American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-12-12
PROM rKs NORTH AMERICAS REVIEW.
TIE DEFORMED BOY.
Bg the author of " Redicood."

rests upon consistent religious ptlnC'Plest a"u "S
have reason to congratulate ourselves when such
writer's exercise their powers for the improvement
Of children The unthinking may consider it an
humble and easy task, bu: there are those who can
estimate it more Justly, and prize it as il deserves
The incidents Of this little tale are striking, and
they are stated toee true. They afford view oil
those severe calamies TO which the poor are ex
posed; especially the wives and children Of the IN
temperate. Their suHer;ags ought TO DC pressed
upon the attention., and as far as possible brought
home 10 The feelings Of the rich and prosperoos.-
Money, which might have been employed TO relieve
some Of the most bitter evils TO which man is ex-
posed is often wasted in merely id self indulgence
without any real qualification 10 those who thus mis-
use il 1t is painful 10 know how much Is oiien
readily given 10 vanity and how little a, the same
time is grudgngly yielded to benevolence and duty.
There is in this story great deal OF paihos TOO
much perhaps considering that It is designed iof
ehiidren. To young person OF much sensloihy
and tenderness, some parts OF II must be distress
ingly painful This is the only objection 10 the iol
loving scene. Few real or fictitious narratives pre-
sen, any Thing more touching. Mr. Atkins family
are represented as assembled at breakfast; wheb
after loud knocking at the door, little boy, the
delormed boy, is admitted
The boy seemed slmos' stiHened with the cold
but regardless CT himself, and apparently imPeIIed
by instinct. he ran up to Mrs. Akin, and graspIng
be almost naudible, q" o MD'am, do come and see
what ais mother.'
Why who is your mother, child? and who
you p asked Mr.. Akin
=" Oh, DO come and see, Ma'am -now-quick
/ am afraid Mother viii burn the house UP, for she
is lighting the fire with all our cIohes-she does
not act like mother-do-do come and see wha! ais
her.
Mrs. Akin threw on her cloak and taking the
L. tI,r 49, lam htch
nlng BY the corner of her house, formed the com
munlcation between the street She lived upon, and
street 10 the rear Of that where there were several
one Story houses, or rather SSle!s which had been
erected as temporary habatous tor The poorest
c'ass OF people. Into one Of the most wretcheG OF
these, Mrs Akin followed her lule conductor. and
there she beheld spectacle Of misery that suii
cienty explained The poor child's distress. His
mother sat on the hearth with pale, haf furnished
looking nsat in her arms crying pi,eously, and
seeking nouTshnent at her breast. where, alas
there was She was deliberately tearing up
cotton trock anu throwing il piece BY piece On The
lew enbets that ay 10 he fireplace.
She rose On seeing MIS-. Akin, as ii from ha
otuai good m annels, and after looking round for .
chair, SHE smiled, AID said Oh | remember.
they toos my ch4as; but pray Le seated, Ma am,
- have been tying" she continued, - kindle
= fire u warm my b4by and t, but my stuff is 50
light i goes out directly, ana ue don't seem to gel
warm, Matm.7
Mis- Akin perceived a single glance at The
poor wumsn's burning cheek, aud patched lip. that
she va N the deulum Of a le,et She approach
&c her and offered 10 take the chd.
4" Oh no," she said, not NY baby you know
when they took all the rest, they promised not to
lake my baby"
." But let me try to quiet her for you
6" No, hank you, Ma am-sh- is only frelting
for her breakfast She put he infant again to her
breast; the child seIz' it with the eagerness u
starvation, aud then redoubed ITS cries.
q" l make bat poor nurse" said The mother,
smiling family " think II does not sgree with me
to live without food.-Do you think that can be the
reason my Gay does no! thrive. Miami" AID she
raised her eyes to Mrs Akin. 50 # appealing Tor her
opinion. The tears oil compassion were streaming
down Mrs Atkins CHEEKS, aud the poor woman,
apparently from pure symps ny, burst into loud
so6s. The little boy threw himself on bed IN the
corner OF The room, and buying his i, ad 10 the
bed clothes tried thus suppress his ctIes.
Mrs. Akin, aware that the WAITS OF these suF
srers would not Justify moments delay Of the sue
cor they d, called the boy to her aid despatch
ed him 10 her husband with note, WIKI she has /.
y wrote with perch on the back OF letter
While he gone, She had leisure TO observe the
extreme Wre'chedness of ne apartment in which
there was not st article Of iufnrure, save straw
oed and its scany covering. There were shreds u
,he garments -trewed ABOUT The noor the light
sIulF The poor c'azed Woman hsd oetn burning to
warm her infant
4" Have YOU been long sick, ny friend:" she
asked with The laint haPe Of Obtaining rational
answer.
'"Siek sick !" replied the mother, yes, a
good While, have been SIX titles the utter.
mt,ens and typhus bu believe am getli'g The
better d il all. ioF yesterday fet quite hungry"
=" And dld you take any thing" asked Mrs
Akin.
oh yes" she answered, drawing near to Mrs
Akin, and ohisper 3 wuh an air oil self oompla
ceoct, :" did indeed take somelhIng-al had If
the house-an excellen thing TO blunt he edge o
49, l,... :.