The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-03-10
THE LITTLE BLUE CAP

Last month vas paying a visit TO n
friends. tho Dursnds. They were siu
Pile honest couple who lived uear u
banks OF the river. 10 tiny house, . me
birds nest. almost hidden by wisteris 81
Virginia creeper Dursnd's hands bo
the marks OF honest toll, for he had bee
lock smith 10 his youth. aud had by II
dustry and economy raised himself ste
dily until be became the proprietor Of
large business, and secured competenc
for bis old age. His wife wss quiet sn
gentle creature. worsbiped her husband
and both OF them wore on their faces q
expression Of serenity. which betokene
ease Of conscience and . life OF peace
Dursnd was past sixty years Of age, snt
his wife must have been fifty, yet 10 spit
OF their wrinkles aud gray hairs. tbes
two treated each other with an sffectionst
Difference which was pleasure to behold
While We we're engaged 10 conversation
Just before dinner. Durand rose Ant
opened drawer to take out some triht
which he wished to show to me. While
he WAS turning over the contents OF the
drawer, il chanced that little cap, such as
might have been worn by doll. or an in
isnt, fell to the floor noticed that !,
was made Of coarse blue linen, with two
bits OF twine instead OF ribbon. For a
minute Durand looked at the little cap af
fectionately; then as be laid 1t carefully
away again, be said in tone OF serious'
ness:
That is souvenir.
Then we all three sat down to dinner
and talked of other matters, but Is soon as
the repast was flushed, and the little
maid OF all work had put coffee upon the
table. my friend said Suddenly
How much that bsby'cap reminds me
oil 1t was evident that he wanted to ex
plain bis remark and l begged him to do
so.
It WAS a great many years ago, he said,
after pause, for l was about twelve years
old. l was working in large factory, and
had companion, Of the same age as my
self, whom, on account OF his ugly fes'
lures, we nicknamed Zzi Monkey,face.
Ho was q sly. thieving, mischievious ur'
chin very much given to ilching tarts
from the pastry cooks counter, but jolly
little chap, and full OF pluck. He was SO
lazy that be would have been turned out
,f The factory had 1t not been for the indul
gence OF the overseer. who had been q
friend OF his fathers and who took sn i'm
crest IN the boy for the sake Of his dead
,omrade. Monkey face was an orphan,
md the only relative he had ever known
vas the woman who brought him up, q
.ousin OF his mothers. This woman was
fish peddler, q brswling brutal creature,
whose affection for her young charge was
q Manifested only by blows. Perhaps II be
,sd known parents love be would have
'een less perverse.
One afternoon, the lad took it into his
cad to rup away from the factory, and go
sgabonding about with gang Of young
uffIans like himself As they we're coming
lowly home after night.fall, they heard,
0 their astonishment, the cry Of 40 infant
he sound seemed to issue from long,
arrow, dirty ally which opened on the
treet, and at the other end OF which hung
dimly fickeripg lamp. After a short
the street boys ventured soft
: into the passage, and one OF them es
behind the door. 9 Ii tie bundle OF
lgs which struggled and walled. He
liz d hold OF it, and the whole party ran
ITO the street. triumphant, stopping
nder a lsmp TO examine their capture. II
roved to be baby girl few weeks old,
raped mp in series OF dirty cloths. q
DOR little innocent abandoned to the
,srity Of strangers.
A council wss held 10 decide wbst
le Md be done with the booty, end the
,upe capiors gave free play to their mis-
lievous i'm ginstions. One said to pu'
Ie baby back where they bad found it; 9
o,her TO hide il 10 half empty prune' .
u which stood at Rrocer's door; third o
opposed 10 climb up to secjnd story .
he
a how sstonished the people would be Q
1t dsyi Bot Zizi Monkey face scouted
these ideas and declared that the baby y
us, be given to the gypsies. There was
band Of these people near by. who prsc' Y
ed jueelery aud fortupe.telline. and in
.nces Of kidnspplne we're iy no means y
re-
decision vas hailed with e.
,busi.sm, aud be claimed the right 10
nv the treasure,irove 10 consideration
his having msde The plan
Give us the hid. be said. The baby bad o
this time, been tcfesmins piteously,
/ il stopped snddeuly ~hen Monkey n'
e took hold OF II. and willie be walked
'ne With ~ sir Of triumph. u fixed its u
ut blue eyes upon bis ugly fsce. snd o.
lied. st the sane time stretching iis %
' hand. oui ~ II 10 earets hin. u
She Ia lsusbipel cried toe boy 10 de ~
bt, zee hos she looks at me. 70
Then . pe. impulse seized bin. 90
.ill rot give her away. be ssid. will 70
p her myssif. "
HE con psniobs protested indignantly
/ in vain. for ~ they veil knss Z'zl o.
Iblsy.fsce hsd 81 the cod OF each arm 70
argument 90 strong that II would be ~
lees s ssli ss uussis 10 oppose bis p'
he's