Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-05-04

Mrs. Fairdon was at the workhouse-as
early as she could get away from her
household cares at home.
1t was visiting day, and the friends of
the patients were IN the infirmary The
nurse, who was very busy, just told her
that No. 14's baby had been taken to
the old peoples ward to be out of the
way, and that one old woman had been
told off to take care of it, She hurried
away to the large ward, and found that
also to be full of visitors,
AS Mrs. Fairdon hurried through the
rooms, she suddenly started and shiv-
ercd-she saw the baby, her own precious
baby, in the arms of stranger.
The sky through the windows above
the beds was gray and dim, for the day
was cloudy, but one ray Of brilliant
white light shone round the rugged face
of Master Malcolm, as he sat on chair
between two white beds, with ASSunta'S
golden-haired child In his arlns. He was
looking down on it tenderly, with deep
compassion. and the baby gazing up into
his face with the solemn dignity Of in
fancy.
Mrs. Fairdon's heart died within her.
Had he come to claim it? perhaps to take
It away. What should she do? She
went swiftly up to the Minister and held
out her arms for the child. He rose to
his feet but showed moments reuc-
lance to part with iC.
"Will you not give it me, sire" she
said, piteously. st Is mine
"Yours. | was told that it was the
child Of a friend Of mine who has been
called away from this world" he said,
with q sigh.
"Oh, may not have it?' entreated
poor Mamie, with tears in her ewes.
THE poor mother gave it to met is
mine. 1t was with her at the last, and
l swore to bring up the little one as my
own"
The Minister looked at her earnestly;
the stamp Of goodness was on her face
Enthusiastically, but still he hesitated.
''You ta6e upon Yourself great respon-
sibility," he said, 'to bring this little
lamb to her Heavenly Fathers fold"
with His help | am not afraid" said
Mrs. Fairdon, reverently. Then the
Minister laid the child in her arms, say
ing, Take her, then, in Gods name"
Many important matters had to be
settled, and several times Master NAL
colin found himself in the back sitting
room of FairdOn's shop, arranging things
with him. He could not feel justified in
delivering the child wholly into these
good peoples care, he should have had
time to communicate with Lady Grisel,
whose name he fore bore to mention;
neither did the Fairdons seek to know
it, The Minister thought that some pay
ment Dug hit to be made to help to meet
the expenses Of its support; but this An
drew absolutely declined He was inn
movable; either the child must remain
entirely in the hands Of its unwilling
relatives, or must be delivered over body
and soul to him, to bear his name, and to
be to him as real daughter, her kin
dred resigning every claim.
Master Malcolm learned from the
matron and others how complete he
might rely on the excellence and good
ness of the worthy couple; and it was
with lighter heart than he could have
believed possible, that he wrote to tell
Lady Grisel that home, in every way
so desirable had offered itself for the
little orphan.
The answer came at length; the wait
ing had seemed very long to the anxious
Mrs. Fairdon. Lady Grisel was willing
to renounce all claim, once and for ever,
to the guardianship Of the child. She
thanked God that SO good home was
found, and that now the piteous story OF
poor Assunta need never be further
known; and she said she never could eX-
press in words her gratitude for all that
the Minister had done.
So Master Malcolm soemnly blessed
the child, and went home again to the
north, Mrs. Fairdon took possession of
her own and brought her home.
The evening after it's arrival, Andrew
came out of the shop armed with all inn
mense Shakespeare. He began at once
turning over the leaves. Shakespeare
has said, What's in name?' my dear
wherein he made, to my humid think
ing, grave mistake. A name why,
what were Portia if her name were Jane,
or an Ophelia named Martha? where
were the sorrows of Danish Prince
Thomas, or the desDairs of a Moorish
William? No, no: such a Portia would
only have been sentimental middle
class female-such all Ophelia a whining
milllmad. Do you see the difference
wife?'
Eyes, indeed" answered Mamie, com
posedly.
Il have it, Nannie,' he said. "A
beautiful name, rare name, and one,
alas! too we'll suited to the little one"
what is it?" she said, eagerly.
''Perdita.'
So it was decided that the little
orphan, poor Assunta's goldenh aired
child, should be called Perdita.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Young Editors Who Murder Statesmen.
Speaking to q prominent newspaper
I L