Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-29
NUMBER EIGHTEEN.

TESS tnat mad made her lot easier in ,
good many ways, so on this particula,
occasion ! needed her help to assert
clothes in the storeroom. When she hao
finished her ironing we were soon en-
gagged at the easier task.
We were by ourselves, and had moi
been five minutes in the room when sud
denly my charge burst into a fit of sob
DING and to my surprise threw herself
into my arms
Come, this will never do, what is tht
NATTER" | said quietly Suppose the
governor were to come in. what should
do! You would get me into seriou,
trouble"
She, however, continued to clasp me
around the neck. giving vent to heart
breaking sobs.
you really must be quiet and tell me
the reason of this" | said with a little
asperty
IL will be quiet, madam" she said
with great effort 81 am very miserable
and unhappy"
"Of course" answered as cheerful,
as could, all are miserable who come
here. except the hardened ones, but you
will soon be home again One short
month and you will be with your
friends"
But my child madam, my dear little
boy. she sobbed, "he is ill., and if | dc
not see him ere then he may die All
his cry is for his mother and | cannot
oh, cannot get to him What shall
DO! My heart almost breaks to soothe
his pains and troubles What shall
dor And she laid her head on my shout
der. with a faint, despairing cry which
wrung my heart, for had two bonnie
children at homo and my heart went out
TO her
How do you know this?" | inquired
when her grief had subsidized
The lame woman who came in yester
day told me at exercise and that my
Toys only cry was for his mother"
Well | replied. "your friends will
take care of him and month will soou
pass, take courage. And kissed her
for was Il woman, If wardress, and apt
TO harden my heart at times
But none can take his mothers place
was all that she could say then, clasp
ing me suddenly to her. she whispered
eagerly But, ii you choose, you could
nelp me"
What do you mean?" | said
in this way" she said; II want to be
at home in three or four days"
Nonsense. replied, 'you are losing
your WITS get on with your work"
She obeyed. but continued II know
can get out if you will aid me little
and no one shall be the wiser | want
you to post me a letter only, and before
long | shall be with my dear boy clasp
ing her hands and looking intensely at
me.
Now you must put such matters en-.
tirely from you Surprising" | said, to
humor her. ii do as you suggest and il
was found out; the consequences would
be should lose my pension. which is
only a few years off, and have two
children to think of and am widow"
She was quiet at this for time and
did her work in random way: then
suddenly:
What amount of money do you cal
culate would bring in interest equivalent
10 your pension
"A thousand pounds" | said. smiling,
and believing that it would put such
thoughts away from her mind.
She dropped the clothing she held and
seized my hands firmly. IF you were
to receive 81 900 would you help mel
Swear it by the love you bear your
children and as you hope for their wei
fare"
oh, yes, I'll promise that, replied
to humor her, for thought she must be
little distracted with grief
Remember, that is "a solemn promise,
she said, and Just upon it the bell rang
to close work, and the prisoners began
to troop to their cells,
At the end of another hour my duty
would be over for the night, and after
seeing all the inmates of the cells
should transfer my keys to the night
wardress in charge and go home When
came to No. ISIS cell found her
calmer and putting her arms around
me she embraced and kissed me- whis-
pering Good night, dear madam; re-
member and God will bless you"
passed ont and left her for the night
hoping that she had forgotten her idea
OF the letter,
As lived outside | soon put on my
hat and cloak which covered my prison
uniform, and left for the night, and was
oh 1rnn
Judge of my establishment, after TAX
ing off my cloak, when ! put my hand
into my dress pocket, to find an un-
stamped letter. which No IL had evil
IDENTIFY slipped there before left her
cell.
1t was addressed to a city fifteen miles
away. and my first Thought was to de-
stroy it and held it in my hand over
the fire. but my heart gave leap as |
thought of her child. and, looking across
the room. saw my own dear boy with
his curly head bent over his slate, and
my hand stated. will not burn it,
thought. will wait until morning and
think what must do for the right; SO
laid it on the mantelpiece.
After we had had tea left my little
girl of twelve to clear away things while
went ont to buy eatables for the next
day was away about an hour, and on
returning my daughter greeted me with
Mamma, bought a stamp and posted