Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-02-24
THE DIAMOND CRESCENT.

The day was bitter cold, and the
crowds hurrying along Broadway turned
neither to right nor to left in their haste
to reach home and the comforts of the
tireside
L was sitting in my office on the
ground floor, watching the restles people
and philosophizing as have a habit OF
doing upon the differences in human
cond ton, when my attention was sud-
denly arrested by child wearing upon
her breast superb diamond crescent of
purest water and brilliancy. Before l
had time to formulate any opinion as to
how so magnificent jewel could have
come into the possession of a child, or to
wonder why its parents or guardians
permitted it to wear such a valuable
trinket upon the public streets, an officer
had the little one in his grasp.
Looking at it nationally, nothing
would have seemed more probable than
that the child was thief, for did not
fail to notice in my first glance that her
garments, although scrupulously neat,
were far from expensive, nevertheless an
unaccOuntable excitement took posses
sion of me, and rushed to her assistance.
demanding of the officer authoritatively.
''UpOn what charge do you make this
.arreSt?'
Instinctively recognizing a friend, the
terrified child besought me not to allow
the officer to take her to Jail.
"Iook at that pin, the little thiefn
the officer said roughly, making a move
ment to drag the child away.
"Stopw 1 commanded, indignantly
now, for had made up my mind that
the child should at least have hearing.
%'Who saws she is a thief?r
81 say so, returned the officer sharply.
81 know 'em, these street gamins, and a
precious lot they are! She's a regular
one this one is.
''Indeed, sir, am not a thief! Oh, I
am not, l am not l didn't mean to do
wrong. WANTED to find my own papa
that Miss Adele says the crescent will
surely find"
The officer laughed coarsely "That
is fine, isn't it? Highly dramatic for one
so young. You see | know EN-; thew
come in all ages from"
''Otticer,"1 interrupted him, for
crowd was gathering now, despite the
biting cold, and 1 did not much enjoy
my position as one of the central figures
F'step with me into my office while we
hear the little ones story. | am con-
WINGED that you have no more right to
arrest this child because she wears a costly
ornament when walking quietly along
the public street than you would have to
arrest the wife or daughter of million
aire under like circumstances. You
know who l am, and if the facts do not
corrOborate the story this child tells [
promise to deliver her over to you in the
next few hours"
GAN right" said the officer "take
her; you'll be wiser in the next twenty
four hours, Pll wager"
And so l was, but not Just as the of
fcer anticipated. The child told me
singular story between her sobs, and
facts proved it strictly true Indeed, as
/ had the little one in my office before
the fire, warm and comfortable EXCEPT
for the effects of her fright, had time
to see that her features and expression
were those of young princess of the
blood, clear-cut, exquisite and truthful.
She was as far removed from the Youth
full unfortunates brought up in vice and
crime as is heaven from earth.
The gist of her story was that she was
a great mans daughter, and the only way
she would ever find her papa was by the
crescent, which he would recognize. She
lived with Miss Adele, a music teacher,
and they had very little money. Miss
Adele had cried that morning LecaLse