Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-10-29
FIVE, mebby-prob'ly two. All bet dat
mans left dat bebby, seh!'

five, mebby-prob'ly two. All bet dat
mans left dat bebby, seh!'
81 shouldn't WONDER" replied Nath-
an Drew. "Shiftless cuss Camping
down on my property without even
asking permission, and using my lum-
Der shanty, stove, and wood ! I'm
glad he's gone, but 1 wish he'd taken
his hull dern brood with him. The
young un III prob'ly grow up jest like
the rest of 'em, lazy and wuthless u
"Ah heard say" continued the little
Frenchman, "dat mans Hinglishman,
good family, but not ver' strong for
work. Los heez health, an 'bliged to
take to de woods. No money-no
health-big family. All guess ah'll
10 bout same Ting as him, bah gosh,
if ah get too much bebby."
"Don't doubt it, Alphonse," rejoined
the farmer. "That's jest the sort of a
critter you be, and yer hull Canuck
tribe"
Alphonse grinned appreciatively,
and took no offense. Then silence fell
upon the three men until the last
crumb and drop of monday lunch had
disappeared.
Abigail tenderly laid the baby down
in the grass, while she gathered togeth-
er the dishes and napkins and repacked
them in the basket. Her brother stood
over her watching. He was spare,
hard faced, iron gray man, who showed
by every line and feature the absence
of sentiment in his makeup. The
woman's hands trembled as she work
ed. She knew he was about to say
something about the child. Presently
he spoke:
"You kin keep that young I'm jest
two days, Abigail. Then, if there
don't nobody come TO claim it, am
going to take it to the Founding
Hospital" Having thus delivered
himself, he shouldered his pitchfork
and walked determinedly away.
Tears obscured the homeward path
of the little woman as she struggled
through shimmering sunlight with the
infant on her arm. She knew that
her brother would be turned from his
purpose neither b. argument nor by
entreaty. He had spoken, and that
was end of it, the infexible ultimatum
of that old Puritan-bred tyranny that
survives in so many heads of New
England households.
But though the path was blurred, it
took her home-the only home she
had ever known, the roof under which
she had been born and reared, and
which had descended to her elder
brother when their parents died. Has
tening to the pantry, she took milk
and warmed it for the babe, half stupe-
fled by starvation. Then, clumsily,
yet with woman's instinct, she spar.
ingly fed the child with a spoon, a few
drops at time. AS life came back to
the little body with nourishment, the
baby cried weakly, and Abigail strained
it to her bosom, while tears of mingled
Joy and pity rained down upon the
little head. What a pretty child it
was despite its suffering! What a
clear, white skin what a little, point
ed, dimpled chin; what blue, blue
eyes; what breadth of forehead and
fulness of temple; what dainty little
hands; what a soft sweet neck for
nesting mothers lips
For two days Abigail Drew lived in
the awful joy of one who drains the
nectar from cup which, when
emptied, must be dashed to the earth.
She tried to put away the thought that
she aud that little baby girl must part.
She tried to make those two precious
days Heaven enough for all of her
life. She tried, with all the dutifulness
and reverence of her nature, TO bow
to her brothers will and be con-
tent. But every hour the whisper
grew stronger and more intent-
"Cleave to the child Keep her,
cherish her. She is yours, gift OF
God, the answer to your lifelong
prayer"
At last she went to her brother and
poured out her heart with an intensity
of passion he had never suspected in
that quiet, reserved, meekly subser-
Went sister of his. But, although
surprised and disturbed, Nathan Drew
was not moved. His heart remained
obdurate. TO him, the thought OF
foundling child in the house was un-
endurable. Never lover of children,
always convinced in his own heart
that childlessness was the more blessed
state, how could he be expected to
look with favor upon an adopted baby,
child concerning whose antecedents
and propensities one knew absolutely
nothing? No! he would not hear to
it. To the Founding Hospital at May
field the little one must 60.
Towards evening of the last day OF
her probation, Abigail Drew began to
gather together certain little treasures
of her own-heirlooms. He mothers
Bible the laces left her by Aunt Ju-
dith; an old-fashioned watch and
chain; six silver spoons, worn thin as
paper-these and few other things,
she wrapped in bundle; and then,
taking baby and bundle in her arms,
4. Il fha LIT itnhnn door