Year: 1868

length he was ready; and l thought he
had never looked SO pretty. He was full
of animation, for he was old enough to
know what it meant to 60 a riding, and
he clapped his hands and laug ghed at the
horses when they were driven up. 1 hand
ed him to his new mother (the children
supposed he was to come back soon,) and
he never even looked at me. Oh. how
jealous my aching heart grew!


When | came back into the house, the
first thing my eyes fell upon was his era
die. [ could only throw myself on 1t and
sob aloud. Then came the trial of telling
the truth to the children. None of them
seemed reconciled, and | felt that the
worst was to come when the two oldest re-
turned from school, [ almost dreaded to
meet them, especially Willie he was like
his father, who was so quiet and calm
outwardlv, but hiding beneath his appar-
ent coldness the strongest, deepest feel
ings But the others went to meet them
as they came home, aud [ was pleasantly
disappointed in the way the oldest one took
it, He seemed to feel that | had done it
for the best, and that he must hide his
sorrow for my sake. He was more
thoughtful for my comfort. and gentler
than ever, only very still and grave.


The day ended, as the longest will, at
last, and it come time to go to bed. L had
taken Willie down stairs sloop near me
since his fathers death the other children
slept Just above u.s. Well, when | came to
lie down there was the empty pillow Ba-
by 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 | thought
of him. Willie raised up at last, and said
/ earnestly:


+ Mother, it's Charlie you are crying for,
/ isn't it? p


i Yes [ answered, 1 know it's for the
best, but it's so hard to give him up
Mother, continued the child, when
father died we knew it was best, because
God took him from US but I've 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 and
keep him, and now you have given him
away. If He had meant him to be Mr..
and Mrs Lorrimer's baby, wouldn't He
have given him to them at frst?'


The child's words carried more weight
with tn EN- than all the arguments of my
rich neighbors After considering a mo-
ment, | said, impusively;


Oh if only had him back, he never
should 90 away again, no matter how poor
we might be-


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


Mother, it's only half mile across
the fields, and they won't 90 to bed for a
long time at Mr.. Lorrimer's, let US 60 and
got Charlie Why, mother, | seem to hear
him crying now


Urged by the child's entreaties and the
fond promptings of my own heart, con
sented. l think | never walked hall
mile so quickly in my life, and neither
of US spoke until we reached the mansion
Then we stopped a moment to take breath
.nu sure enough we could baby screaming
at the top of his voice. We went around
at the sitting room and knocked. They
seemed half frightened when they saw who
it was, but asked Us in politely. \ hired
nurse was walking up and down the floor
irving to pacify it. Mrs Lorimer had
wearied herself out and was laying on a
lounge.


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


How he clung to me, still sobbing. ye
smiling all the while TO find himself in my
arms


Il cannot give him up said at last
when | could get my voice clear; you
must let me take him home


They evidently thought me one of th'
sllliest of women, but their cold words on
ly made me more determined, and VT
started back in less than half an hour
after we came, l carrying the baby in my
arms all the way.


When | had laid him down in bed, not
fast asleep, but still sobbing, and h.
reaching out his little hands, to feel If
was there, | said


God helping me, come what Will,
will never part with one of my living chill
dren again And never did.


[ have no need to tell how wild with 90
the rest of the children were when the,
found the baby in bed the next morning
and from that day forth it was thei
greatest pleasure to amuse Charlie and hav
him with them.


When the affair came to be known man
blamed me, and many favors that my ricl
neighbors might have done me, they with
held, | think for my folly, as they calle'
it, But few poor women like myself, wh'
had always nursed their own children, sal,
| did right. We had many trials, and OF
ten not crust of bread in the house ; bu
our hardships only bound US the NOR
closely together.


All my children proved comforts an
blessings to me- God took care of one 70
me but Willie said, we know that 1t wa
for the best. The rest married in tn
course of tino and loft but the pro
of my old days, the one whose industry an
management gave me this plentiful an
comfortable home, has never left me, sine
the day | gave him away.