Page:Famous history of Valentine & Orson (1).pdf/22

 our soldiers marched I begged them to take the poor child with them; but then thay said to me—“What could we do with it?”—And that was very true; but to let the child stay, and die with hunger, was impossible; so I resolved to take it, let what would happen; and I set out, to return to my own home, with the young thing in mine arms. In my way I was weary enough; but I never met with any body that took eompassioncompassion [sic] on me or my burden, so I walked on; but I fell sieksick [sic], as you may see by my looks, and spent the little money I had left, and then I sold my elothesclothes [sic] and every thing I eouldcould [sic] spare—all went, exeeptexcept [sic] these poor rags: yet, still I thought if I eouldcould [sic] but get home I should do very wollwell [sic]. I am used to hard work, and I could even do for this little creature, who has nobody in the world but me to put a morsel of bread into its poor mouth; so I can’t bear to let it starve!”

As she said this, she pressed the child to her bosom, and her tears dropped upon it whilst she repeated—“If I was but able to work—or, I could but get enough to keep it till I reach my home!”

“Poor babe,” said Walden, “poor, yet happy creature, who, in losing her who gave thee birth, found a seeondsecond [sic] mother!—eyes that drop tears of pity on thy lot, and a heart that loves thee!—No, thou shalt not from hard necessity be deserted!”

Walden then wrote upon a leaf of his pocket-book the name of the woman, and that of the village where she informed him she lived with her family; and, giving her a small sum of money, promised that he would remit the same to her every year.

The woman on beholding the gold in her hand, which had never contained so muehmuch [sic] before, exclaimed,—“Oh! this is too much, worthy sir,”—