The Portland daily press., 1894-10-04

SWeIl, am not. going TO De girl iie
I'm going to wear a jacket next spring.
amt l, map"
'sIf it doesn't rain. -
but don't you want to be girl and
have doll to play with and beau to
come and see your"
''Id rather go a-courtin, said Basil
obviously. A gay laugh followed this re-
joinder and
About six weeks afterward there came
to Mrs. London's ears tale of sorrow-of
shipwreck and suffering and death. Beau
ty and youth and hope and life went down
into the angry waters. Father and moth
er, brother aid sister, friend and acquaint-
ance--the sea spared them not-the wrath
full, ravenous sea. But one little human
blossom-one tiny, frail life-one 2-year-
old girl baby, found her ark in the arms
of broad shouldered negro sailor, was
borne through the jaws of death" and
smiled from her blue eyes straight out into
the sunshine, just as happily as if father
and mother were not torn from her for
ever.
1t was known that Mrs. London was
fond of little girls and had none of her
own. Would she mother this poor waif?
The childs family were not yet discov-
cred, but great efforts were making. 1t
was evident that she was gently born but
months might elapse before she could
be restored to friends. Meanwhile she
ought to be tenderly cared for, and in
case her family should not be found it
was desirable that she should be with
those who would cherish her as their own.
She could not be given up to public char
ity The pity which her sad fate excited
was too great for that. So the little
stranger was laid in Mrs. London's lap,
and the father and the six boys came and
looked upon her. What did they see that
stirred their hearts so, hushed their ring
ing voices into silence and brought a
dampness to their eyes? Only a shy,
sturdy face, half afraid, half repellent-
emily little fat hands and dimpled arms
only baby girl, swept away from fathers
arms and m .ther's bosom-swept up by a
pitiless sea upon the bleak shores of
stranger world, an orphan and alone. But
when Mrs London said in low voice,
'sWell papa, what do you sayf" Roderic
answered quickly:
II say, let's have her,"
ssIs it votes' asked papa.
''She's too young to be of aL, use to
1me. y said Fred, appearing Indifferent, to
gloss over the fact that he had been very
near crying, 'sbut it's too bad to send her
tossing around the world again. She'll
be good plaything. I'd keep her,"
ssWhat says Basil? Will you have your
nose put out of joint"
s'She CART hurt my nose, - said Basil.
And by unanimous verdict sshe'' was
admitted to the family circle.
s'She' turned everything topsy turvier
than it had ever been before. Very timid
and silent at first, the tenderness that
waited on her footsteps soon soothed away
her shyness and she unfolded like June
rosebud. No queen was ever more loyalty
served, and it must be confessed that she
repaid service with baby gratitude She
walked into Fred's writing desk, threw
his papers all about the room and adored
him.. She set down her foot in the mid
die of Arthur best kite and crowed loud
ly to make him look up. She took a
crayon and flashed streaks of black light
ming in Roderic's just completed prize
drawing and cooed lovingly in his ear.
She pulled both wheels off Basil's tin
wheelbarrow, and threw his soft ball into
the coffeepot and was SO sweet and cum
ming that they laughed at her mischief as
if it was the incest thing in the world to
be done and loved her with all their
hearts. To these boys who had never
known a sister, this tiny girls nature was
a revelation. They never thought Of
standing up for their rights against her
encroachments. They battled with each
other famously and exacted the very ut
most farthing, but she walked over all
their necks and was not afraid. Old
Martha softened to her marvelously, and
those meddlesome fingers worked restless
coll,
London fingers had never dared to do.
Meanwhile the little one had no name.
s'What do you suppose her name ISL"
| Basil asked dozen times day. How
| soon shall we name her if we don't find
out her namef"
ssAnd, mamma, if you don't find out
| anybody who owns her she'll be chris
tened just as we were won't she?''
tsYes dear We mean to have her,"
'And her name will be London some
thing-no, something Londons"
| 'sJust so.
| 'sAnd e'll be our very own sister-just
| the same as if she was horned sop
| mot exactly the same, but just as dear.
| won't she? She will not be our own
blood, but she will be our own heart. :"
But one day, when the little girl had
been with them about eight months, there
came letter announcing that the search
had been successful; that the child S grand
father had been found; that he was an
English clergyman and had already started
to visit America and bring the baby home.
The news fell upon the ears of the London
family like thunderbolt. They had grad
ually grown into thinking her their own,
and they shrank from giving her up. The
letter had been delayed on it's way, and
the day after it's reception the grandfather
arrived. There was long conference in
the parlor, to which the children were not
admitted They gathered in the library,
however, and compensated themselves by
abusing their guest.
But when they were called into the par
lor and presented severally to Mr.. Talbot
their anger was turned away. Even their
young eyes could seetthe lines which grief
had traced ON that thin face, and not only
in the thin, worn, aged face, but in the
bent and feeble frame they saw the marks
of sorrow-the signs Of broken heart
which touched theirs to the tenderest pity