The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-06-05
,omo children up North who we're

some COllCIcu w 4>oA' |
blessed with clerical paternal and
short rations, aud were to be more
than blessed with generous mission.
arv box from "The Willing Helpers"
me fact that Mrs. Tubbs soon died,
and the old man took up his abode IN
a distant county house, gave her the
comfortable feeling Of no future refer
ence to the affair.
So things went on quite as usual,
until one afternoon in November, when
Esther returned more chilly and splr-
itless than usual from q meeting OF
some committee at the cold Ladies
Home"
Evidently someone was on the look
out for her, for while she was yet sew
eral rods away from the house, faith
full Phyllis rushed out Of the side door
and threw herself on her astonlshed
mistress.
"NIissy! Missy! I dun know what
de house am cummin' to. Dis chile
dun been in de family since befoh you
was bown, an nebber 'spected de like.
7 doan say nuddin' to yer charitable
ness, but dis hohlin, dirty chile, am
it to stay? Oh, Missy"
Esther's curiosity was now fully
aroused, and although Phyllis con-
tinued to pour forth voluble torrents
Of sentences, and fragments of sent
ences, they were neither satisfactory
nor to the point, and she opened the
front door with a trembling hand and
sinking heart.
There, in big armchair, before her
cozy CRATE fre-I came near saying re-
posed, but there was anything but re-
pose in the waving arms and kicking
neither limbs of the fat infant, whose
dirty, red, tear-stained face seemed to
have hidden adieu for two or three life
times to all complacency.
When Esther had regained her
breath. and was able to control herself
sufficiently, in spite Of the deafening
howls, it dawned upon her that Phyl-
lis had all the time been holding an
envelope toward her. She tore it
open and read the following:
Madam-When your child was admitted
to the Orphan Asylum we supposed you
person in INDECENT circumstances; we are
satisfactorily informed to the contrary:
We return your child, utterly refusing it
farther support or sustenance. Our insti-
tuition is not for the aid of imposters.
BOARD OF THE SHERMAN ASYLUM.
This, then, was little Jimmy. Was
ever sensible, respectable woman in
such a position Imagine an aristo-
cratic maiden lady under such circum-
stances! Our Esther sat down and had
good cry, the baby meanwhile con-
Timing itself to soprano notes, with the
grim identity Of q masculine who
must sing bass the rest Of his life, and
purposes to make the most of the pres
ent opportunity.
Our Esther was not very different
from other women, and after ten min
utes at this profitable employment rose
refreshed, snatched up his small mo.
jesty, secured him as never orphan was
secured, fed him generous supper Of
bread and milk, clothed him in cozy
little night dress of tennis flannel from
the convenient missionary box, and
, tucked him into her own bed fast
asleep, completely exhausted with sucf
luxuriance.
: Just what Phyllis thought I wouli
: dislike to take time to inscribe, fol-
there were volumes Of it; but Esther
ultimately decided that the easiest way
to settle the whole matter was to KEEP
| the baby and say nothing.
Anyone who had heard the peals O.
laughter that issued that evening from
the last of the Littlejohns, as she sa
8 in her study, might have guessed he
: trife hysterical; but the time cam'
when the tormenting little every-pres
a ent Jimmy, who seemed to be quite a
Q much alone in the world as Miss Little
: John herself, grew to be more to he
r than the absent cherubs of the mission
s airy fields.
}, And in the winter evenings, whe
the curtains were drawn and the fire
|, light flashed out from the open CRATE
# Miss Esther hushed the little lad t
:, x sleep, and more Of home feeling tina
= she had ever known crept into he
n heart and made her kinder, happier
70 more satisfied.
i And so Miss Esther went her wa
d through the bright springtime, full {
IS the merry renewal of life and hope thu
a. a. made the trees and meadows burst il
}e to bloom, played with the little Jimm.
" worked and sang, and sang and worked
t, and made her life as complete SUI
NJ cess as though she never were guilty
We doing those rash, impatient, improv
to dent things which the Theosophis
"a would have US believe are fraught wit
ze eternal consequences.
n But one sad day, through the su,
n n, shine and the springtime, strang
ie wandered to Miss Esther's gate He WI
r. travel-worn and travel-stained by IL
or turmoil of life and the ties he hi
Us counted, but confident as prodiga
~ ,,o% ovoo%lr, ooy,;p~ IN L;c fo41, ~,