The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-09-08

the baby was relieved and put to sleep
before morning came. lt was suffering
from improper food, pei haps or because
volunteer c8ra-cRre little like that
care which more fortunate children give
their d0lle-failed to take the place OF q
big-hearted, il oven WI rked, no other. The
father, too, had stumb led iD, heavy " ith
drink, and thrown himself on bed In
the corner. Maggie slept curled up in
heap on the floor, and covered with an
old shawl. At last morning bI oke and
new day with it's keen activity and
strugeli ling growth had begun. But the
mystic rious, tiny soul.spt rk, known to us
as Little Mike" trembleu in the balance.
From plump. round-limbed baby he
grew meager and Fl abby; the little limbs
were shrunken and the large vi, let eyes
uDnaturally big and wistful.
Weeks of this slow pining passed, with
few visits on my p'rI. As sat one day
with the poor little creature stretched
out upon Ian, mere mite of q baby, the
door oponed very eOftlyI and Miss Vir-
GINA walked in.
As she stood there In the dingy room,
tall and fair, with her long gown and
coat of dull black silk, trimmed with
black fur, for 1t was now winter, with
smiling eyes, and In her hands a bunch
Of rich dark roses, the child IN gszed on
her az IL some supernatural being had
come down among them.
Timothy was the mold one of the flock !:
there was moments pause, then he ran
straight to her, and laid his round, vel
low cad against the fur on her gown,
rubbing himself against It., catwise, as he
braced bis sturdy little legs, and turned
up to her his playful, fearless smile.
~
you herer exclaimed Miss Virginia,
startled out of her foe manners and
speaking In frank, winning voice new
to nay ears.
Then she stopped down and capture d
the little rogue In her long graceful arms
dropping her flowers as she did so and
leaving them unregarded upon the Fl Dor,
where Lena soon or pit up cautious IL and
gazed in rapt delight; Lena is the only
dark-haired one; she will be true Irish
beauty. with rich, black treeaes above
blue eyes, and a clesr,fed and white skin
Pick them up,if you like them, dear, -
aaid Mics Virginia sweetl7. By this
time Tim had passed his chubby hands
owe I the whole length and breadth of the
fur norder within his reach. He nov In
listed upon her getting up from the
broken armed rocking chair, which
Maggie, with eager mOtherliness, had
busted With hsr apron. ..-
"Bes r, big bear !" cried little Timothy
putting ont his cheeks and. swiftIv dart
ing at Dugald, dragging Miss Virginia
IN his wake. And Miss V; rsinia posi- i've
ly laughed aloud, "a merry, unspoiled
laugh. Then she glanced at me, half
defiantly; what new instinct had sprung
into life, full.fledged7 .. -.
After this visit Mics Virginia neV r
spoke Of "your young Moriartys," Or
your little Irish fEienda,'' as she had
been In the habit of doing, but it was ''the
babies" or sthe little warriors" and
soon 1t became sour babieF ,""our young
friends" For we soon fell into the Gus.
tom Of going-the baby sti fading slow
ly-almost daily, sometimes together, but
oftener would go d st and Miss Virginia
would come In at the end OF her drive Or
walk and take me home with her. Mar
velous baskets and packages began TO
precede and follow her. Whatever the
surprise, 1t ended In a rOmp for little Tim.
He grew every day more rosy and mas.
natty kilt suit of dark blue that he now
wore. Mat Moriarty, the father, had q
job,-he was working steadily as coal
neaver, earning the magnificent weekly
income of nine dollars, laum which
Maggie nevf tired Of mentioning. With
the father at work and Miss Virginia con-
stSntly on the watch to smuggle In some
new comfort or pleasure, ig was time Of
strange plenty for Maggie and her little
flock.
Her one grief was now that in this
chez rfu1 daylight of better times, the
Pickering flame of the poor baby'e life
candle burned lower and lower. The
tears would rush to her eyes as she lifted
ri 2o asx hnnAfa G.yEr%@s= N~r
the bed to the old armchair which served
for cradle, or from her lap to mine. !
think we all saw that little Mike could
not stay with the others long.
Anew and greater surprise was In prog
ress. Doubtless Miss Virginia, as she
confessed it to me, with eyes shining, re-
membered her former warnings.
sit 10 merely little bonus for faithful
service, she explained. 1In Moriarty's
day the area steps WI r. perfectly clean.
1 see difference now
But it was not such bonus 80 to make
q safe precedent. After much patient
searching Mas Virginia had found and
engaged new d0micile for the family,
IL was neat, comfortable fat In quiet,
decent neighborhOOd on side street. III
an old-fashioned sms IL house, owned and
partly occupied by q nice. elder v couple.
It was convenient for Mats work and not
too fnconvenient for our visits, and the |
good, chiIdless woman OF the house was
ready TO take partial charge OF the
whole management.
uWhen we get them settled, Maggie
and Lena must 70 TO school," Miss Vir- /
rinia decided John, the oldest boy. was
selling papers and doing odd Jobs under |
bis fathers orders. Dugald was d0clle /
and good-tempered; he was sure 20 pc