“My son, the ship she sailed in was wrecked, and none of her crew ever was heard from, and of course she went to the bottom of the deep blue sea with them,” answered the father sadly.
“You may be mistaken in the ship she sailed in. How did you find out what ship she went in?”
“By my father, when I returned from the war. No, my son, there is no happiness for me on earth but to live near my child,” answered the father piteously.
“Cheer up, father. I have good news. If you were able to walk back the place of that accident we would be able to solve this great deliverance satisfactorily. I was going to the cottage where the child was taken, when I found you,” said Paul, buttoning up his overcoat.
“My son, if you will order a horse and cutter I will go with you, as I am deeply interested in what you have been telling me,” answered the father, getting up off the couch.
He could scarcely stand without the aid of something, but it being Christmas day he wished to give something to the poor children he saw gazing in at the shop windows, and thus it was that he came to be near enough to save one little one from death.
Soon his son came with a horse and cutter, and helping his father in, they went down the street where they first met, three hours before. Soon the cottage door was reached. Paul kindly helped his father out of the cutter, and told the driver to call for them in an hour.
They hurried up the steps to the cottage door, and tapping lightly, Nettie bid them come in. Mrs. Spaulding was in the parlor where the child and her parents were, and as soon as Nettie saw who the newcomers were she ran lightly to her mother as she said:
“Mother, there is a gentleman in the sitting room anxious to see you.”
Mrs. Spaulding came in, and Paul said, “Mrs. Spaulding, this is my father. We have called to see how the little girl is getting along.”