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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 eompassion on me or my burden, so I walked on; but I fell siek, as you may see by my looks, and spent the little money I had left, and then I sold my elothes and every thing I eould spare—all went, exeept these poor rags: yet, still I thought if I eould but get home I should do very woll. 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 seeond 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 mueh before, exclaimed,—“Oh! this is too much, worthy sir,”—
