The Somerset reporter., 1890-01-23

STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.
Not once did the ghost of smile tlil
across her face and her manner was for.
bidding. Naturally. the other children
wished her to join the games, aud to that
end practiced many childish art, lost
upon her. Even the offer of an orange
or bit Of sample candy which tht
railway sutler dropped in lap, failed tc
tempt her.
Late on that summer afternoon,
homeoound train ran into a station anc
stopped beside ours, 40 near that it wa.
easy to see its passengers Instantly Tx
child sprang to her feet, and began tug
ging at the window. Finding the heavy
sash stubborn, she cried out:
"Oh, please, please open this window
There is my teacher Don't YOU see herr
Somebody FASTENED to help her, anc
Immediately window in the peghbor
ing train was thrown open, and signals
of loving recognition were exchanged.
80 Miss Helen I'm going way off GU,
| West-to-live- with-auntie, walled tht
child.
II am very sorry, dear. How does that
happen?' came the gentle reply.
| ',Oh, because | must, | have no
mamma now, nor any home, -nor-any.
thing" Her voice was lost in tears. Sur
prise and tender pity struggled in the
teachers face. Her answer reached only
the ear of her little pupil, whose next
words betrayed its spirit.
80 Miss Helen, do try. l truly do !
but | am very naughty. | feel SO here
putting her hand over her poor bursting
heart.
"If | could" Before the sentence
was finished, the trains had parted COM
pany, and the dear teacher was lost to
sight. With wild cry the little one
stretched out her hands toward the hying
train, then flung herself upon her face
and sobbed piteously There were no
dry eyes among those who saw her A
sweet-faced elderly woman, who had en-
tered the car at the last station, and now
occupied seat in the section with the
child, wept in silence, but not one dared
to intrude upon grief so sacred So
Margaret cried herself to sleep uncom-
forted. With flushed and tear-stained
cheeks, she lay crumpled in the corner
like crushed rose. We hoped her un-
conscious signs were tightening her
homesick heart. At length she stirred
The sweet faced woman softly placed
basket with Maltese kitten in it close to
the child.
New! New :" began puss, impatient
ly.
Margaret sat up, rubbing her eyes,
"Mew !" and puss poked out claw.
kitty is hungry, dear pleasantly ex-
claimed the woman. "Will you not give
her something from your lunch basket
yes, ma'am."
~ thought so, Pussy likes cheese"
lifting the cover. "Will you give her
some?'
Heartsicb though she 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 that puss would
purr until morning In the very next berth
to hers. But when she awakened her
sense of her forlorn condition once more
took possession of her, and she contded
to her companion the dread of her new
home, which was now very near.
Il 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 soi"
Because she loved me, was the ready
answer.
Then aren't you going to love your
auntie. who loves you well enough to
give you home, though she has not even
seen your
Il don't know"
"Oh. yes. Even puss does as much as
that. You feed her and she purrs her
love In return
But don't know auntie. She's an
old maid. spose she's awfully cross"
Il hope not, dear
Must love her if she is?'
"She is your dear mothers sister.
Could you not love her for that?"
"Chsnge cars! Next station going to
Stockton !" shouted the brakeman.
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear" cried Margaret,
Selling the woman's hand.
Try to be brave now, don't cry"
drawing the trembling little figure closer.
II think you are already beginning to
love your old auntie for 1t 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 Frightening.
Are you Miss Ann Hinton?"
Yes, dear"
Are you an old maidS"
Eyes, dear
That's funny. l love old maids"