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There is a little being in this city who, if it were old enough to realize, is having the merriest Christmas of all.  Left on a door step, on a cold midwinter night, after 10 o'clock by an inhuman parent, it has fallen into good hands, and will be tenderly cared for.

Mr. John Eschy lives in a comfortable house at No. 11 Cedar Street.  Last Friday he was away from home, and Mrs. Eschy was awaiting his coming.  The lady had been in the back part of the house and at about 11 o'clock she entered the front room, and she sat down. 

But a few minutes later, she was startled by the cries of a child.  Thinking that she was deceived, she got up and went to the door.  The cry was in close proximity, and sounded near at hand. 

Mrs. Eschy opened the door, and in front of it snugly bundled up sat a mite of humanity.  Beside it was a small valise.  The little one was taken into the house and unwrapped.  The little face and hands were blue from cold, and it was weeping bitterly.  Between its sobs it was crying "mama" and "papa".  Mrs. Eschy with a motherly kindness quieted the child, and it fell asleep.

[In] All [of the] excitement the lady overlooked an envelope that was tied to the valise.  There was no direction.  On opening the missive a half sheet of paper was found.  On it written in fair writing in a woman's hand were the following words:

"My Name is Nellie.  I have no father or mother nor home."

The valise was next opened, and in it were a few articles of clothing, and a light gold necklace.  The clothing in the valise, and that which the child had on, were very plain but well made, and comfortable.  Nothing about the child or the articles gave a trace of its identy. 

A Herald reporter called at hte home of Mr. Eschy yesterday evening.  The gentleman was found seated beside the fire with a child on his lap.  It was little Nellie.  It was in its nightgown ready for bed and lay snugly nestled in hi arms and was smiling and full of glee.  The child is perhaps fourteen months old, and a perfect beauty.  Its hair is blond and it was beautiful large blue eyes.  The skin iw white and clear, and its features are those of a child of refined parentage.  Mr. & Mrs. Eschy are delighted with their little foundling and have determined to adopt the little one as their own.  The girl seems perfectly contented with its lot.  Once in while it will cry "Mama" or "Papa" and that is all.

The couple were loth [sic] to give any information at first and only said that they were childless and they intended to raise it as their own.  Mr. Eschy says that he has n idea where the child came from, but he would say nothing more.  Mrs. Eschy says that she ill care for the child as her own and hoped that it will be spared to her.

It seems hardly probable that the parent of so fine a child could be so inhuman as to leave it on a door step on such a night as last Friday.  However, Nellie has fallen into good hands and the affectionate disposition of its parents by adoption will make her future lot a happy one.

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Sunday, July 22, 2012