Beadle's Dime Novels No. 3: Myra, the Child of Adoption — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

56 MYRA, THE CHILD OF ADOPTION. before I think of it. She kisses me just as you do, and once —that, too, was so like—” the child paused, and seemed pon- dering over something in her mind. “ What was so like, Myra ?” said Mr. Clark, in a faint voice, for his heart misgave him. “ Why, I was just thinking,” said the child thoughtfully ; “this pretty lady wanted me to call her mamma, just as you wanted me to call you papa, you know, only in fun.” “ And did you call her that 2” “Yes, but I never will again—no, never in the world; for, do you think, she began to cry like any thing the moment I put my arms round her neck and said ‘Mamma! You can’t think how she did cry, and after asking me, too.” “Mr. Clark turned away his head; the child’s earnest look troubled him. “She knew well enough that it was all fun,” persisted the child, “and yet she kept on crying all I could do.” “ Oh, such words are bitter, bitter fun,” muttered Mr. Clark, tortured by the innocent prattle of the child. “I did not mean any harm; the lady asked me to call her *“Mamma,’ but I never will again,” said Myra, drooping under what seemed to her the displeasure of her best friend. “Oh yes, Myra, you must loye this lady; you must call her any thing she pleases,” said Mr. Clark, with a burst of emotion that startled the little girl “Be good to her; be gentle and loving as if—as if it was not fun when you call her ‘Mamma.’ You will be good to her; promise me, my darling, that you will.” “ But she will not ask me again. It isa long, long time since the lady has been here,” answered the child thoughtfully. “ Perhaps she will not come any more.” _“ Perhaps,” said Mr. Clark, with a voice and look of painfu) abstraction. A slight noise in a distant part of the garden drew the child’s attention. She started, and bending eagerly forward looked down a winding path sheltered by the orange-trees. - “See !’ cried the child, pointing down the path with he? finger, while her eyes sparkled like diamonds; “didn’t I say- that she always came like a fairy? Didn't I tell you so?” Clark followed the child’s finger with his eyes, and there comicloooks.com