Year: 1862

! J
last, and 1t came time TO 20 to bed. |
had taken Willie to sleep down stairs
near me. Since his fathers death the
other children slept just above US. Well,
when came down there was the empty
pillow Baby had always laid his little
rosy face as close to mine as he could
get it, and slept with one little warm
hand on my neck. All my grief broke
out afresh when thoughtof him. Willie
raised up at last, and said earnestly


Mother, its Charlie you are crying
for, isn't it ?


Yes answered, i know it's for the
best-but, oh its so hard to give him
up


Mother, continued the child, when
father died we knew it was for tfie best
because God took him from us but
have been thinking ever since we laid
down how poor little Charlie must be
crying for you, and how God gave him
to Us, to love him aud keep him and
now you have given him away. If he
had meant him to be Mr.. and Mrs. Lor-
rimer's baby, wouldn't he have given
him to them at first?


The child's words carried more weight
with Item than all the arguments of my
rich neghbors. After considering mo-
ment, said, impulsiyely-


oh, if | only had him back, he
should never 60 away again, no matter
how poor we might be-


The moon was shining SO brightly
that it was almost as light as day, and
presently Willie said


Mother, its only half mile across
the fields, and they won't 60 to bed for
long time at Mr.. Lorrimers let US 90
and get Charlie, Why mother, / seem
to hear him crying now


Urged by the chld's entreaties and
the fond promptings Of my own heart, l
consented. | think | never walked halfa
mile so quickly in my life, and neither of
US spoke until we reached the mansion.
Then we stopped a moment for breath,
and sure enough, we could hear baby
screaming at the top Of his voice. We
went round to the sitting-room door, and
knocked. They seemed half-frightened
when they saw WOO il was, but asked us
in politely. A hired nurse was walking
with the child up and down the floor.
trying to pacify it. Mrs. Lorrimer bad
wenricd herself olt, and was lying on a
lounge.


Come to mother Willie said, and he
brought the little fellow to me at once.


How be clung to me, still sobbing, yet
smiling all the while to find himself in
my arms.


4 cannot give him up said at last,
when I could get my voice clear. You
must let me take him home


They evidently thought me the silliest
Of women. but their cold words only
made me the more determined, and we
started back in less than half an hour af-
ter We came, carrying the baby; Willie
offered to help me, but felt as though /
could carry him in my arms forever.


When | had laid him in the bed, now
fast asleep, but still sobbing and reach
ing Jut bis little hands TO feel if / was
there, said, God help me, come what
will, will never part with one of my
living children again, and never did.


need not tell You how wild with joy
the rest of the children were when they
found the baby in bed next morning.
They almost fought over the little fellow,
and from that day forth it was their
greatest pleasure to amuse Charlie and
have him with them.


When the affair came t. be known
many blamed me, and muny lavors that
ny rich neighhors might have done me
they withheld, think, for my folly, as
they called it. But few poor women
like myself, that bad always nursed their
own children, laid l did right. We had
many trials, and often scarcely a crust of
bread in the house but our hardships
only bound Us the more closely together.


Al my children proved comforts and
blessings to me. God took care of one
lor me but as Willie said, we knew that
was for the best. The rest married in
the course of time, and left me, but the
property of my old days, the one wtoe
Industry and management gave me this
plentiful and comfortable home, has new
er left me since the day | gave him
away.-Liaie Pilgrim.


gzy At a wedding, recently, when the
officiating priest put 10 the lady the ques-
ton, wilt thou have this man to be thy
,,,aIded husband ?'' sha 6ronOad the nrat