The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-06
ACCLE RELL

One morning not long ago the noise and
din of firebells were heard changing
throughout the great city of New York,
and soon an engine, drawn by three pow
erful horses, came flying down the street.
Its bell sounded-people and wagons
scattered in every direction. AS the en-
( CINE neared the crossing a little girl was
seen to leave the curb and start to cross
the street. But before she had fairly
started the engine was upon her. She
might have escaped if fear had not caused
her to lose her presence of mind so that
she could not move.
The front horse struck her. knocking
! her down, but before the wheels could
touch her an old gentleman caught the
little maiden in his arms and carried her
into his room in the hotel opposite. He
la id his burden in the arms of his wife,
who, after having attended to her and put
her in bed, heard the story of the acct
dent from her husband. Next morning
on awakening the child wished to leave
the hotel, but they would not let her, be-
cause she was still very week. The old
gentleman questioned her in regard to her
life. Where are your parents, little
girl?' he asked. "Ain't got none" she
replied, "just sell matches"
"But where do you Iive?" pursued the
bewildered gentleman.
Nowhere; amt got no home," was the
sad reply.
"And do you mean TO say that you live
and keep yourself by selling matches?"
/ he said.
She nodded assent. and before he could
| ask her another question she was once
| MI hQ nf n Ha nal q
hurried consultation with his wife and
! had few words more with the child
when she awoke. with the result that in
few hours we find her speeding away on
train to the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Lang
! try, her benefactors. On learning that she
| had 10 home or guiding hand to di rect
! her, the old gentleman, having no child
of his own, thought that he would take
this friendless little one home with him
to his farm after gaining the cooperation
of Mrs. Langtry.
When the child heard the good news she
was so wild with Joy that she could hardly
| keep from screaming at the top of her
voice.
When they arrived home and Nellie had
| been introduced to Dinah, the cook; Bess,
the COW; Carlo, the great watchdog, the
/
inhabitants of the barnyard, sne was
shown to her pretty room, took off her
wraps and came downstairs to dinner,
| A year has passed, and she is happier
/ than she has been for a long time.
She has gained permission to invite two
little outcasts, who were her friends in the
great city, to come and spend week with
her in her beautiful country home.
Dinah cooked and cooked for a week be-
fore they came, until the great cupboard
was filled with dainty sweetmeats.
On the day of their visit the dear old
pantry was thrown open to them, and the
way they did eat for an hour or more was
a caution. When Dinah returned and be-
held the ruin of her work, she exclaimed,
Laws a massy What moufs dem little
waifses has, for sureW
After a few years the kind old couple
died, Leaving everything to Nellie. Time
passed, and Nell married we'll. When she
had little children of her own she never
tired of telling to them the story of how
her dear foster-parents had taken her out
of the path of thorns and guided her the
right way through life.
ARTHUR SUGDEN Gage 15).
San Francisco.