, 1889-12-22
A CHILD BY EXPRESS.
She Was Going Way Out West to Live
with Her Auntie. She Said.

AOL1P CaB AOA6t1Aoi VA AANA " NAotOL4
fort, while a few of their elders-a very
few-frowned at their noisy play.
There was one little creature in this
load of human freight to whom 'the
time was out of joint" A little girl of 6
or 7 years, making the long journey by
herself, neither asked nor accepted COM
partnership. Upon her breast was tightly
sewed a card like this:
MARGARET wAYLAND,
to be sent to
MISS AM HINTON,
Stockton, California
Not once did the ghost of a smile fit
across her face, and her was for
bidding. Naturally, the other children
wished her to join in their games, and to
hat end practiced many a childish art,
which was lost upon her. Even the offer
of an orange, or a bit of sample candy"
which the railway sutler dropped in her
lap, failed to tempt her.
Late that summer afternoon a home
bound train ran into a station and
stopped beside ours, SO near that it was
easy to see its passengers. Instantly the
child sprang to her feet and began tug
ging at the window. Finding the heavy
sash stubborn, she cried out:
III DlGdoCt PlchoC ODCl AAlo nlLdO .
There is my teacherl Don't you see herr"
Somebody hastened to hefp, and i'm
mediately a window in the neighboring
train was thrown open and signals of
loving recognition were exchanged.
"Oh, Miss Helen, I'm going way off
out west-to live with-auntiet' walled
the child.
Il am very sorry, dear; how does that
happen?" came the gentle reply.
"Oh, because l must! Ihave no mann
ma now, nor any home-nor anything"
Her voice was lost in tears.
Surprise and pity struggled in the
teachers face. Her answer only reached
the ear of her little pupil. whose next
words betrayed its spirit.
"Oh, Miss Helen, l do try; 1 truly dol
But l am very naughty. 1 feel so here"
putting her hand over her bursting
heart.
"If l could But before the SEN
tence was finished the two trains had
parted company and the dear teacher
was lost to sight. With a wild cry the
little one stretched out her hands to
wards the flying train, then flung herself
upon her face and sobbed piteously.
There were no dry yes among those
who saw her. A sweetfaced elderly
woman, who had entered the car at the
last station, and now occupied a seat in
the section with the child, went in ST.
lence, but no one dared TO intrude upon
a grief 80 sacred.
So Margaret cried herself to sleep un
comforted. With flushed and tear stained
cheeks she lay crumpled in the corner,
| lln "a RrrglRA1 rosa w. hood La- -,
conscious signs were tightening her home
sick heart. At length she stirred. The
sweet faced woman softly placed a basket
with a Maltese kitten in it close to the
child.
"Mewl New" began puss impatiently.
Margaret sat up. rubbing her eyes,.
"Mewr' and puss poked out a claw.
kitty is hungry, dear" pleasantly
exclaimed the woman. ''Will you not
give her something from your lunch
basketT'
"Yes, mann"
81 thought so. Pussie likes cheese -
lifting the cover. "Will you give her
someT'
Heartsick though sine was, Margaret
could not resist the cries of the hungry
kitten; so, by degrees, she grew friendly
enough with both puss and its mistress.
When bedtime came she let her new
friend make her ready for the night, and
seemed content to know hat puss would
purr until morning in the very next berth
to hers. But when she awakened, a sense
of her forlorn condition once more took
possession of her, and she confided to her
companion her dread of her new home
which was now very near.
81 had only my teacher and you. She
is gone, and now am going to lose you,
too"
"Well, Margaret, what made you love
your teacher soy'
Because she loved me-" was the ready
answer.
"Then aren't you going to love your
auntie, who loves you well enough to
even seen your
81 don't know"
ooh, yes! Even puss does as much as
that. You feed her, and she purs her
love in return"
But don't know auntie. She's an
old maid. Is'pose she's awfully cross"
81 hope not, dear
"Must l love her if she ISL"
"She is your dear mothers sister.
Could you not love her for that?'
"Change carsl Next station going to
Stockholm" shouted the brakeman.
"Oh, dear! Oh, dearl" cried Margaret
seizing the woman's hand.
TRY to be brave now; don't cry,
drawing the trembling little figure closer.
81 think you are beginning to love your
old auntie already, for IT is she who has
come a long way with pussy to meet her
little girl. Are you glad, Margaret"
She sat up and looked through her
tears at the woman, her face brighten
ing.
Are you Miss Ann Hinton?"
Eyes, dear
"Are you an old maid?''