Jimmy Don; Or, Judy And Her Baby

C O N T E N T S , CHAPTER I. JUDYS HOME AND HOUSE-KEEPING, . . . 5 .. JUDYS GREEN-HOUSE, . . . 24 CHAPTER 111. JUDYS MOTHER, . . . . . . . 3 5 CHAlTElI IV. DINNER WITH JUDY, . . . . . . . 4 4 CHAPTTR V. JUDYS FIRST LESSONS, . . 55 CHAPTER VI. BLIND BETXY, . . . . . . . . 66 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VII. OVER THE OCEAN, . . . . . . . . CHAPTER VIII. 4 JUDYS NEW HOAIE, . . . . - 9 4 h CHAPTER IX. GODLINESS WITH CONTENTAIENT, . . . . 104 . . CHAPTER X. BLIND BETTYS BLESSING, . . . . . . 113. CHAPTER XI. JUDY A WOAIAN, . . . . , . . . 124 JIDIMY DON. CHAPTER I. JUDYS HOME AND HOUSEKEEPING. I SAW a little girl walking in the street the other day, and drawing her doll in a tiny carriage. She was fair-faced, and blue-eyed, and golden-haired. She was dressed in a blue coatwith swans down for trimming, and a jaunty little white hat was perched above her curls. The doll was of wax, large and life-like, and had just such wrappings as a real baby would. wear a little white merino cloak, and a lace 6 JIMMY DON. hood, and a beautifil bright afghan, tucking it warmly into the pretty carriage. Judy and her baby were not like this. I. must tell you all about them, . - you littie girls that have fine clothes, and a . great many toys to amuse you - I must tell you about my Judy and her seemingly meager life, lest you should wondzr 8t God, and dare to think him partial in his love and favor towards the children who call him Father. I know you will laugh at the picture of my pets but I look at it with tears in my eyes though with a certain joy in my heart, which the poor teach me to feel oftener than the rich. There she stands, as I first saw her in 1 the summer time, a little wee figure of four years stunted growth, by the door of a shanty in the city suburbs. Her scant calico frock reaches just below her knees. Her little legs ancl feet are brown and bare. There is no covering upon neck or arms, and the only protection to her head is a mass of brown hair that makes a sort of crown, so short and thick is it. You would scarcely turn out of your way to look at this little creature if she were really to be near you in your daily walks, would you Perhaps I should , not have done so, but for the loving notes that greeted my ear, aid for the strange thing in the childs arms. G Baby mustnt cwy, she said, hugging the object of her love closer to her breast, a Mover nlother will carry her little one F. t 8 JIdIdf P D ON. C with her wherever she goes, nobody shall I l touch movers yi tnz D y o n to hurt it, so I dont cry any more. I There was something so tender in the childs voice, as if her very heart was in the words of soothing that she hpoke, that I could not help going toward hsr and saying, Let me see your dolly. She held it out with a sort of pride, but drew it back as if hurt, when I smiled. It was a small demijohn, with the cork marked with eyes, nose and mouth, and around the neck was pinned a bit of calico folded like a shawl. This was Judys baby the little darling that made her soul joyful all the day, and stirred her lips to sing and coo and speak sweet, gentle words of caressing. It was wrong in me to laugh. It was as if I had made light of some distorted child, whose mother forgets all but that God has given it to her for a comfort and blessing. I was sorry in a minute, and hastened to make peace with the little wounded matron...