The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-12
BY EDITH N. NORRIS.

uONGl.
It was plaintivc and musical voice
which uttered these words in a crowded
street of the great city. The person ad-
dressed passed by without a glance, but a
hearty-looking farmer, who had come to
the city for the first time in many years,
looked pityingly at the slight figure of
the little girl.
She was not more than eight years old.
Her lovely DARK eyes looked out from her
pale, thin face with sorrowful appeal in
their great depths, and she shivered as
she drew closer the thin, ragged shawl
which covered her untidy black hair.
Her wretched, broken shoes were sodden
with the half-melted snow which the
trampllng of many feet had transmitted
frcm its pristine beauty into icy slush.
She had in one skinny little hand few
flowers, which were, to say the truth,
almost faded.
''Look there, mother! look therel
Poor little lass! Why, mother, just fancy
our lost Hetty with look like that on
her little face-instead of the baby smile
she wore in her last sleep. She'd have a
look of Hetty, too, if her face was only
fat and rosy"
Mrs. Miller looked at the child, and
her motherly eyes filled with tears.
''Fathcr," she said, "can't we do some
thing for her."
The child was walking along slowly
before them, offering her flowers to this
Of that passer-by, but never selling any.
They hastened their steps little in order
to come up with her, and when they did
so Mrs. Miller addressed her in gentle
tones:
care you not cold and tired, my
child2"
She looked up, rain of great tears
running down her thin checks.
"Oh, lam so hungry" she said, "and
if don't sell these flowers they will beat
me, as they did yesterday!' She sobbed
in subdued manner as though afraid
lest somebody should hear her.
'sWhip you! who would do that, my
poor chiid?-not your father and
mother?"
II have no father or mother; I live
with Beppo, the padrone, and it is he
and Nina who are bad to me-"
Approaching at this moment a humble
but respectable eating Dir. Miller
entered, and ordered comfortable meal
for the half-famished child. While Mrs.
Miller sat near her, and saw that she had
all she needed, Mr.. Miller, by the advice
of the restaurant proprietor, went to po-
lice headquarters to ascertain how he
might obtain legal possession of the girl,
whom he had determined to adopt.
A couple of officers were sent in search
of the Italian, whom they found belabor-
ing, with stout stick, one of his wretch
ed little white slaves. He was taken to
the station, and on hearing the evidence
of the officers, the magistrate committed
him for trial, and consigned his innocent
victims to the care of various charitable
institutions. He advised Mr.. Miller to
take Carmen, for that was her name, with
him, and leave instructions with lawyer
to obtain the papers necessary for hel
adoption.
Carmen, properly washed and clad,
with her black hair cut close to her
shapely head, was a very different look
ing object to the little ragged waif of the
day before. AS she sat in the warm car
that was bearing her rapidly from the
scene Of her misery, her little heart was
too full for words; though she now and
then raised her dark eyes, full of grateful
tears, to the faces of her kind benefac.
tors.
In few days she had made friends
with every animal on the place; and
good food and milk, and warmth, had
begun to fill the hollow checks and
cothc the slender limbs with little Of
the charm Of childhood.
Snc watched Mrs. Miller, and hung
round her when at work, for opportuni
ties to help her. She followed the far
mer to the barn, fed the chickens,
brought his pipe and slippers; in short
the deed of charity had brought its owl
reward. Never had parents moro
grateful child; she filled the old house
with sunshine.
Three years passed away, and Carry
as they preferred to call her, was tai
girl of eleven, when Mr.. Millor, through
the prevailing scarcity Of help, fount
himself Obliged to hire some Italian la
borcrs who were seeking employment
from the farmers.