THE COMING OF SUNNYHAIR

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2556, 17 July 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE COMING OF SUNNYHAIR

(By “Lucy Murray.”) Tree, joyous, almost unceasing, the child’s laugh rang through tlio house. If a visitor entered the gate she would be. nearly certain to pause with her hand ion the latch, listening to the merry sound. Surely few children have such a laugh as this wee lassie had, half human, half elfish, glad as ■? peali of w-edding bells. All the families of the.. neighborhood felt that “Sunnyhair,” as they called the child, belonged in {part to them. The male portion of these households constantly brought offerings of iruit or lollies to the “White Cottage” shrine, while the women vied with one another in motherly care of the little one.

' They would all have told a stranger everything that was known of Sunnyhair’s advent. She had come from no one knew' where one summer midnight, no one knew how, to the door of the “White Cottage,” and how Miss Hester Daily had welcomed her as a gift from God, tending her ever since unwearyingly. “Though, goodness knows, her life was full enough of work •and ears before,” the women would one and all have been sure to add,, for in their breasts lurked that purest jealousy of all, perhaps, found in a human heart, springing from love for a little helpless child. Miss Hester could have truthfully answered that the burden Sunnyhair’s adoption brought her was as; nothing to the ono that her gleeful presence helped her to bear. But to have made that clear she must needs have given a brief sketch of her life. She had been a happy girl till she was twenty-two, w’hen her mother had died suddenly. This was her first real sorrow, she would have- said in telling her simple history. Hep father had been killed in battle with his regiment while she was almost a baby, and she had been too little really to miss him, or the wee. sister who had slipped away at nine years old. At first the loss of her mother had seemed a grief too heavy for Miss Hester to hear. But at that time the girl was looking forward to- a golden future with one to whom her very life seemed devoted. He was the captain of a sail-ing-vessel, and she expected him home shortly from a longer voyage than usual. Miss’ Hester drew untold comfort from that fact, and the knowledge that they would not part again till they were, man and wife. One bright morning the “White House” was adorned in all its rooms with fragrant flowers which Miss Hester’s own hands had picked, and Miss Hester herself stood under the willow by the gate, waiting to welcome her lover back. J This was the day on which his vessel was expected in port, and the young girl knew it would not be long after his arrival before he would come to her. -She had put .aside her mourning dress in his honor, and was wearing a simple ■white one, with roses in her belt, as she seated hers.elf under the old tree to wait for him. He never came. Instead there came a note from an officer on his vessel,

stating that Captain Lionel Lloyd had been taken ill, and had died while some , days from shore. He had therefore been buried at sea, and the Seagull had arrived in port without him. When she had recovered a little from the first numbing, effect of this crushing blow, Miss Hester had quietly ipackcd away her marriage outfit, with many a fond, girlish dream hidden in the silken folds of the wedding dress. For the next two years Miss Hester’s one -care was to retain' the old home, from which she had scarcely known a month’s . absence in her life. The Dailys had been fairly wealthy, but soon 1 , after Captain Lloyd’s death the bank in which her money had been placed suddenly failed. Very -little was saved from the. -wreck, and Miss Hester threw all her energies into the brave struggle to keep the old home. Her tplans, though cleverly laid and carefully carried out, were, unsuccessful, and on the third anniversary of her mother’s death Miss -Hester was entering on a new life in a small yet pretty home which she called the “White Cottage,” in memory of the dear old “White House.” Once settled there, all Miss Hester’s courage seemed to desert her. It seemed that in leaving her old home she had severed the last link with her happy past. Day followed day in dreary monotony, and each one. found the lonely girl more sad and hopeless; more and more she became a prey to morbid thoughts. At last, one beautiful summer evening she threw herself down in Airs Daily’s eld rocking-chair and vowed to herself that ,slie -would never rise from it in life

again. . til “Xo ono needs mo,” .she cried. J have, lost all I care about in this world. T -will not live any longer. Life is too cruel —too cold and cruel!’ ’ Five minutes to twelve. She looked at the tiny bottle in her hand, and resolved that when midnight chimed she would end her life. Till then she would think of the .past,. go hack to girlhood’s dreams and the “White House” for the last few moments of consciousness on earth. Ah» How fragrant the roses were in the old rose-garden! Lionel Lloyd was beside her, offering her a dainty cluster of crcnrnv buds. His dear hand laid them on her breast, his eyes spoke Ins oreat love for her. Hark! Her mo-

tlier was calling, “Children, come in; it is getting late!” How real it seemed to the tired girl I “Yes, mother, I will come,” she said aloud, and the chime of the clock'broke in on her ‘words. She lifted the bottle to her lips hastily, but as hastily put it down. What’was that wailing cry from the verandah under the window? Hurrying out, Miss Hester found a wee, white waif by the front door. Two glorious blue eyes met hers. “Mumriiie! Me want murnmie so!” pleaded a sad little voice, and again came .the piteous wail. Miss Hester carried her strange visitor inside, bathed the tearful face, wrapped her own shawl over the ragged garments, and presently suoceeded in calling forth a timid but very sweet laugh from the baby lips. No thought of death entered her mind after that ! No owner being found for the midnight intruder, Miss Hester was allowed to adopt her herself. It was a dear delight to the broken-spirited inmate of the “White Cottage” to clothe the little one in dainty dresses in place of the tattered frock which she had worn when she was found. To give Sunnyhair pretty and suitable garments and toys, Miss Hester gladly. denied herself many comforts which she had considered it impossible to do without before. She grew to love the child wita t great, unselfish love, which the tiny guest fully returned. And it was not long before the latter’s shrinking nnudity wore away under Miss Hester s nvarying gentleness; and very soon the “White Cottage” was in an almost perpetual' ripple of laughter.

About a month after Sunnyhair’s arrival, when she had become quite happy and. very much at home, Miss He?ter took the little bottle of poison down from the shelf and emptied its contents safely away. “It is not good to drink,” si.e said to Sunnyhair, who Stood watching her. “No, not dood at all,” agreed Suuvyhair, dimpling with glee. This is what Miss Hester could have told of the coming of Sunnyhair.