Year: 1875

ID Vut uaihnS ohhu


He is here, | answered, under my
mothers care, and | am happy to say, do
ing well.


An unmistakable look Of disappoint-
ment crossed the faces of my visitors, but
the elder one said


Can we see him, doctor2


asked permission to announce their
coming to my mother, and left the ladies
alone. When | returned, after some five
minutes absence, was struck by the
change in their faces The younger one
was pale as ashes, and the older one had
set, hard look, of determination, as II
nerved by some sudden resolution.


led the way to my mothers bedroom,
where Freddie was in profound slumber.
The younger lady shrank back in the
shadow Of the bed-curtains, but the moth.
or advanced and bent over the child.


There was moment Of profound 81
lence, then in hard voice the old lady
said


l am very sorry to have put you to SO
much trouble, Doctor Morrill, This is not
the child we lost.


A heavy fall startled me, and turned
to see the young stranger senscless on the
floor Her mother spoke quickly.


The disappointment is too much fol
her We SO hoped to find our grandson


did not reply. The delirious rawlings
of the child were still ringing in my ears
as he pleaded with the harsh grandmoth.
er and aunt. | did not believe the old
lady's statement, but having no proof to
the contrary, was forced to accept it,


Long after my visitors had departed
the beautiful blonde still trembling and
white, mother and | talked Of their strange
conduct.


1t is evident they wish to deny the
child, | said


| am glad of it, mother replied We
will keep him, John. He shall have q
grandmother to love, and not one to fear


So the Summer and early Autumn wore
away, and Freddie was dear to me as il he
had claim of kinship. His rare beauty
his precocious intellect, and his loving
heart had completed the fascination com
mcnced by ourpity for his suffering, weak
ness and loneliness. He called us Grand
ma and Uncle John, and clung to us with
affectionate caresses


We tried in vain, from his childish
prattle, to gain some clue to his parentagt
or relatives. He told us his papa had
gone, far, far of, and mamma had gone tc
papa; so we concluded he was an orphan
and often heard mother telling him oil
the beautiful heaven where his parents
waited for their little boy.


OF his grandmother and aunt Lucy he
spoke with shrinking fear, and seemed t.
have an equal dread of Susan, whom We
judged to be the nurse. Susan was talk
ing to tall man, he told us, who boxed
his ears and told him to 90 home, when
trying to escape, he run under the horse q
hoofs and was hurt.


Being blest with wealth, mother and
had quite decided to formally adopt pretty
Freddie when he had been little longer
unclaimed in our home. The GONZALES
cence of the child requiring fresh air with
out too much exercise, made habit Of
taking him with me in my daily drive Il
visit my patients.


jerome, my coachman, was very font
Of Freddie, and very careful, so | was no
afraid to leave my little charge with hin
while was indoors, and he was very hap
py chatting with the good-natured Irish
man, and waiting my coming.


1t was early in November, and mother
had dressed Freddie for the first time in q
jaunty suit of velvet, with dainty velvet
cap over his brown curls, when one morn
ing sent him out with Jerome until !
was ready to start. Looking out, l saw
him standing on the pavement, giving Nat
my horse, long carrot he had procured
in the kitchen, while jerome stood near,
guarding the curly head from any mishap


was making my final preparation fol
departure, when heard scream undeI
my window, and Jerome saying;


Be jsbersl she's tainted, the crather
While Freddie cried:


Mamma pretty mamma


l ran out hastily, to see an odd tableau
jerome was supporting in his strong arms
slender figure in deep mourning, hall
leaning on the tray-box, while Freddie
clung to her skirts, sobbing-Mamma
mamma


A few passers-by stood near, making
various suggestions, and Nat looked grave
ly over Jerome's shoulders, as If he could
say great deal if he had the inclination


Bring her in, jerome, said,


I'll do that same, sur, was the reply, as
jerome lifted the little figure like feath-
er-weight, and, crossing the pavement
came into the Office. shut out the Gu.
rious people who followed, and Freddie
clung fast to the black dress, never ceas
ing his loud cries Of


Oh, mamma Il is my mamma come
home to Freddie Mamma pretty nam
ma


The sound rang through the house
reaching my mothers ears, as she sat ia
her room, and entered the office Just al
Jerome deposited his burden in an arm
chair. Comprehanding the situation al
a glance, mother tendcrly removed th.
Grape veil and bonnet, loosening shower
Of brown curls round a marble-white face