Chloe sent its mother out to take the air, and told her it was no use for her to trouble her head about the baby, because it was a thing she knew nothing about;—in fact "Miss Fannie" never was allowed to peep into its cradle without Chloe's express permission.
But the time was coming when Sorrow's dark shadow should cross the happy threshold. Death laid his icy finger on the little baby's lip, (with scarce a moment's warning,) just as it had twined itself round all their hearts with its winning little ways.
Who comforted poor Fannie then? Who arrayed the baby's dainty little limbs for burial? Who placed the tiny flowers between its waxen little fingers? Who folded away from the weeping mother's sight the useless caps and robes? Who spoke words of cheer, while her own heart was breaking?—who, but Chloe?
Ah, dear children, never say that servants are without feeling; never say it spoils them to treat them like human beings. They all have their trials—humble though they be—and (often, God knows,) few joys enough.
"Oh, stop! stop! Pray don't beat that child so," said I to a strapping great woman in front of my window. "What has she done? What is the matter? Don't strike her."
"Well, then tell her not to meddle with me again," said the virago, shaking a stick at the child. "I got to that barrel of cinders on the sidewalk, first, and had put my stick in it, to see if I could get anything out worth saving; of course, if I came first, I had the first right to what I could find; and then she came up and put her stick in it, without saying 'by your leave.' I'll teach her better manners"—and the stick descended again on the child's shoulders.
"Run in here, run in here," said I. "I'll take care of you;" and I opened the door for her. Poor little thing—all tears, and rags, and dirt; her little bare feet cut and bruised with the stones, and her hair streaming all over her face. You would have pitied her, too. She gazed about the room, looked at the fire, then wistfully at the breakfast table, from which I had just risen.
"You shall have some," said I, giving her a cup of hot coffee and some egg and roll; "eat away, as much as ever you can."