Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-10-04

shadow, can dolttle to fill the aching void-an
ache that must ache on forever What, after all,
is bodily torture to the torture of the soul?
''Little Mary has baby boy' Mrs. Mead
made the calm announcement at breakfast The
men smiled. All, me! Like all men they smiled.
Do you know what think? | think in the next
life the refining process will be great among GER
tain mortals. | think the chosen who are hidden
to 60 up higher will be the mother hearts. Not
all women who have borne children, by any means.
Some of the grandest mother hearts in the world
beat in the breasts of women who never become
mothers; and some of the tenderest mother SYM
pathes emanate from the heart of man himself
Have you forgotten COL Newcombe and Give?
But even though the men did smile-al but
Jack; l should hate him if he had-they took up
substantial collection for little Mary, and the
man who gave the most literally was the man they
smiled at openly But this is like men, The re-
fnement of sorrow will one day purge them of
those very smiles, if not in this world, in some
other.
Little Mary's baby grew, and waxed strong and
plump and rosy, and wove itself in among all the
tendrils of its mother heart.
One day some visitors came to the Home, and
after they made known their errand of selecting
babe for adoption, the matron escorted them
through the wards. No infant received more than
passing glance, until they came to a cradle con-
tanning baby who was eylng his hands In baby
wonder, turning and twisting them around, re-
garding them as the most curious objects that had
thus far come under his inspection.
20, Edward!' exclaimed the lady, "look at
this beautiful rosebud And boy, too, you say,
matron. Is he not prince? May have this
one? Oh, if only coudp'
The door opened before the matron could an
swer.
sHere come the mother She can speak for
herself Mary, here is a lady who would love to
adopt your baby, and give it good home, and all
that money could buy"
Like young tigress, the mother sprang to the
cradle, and, snatching up her babe she clasped it
to her breast, flashing such defiance from her eyes
that no one could mistake its meaning The ac-
ton chopped the matron off so suddenly IN her
remarks that she never finished.
90 "Well," said the lady, with smile, ~ fancy
we can't have this one." Then turning to the
mother, who still chung to her child in terror
"You have the most beautiful baby ever saw"
''Do you really think sop asked Mary, with
trimming eyes. ''I'm so glad you do, because
think so too. Do you know, 1t was so sick one
night thought it would die. l prayed to the
Holy Mother to spare it to me. was sure she
would, love 1t so; and she did. l shall always
pray to her. She knows how it is"
The lady knelt at Mary's knee, and together
they talked to the wee cherub, with its sparkling
eyes of deepest blue, heaven own, pink and
white cheeks, and dimples that lodged about from
cheek 10 chin The lady presumed no further on
begging the babe from Its mothers arms, so she
bent over it with longing gaze, and looking into
the eyes Of the fair young Irish mother, she said,
"Do you know, envy you?'' All; who ever shall
paint the look in little Mary's eyes-who indeed?
"You see, he's all have in the world, and I'm
so happy with him! How ever did live without
YOU? Well work and live for each other, won't
we, baby dear" unused Mary.
II don't know what ever in the world she is go.