Page:Storys of the three beggars (1).pdf/15

 “And when I got there he was dying of his wounds; yet he knew me, and stretched out his hand, saying, 'Oh, Annete! our children ! ’ These were his last words; I thought I should have died too, but God willed, for the sake of our little ones and this babe, that I should live. In the same house where my poor husband expired, was the wife of an Austrian soldier, who died two days afterwards, and left this babe, which nobody on earth seemed to take care about. Almost all the village had been burned down, and all the inhabitants had run away; so that when our soldiers marched, I begged them to take the poor child with them ; but then they 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 babe in mine arms. In my way I was weary enough; but I never met with any body that took compassion on me or my burden, so I walked on; but I fell sick, as you may see by my looks, and spent the little money I had left, and then I sold my clothes-and every thing I could spare. All went except these poor rags; yet still I thought if I could but get home I should do very well. I am used to hard work, and I could even do for this little creature, who has