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A SATURDAY MORNING SORROW.

Sp BONEINEY Os \WANe.

(4 True Story.)

 

By ANNIE SAwYER Downs.

 

R. HOLDEN’S housé at Seal Harbor does not

look much like an ordinary New England
poor-house, although to that use the selectmen of Tri-
mountain devote it. Usually the few paupers are
old and feeble people, but the day Mrs. Jordan
and her husband walked up the narrow path which
led from the landing where they had left their
boat, besides the old people there were several
children who, in country speech, were “to be bound
out.” : :

Boys and girls between the ages of nine and .

twelve were hanging about the doors, and looking
eagerly or stolidly, according to their dispositions,

at the Jordans, and a number of other couples who.
arrived about the same time. , One little girl attracted
Mrs. Jordan’s notice. She was neither as pretty
nor as bright-looking as some of: the others, and
Mr. Jordan did not see anything to fancy about her.

But Mrs. Jordan said she had a good steady
eye, a sweet voice, and to her tender heart, most
irresistible attraction of all, looked ill, and was even
a little deformed, through a curvature of the spine.
So if Charles, as she called her husband, wanted’
her to take any little girl, it must be that one.

“But, mother,” expostulated the puzzled Charles,
“she is not strong, she cannot help you any, and: