told me to come to her. She came into my room last night and put her hands on me and kissed me lust as she used to before she went to sleep in long box and went off on the railroad.
 The conductor was puzzled. Had the fever affected the child's head?
 :" think you are lost, little girl. What is your name2
 My name is Fanny, but mamma used to call me little pet
 "Ill send you back to your papa. You have got papa, haven'tyo in Austn?'
 A look of terror was frozen on the lit tie pinched features Two thin arms were thrown around the conductors neck.
 Please don't send me back to pa, she said in piteous accents. My new mamma will whip me and lock me in me back I'll be SO good I'll give you dolly No; l can't give you dolly. Mamma gave me dolly, but I'll let you play with her. Please, let me stay with you till find mamma.
 "This is bad case of stcpmother,f said the conductor to himself This is some poor, neglected little creature I've a notion to take her home and leave her with my kids One more won't make much difference
 "Ill not send you home. Just lie down here he said, fixing her up d place to lie on one of the seats
 The little waif was contcntcd and happy She laid down and the conduc- tor covered her up with his ovcrcoat Once or twice, aS he passed by he heard the little deadhead passenger talking to her dolly about what they would do when they found mamma
 At Taylor the north-hound and south bound trains met, and the passengers got supper, As soon as Conductor Hughes stepped on the platform the operator called to him:
 Here, Bill, here is a telegram for you
 He opened the envelope and read. Put runaway child in charge of con ductor of south-bound train for Austin
 Poor little crcature,' he muttcred, she has hard time of it in this world; but I'll wake her up and give her some supper before l send her home to her folks
 He turned back into the ear and threw back the overcoat from the sleeping child She was hugging her dolly to her breast. There were tears on her pale, thin checks, but a happy smile on her little pinched features
 Little pet had found her mamma