The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-12-13

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grown girl large enough to wash
dishes, run errands and otherwise
assist with household duties, now
that She was getting on in years.
"A good sized girl, capable and
willing" was what she asked III" ma
tron for
Come this way" answered that
person: Il think we have just the glrl
fer you"
In going to the section Of the build.
ing whore the larger girls were doml'
ciled they had occasion to pass
through the nursery
In this room number of little
ones were playing. one darkcyed
little elf caught hold Of Mrs. Spauld.
ings gown
MY. but isn't she pretty cX.
claimed the visitor, looking down at
a dark. roguish face. How old is she?'
she must be almost three, as near
as we can reckon" answered the ma.
trun. She is of Italian parcntage,
she went on Her father a poor
strolling musician, sick and dcspond.
ent, put an end to his life The
child was found in the room with his
body-drcadfu wasn't It? And such
dear little thing. too--tcll the lady
your name. dear
"Tildywinks." lispcd the child
Perhaps her name is Matilda,
ventmed Mrs. Spaulding,
Suddenly the child stretched out
her Mamma" she cried
"Tildys mamma" Oh, what music
In that word to the heart of the
childlcss woman; It was the keynote
to the doorway Of her heart
Only in dreams had the woman felt
the cIinging baby arms, the warm
pressure Of baby lips-only anticipa.
uon-ncyer till GENERALIZATION.
Come, Tidy. kiss the lady good.
by" It was the matron's voice she
! heard
She was moving on, expecting her
visitor to follow, but Mrs. Spauldlng
WAS standing still, peculiar express.
sion on her face as she said:
II don't think / want that girl |
spoke about, I've changed my mind.
think" hesitaticGly; III take
this one
Once outside the gray stone build.
ing she wondered at her doing
Staid middle aged Bessie Spaulding
taking a baby for adoption. She
smiled as she thought of her neigh.
| bors' criticism. She was prepared for
II all
Thirteen years passed. The child
that Mrs Spaulding had taken to her
heart could indeed be classed as "a
good sized girl" She was in her six
tcenth year. 4 tall, beautiful girl
with dark. flashing eyes and rich
brown complexion.
She proved to be a great comfort
to her foster parents Through the
livelong day she sang Joyous notes
like the calling of bird.
Once stranger passing, paused to
listen to that sweet voice. and lis.
teniug. exclaimed:
"Brayot Bravo"
She wondered what he meant-shc,
this innocent child of nature
Such a strange man. mother" she
said when she sat at her feet in the
twilight. DO | sing very well?" she
asked.
We'll enough to please mother"
came the soft answer, and she was
content.
The next Sabbath while she sang in
the village choir a dark face was up
lifted in mute admiration; 1t was the
man who called out Bravo to her
while she sang.
She saw him stop and speak to her
foster parents. She watched her moth
er place her hand on her heart, while
the color died from her face
That night as she lay awake she
heard voices from below. 1t was
her foster parents, She caught the
words:
I'VE must keep her from the
choir, John. My Cod he'll take her
from us"
She had vague impression that the
dark stranger was q relative. She
knew the history of her own origin,
that her rightful parents came from
Italy. Perhaps he had come to take
her away. AS, but she would not go;
no, never.
For time she ceased to sing. When
the spring came. all her joyousness re-
turned She sang with the birds,
notes sweeter than the nightingale.
How could she be otherwise than In
harmony with nature?
She was sitting in the garden sing.
Ing bright little melody; 1t seemed
to come from her very heart. She
was conscious OF a presence. and rails
ing her eyes saw the stranger-he who
would take her away
Gathering up her work and garden
hat, she would have rushed into the
house, but he stood in her pathway.
"Ah, mademoiselle, listen" he plead.
ed. DO you want to become rich, ia.
nous, queen among women"
She caught the words rich, IA.
nous" Her breath came In little
II,