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

the least idea it will do any good. If could only
convince her it is for the chd's good; but she is
insensible to everything of that sort She is very
hind hearted and thoroughly honest. We are all
very much attached to her. Poor young thing
You don't think you could take her along to nurse
it?"
Couldn't think of such thing" now spoke
the lady's husband, who had been silent observer
up to the present moment. ssThe adoption must
be legal and final, and she can never see it again
The matron shook her head obviously, and the
visitors departed promising to call again.
The matron returned to the ward where Mary
sat- rejecting over the scene just passed. She
was met by frightened, beseechlng glance in the
girls eyes. But when she preached the subject
in its more salient points, the look gave way to
one of stubborn defiance.
"Never neyer" repeated Mary "Pm ready
to die for it, sure, but can't live without it. See
how beautiful he is All, it's a beautiful baby den
-den-den-de crooned the mother. "Could
it laugh to mamma?' and she Rugged it to her
breast.
The matron spoke no more of the matter.
''I'm going to take the baby down to Mrs.
Meads to-morrow,-may p
She was given permission, and the next day,
with heart light with its load of love, far lighter
than the bundle in her arms which inspired it, she
set out for Mrs. Mead's.
"The Lord love it!' screamed that good wom-
an, when Mary presented herself at the basement
door, and babe her enter at once Then every
body in the house took turns holding Marys baby,
clad as it was, too, in the sacred garments whose
stitches were my very own. 30 dear Lord!
Why, oh, why!" cried out my heart again, in the
same old wall.
All the boarders came home to dinner, and after
dessert had been served, the baby was announced.
No one asked whose baby il was, and all the men
gathered around Mrs. Mead. One chucked it UNI
der the chin, and pinched its dmpled cheek; one
whistled to it, and one talked baby talk to it-such
baby talk No one ever knew they were fond of a
baby; and in the midst of it, Mary appeared, as
proud as queen. Was she ashamed? Nay, in
deed Perhaps her ignorance dulled her percep-
tions. "Why should be ashamed" she would
have asked you, and she would have been amazed
at the idea, had you suggested it to her. Had not
a fine lady envied her the beautiful cherub that
was cooling and smiling and drooing as the men
danced him up and down in the air, and offered
him their hair to pull and their watches to bite?
Proud little Mary! never had she received such
homage. Not man smiled an nsinuating smile.
A madonna and child never received greater hon.
age. Then they took up a collection-such royal
collection and this time no one smiled at the
man who gave the most, as every pocket was fair
ly emptied No one thought of the man in the
case.
When little Mary went back to the Home, her
purse of silver made her heart even lighter.
''Sure, this is kind world' thought she. What
mattered the future? The present filled the hours
with joy.
A day or two after, Mary noticed the little one
droop. With alarm on every feature, she fed to
summon the visiting physician. He looked grave,
and Mary was frantic with apprehension But so
surely was it congestion, creeping insidiously on,
that, ere she knew it, some one-not the lady, but
some one ese-came and took the baby away.
Poor little mother