“I wonder where Paul is today. It is a long time since he went away. Oh, if he would only come back to us it would be all the pleasure I would ask. I care not for presents. Oh, why does he not come!” exclaimed Nettie, looking wistfully at her mother while the tears were springing to her eyes.
“My child, God grant that he may come back and bring good news. We can only wait, watch, and pray,” answered the mother sorrowfully.
A few days after the above conversation they were looking out on the busy people along the way. Many happy faces were to be seen. It was the long-looked-for, happy day among the little children. One little one was standing in the street viewing the shop windows when a runaway horse came dashing along, and before she could have gotten out of the way a middle aged man came running out of a shop near and caught her up in his arms, not soon enough, however, to clear the danger as they were thrown down violently on the sidewalk.
Mrs. Spaulding was the first to lend a helping hand, as it was just before her door. Soon she bore the little inanimate form of the child into her own cottage and laid her on lounge, where Nettie once lay, and began applying restoratives. Soon she had the pleasure of seeing her open her bright blue eyes and feebly ask for ‘mama.’
CHAPTER VIII.
“My dear little one, your mama will soon be here, as I have sent Nettie out to see if she can find any one claiming you.”
Soon Nettie came with the parents of the child. How thankful they were to find her not seriously hurt. The doctor said there was no bone broken, only bruises, and she would be well soon. Many were the presents lavished upon Mrs. Spaulding and Nettie.
The gentleman was bruised very badly. The first question he asked the bystanders was, “Who is that lady who took the little one in the cottage.”
“It is Mrs. Spaulding, a widowed lady,” answered several people.