The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-08-03

Thanksglvin, when 1 wakes up Won
derin what had to offer up thanks
FOR, 'cept that I was alive, and little
thanks for that, with my old man bur-
led only three weeks. Anyway, as l
was born In the church and bred up to
Christian ways, I drops to my knees
rs slipped out of bed, and thanks
the good Lord for oil his mercics, and
I remember that added somcthin
about beln content, though he'd took
away my old man without never givin
e 'Nhy to comfort me I'm my lone
liness' FOR i always bad n mother
eea., ne.s as sn Sah5ies declare this world
do seem crooked sometimes. But that's
aside from my story, and s'pose you'd
ruther I'd stick to that"
Eyes, yes! Time Is precious. But
tell your story In your own way, and
we shall get through all the more
quickly. Go on"
You're n gentleman with a deal Of
brains, now. II was made to stick
straight to the story, don't doubt but
what I'd leave out half you'd wish to
know. Anyway Ill do my best. So
after my thanksglvin I rose up and
went to the window to let in some
| light raised up the sash to push
open tho blinds, and what do I see but
a most suspicious lookin bundle on my
steps. say suspicious, cause, though
l never had no babies myself, I've
tended many's the one. and 1 guessed
right Off that some wretch had put n
baby by my door. The Lord be prais-
ed,' I says out loud, though there
| weren't no one by to hear. Maybe
he's heard my prayers, after nH.' So
| l rushed on enough clothes to go to
the door in, and fetched in the bun
die. and when 1 unpInncd the shawl,
sure enough, there was baby, q real
| live baby, rosy and fat and warm In
] spite Of the hard frost outside"
"And that was Lily?"
THAT was Lily, sure. l took her to
my heart that day, sir, and she's had
| the biggest corner OF It ever since,
though nowadays maybe she do'n't
think SO. But that's all cause of the
drink, which. I own, do get the best
| of me at times. But then what's lore
| wildly to do, with times so hard and
| CROWN harder day by day. It's
enough to drive n saint to drink, and
that's the TRUTH
She wiped away n tear with the hem
Of her dress, which she unhesitatingly
lifted for the purpose, and Mr.. Mitch
el, fearing that her emotion would in
terrupt her narrative, brought her back
to the thread of her story by asking:
| Tell me how you came to name her
Lillian Vale, Mrs. Cooper"
Truly that was strange part Of it..
found paper pinned to her little
shirt, and on 1t was written Vale. AS
couldn't make out anything but last
name from that. guessed that 1t must
be the family name, though why they
should take the trouble to tell that
| when they was disownin the child was
more'n could make out. But how she
part Of all. was playin with the baby
and havin lots OF fun with her. cause
she was just the cutest and prettiest
little angel you ever see. when there
comes n message to tell me friend of
mine was dyin and would come over.
Well, I didn't like to leave the baby by
herself I'm my house. SO l just carried
her along with me to my friends
house. And what do you Think
~ do not know. What happened
thcrc!"
"W'hy. Just as soon as I took the ba
l by to her bedside and showed 1t to bel
I she let out n scream you could have
beard n mile off. 1t was her baby!
Il fro BE Continued