Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-01-27
From the New Yorker.
The Mother and her Child


A woman stood before me, and, with her
long bony hand stretched out, solicited CHAIR.
~ Tier counienance and herdress bespoke
Ithe extreme Of wreichedness The chill
winds Of November whisted dreariy along
The streets, and the pedestrian hurried by, bu-
ried 10 the ample folds Of his cloak but this
poor child Of want was sheltered from the
cruel AIR only by taitercd calico dress that
was scarcely sufficient 10 hide her naked.
ness Want and wo had written their rec
ord upon her face in legible characters. and
the fearless eloquence Of her look appealed
irresislably TO the heart lam not guilty OF
much anus giving-but now my hand went
with a spasmodic motion 10 my pocket, in
search of'a siruy coin. know not what ex-
preston my countenance may have worn as
dropped piece Of silver in her hand,-but
as her eye rested upon my face. she paused.
and seemed besiIaling whether TO receive or
reject the gift II is hard very hard, 10 BE-
a beggar" al length she said but how can
hear her ask for bread and have none TO
giyel oh, God were alone, gould bear
any thing, every thing; but cannot see my
poor Alice dying piecemeal before my eyes,
perishing for want Of foodW There was
an earnesiness in the poor woman's voice
that showed how deeply she felt what she
spoke. Our heart was touched Partly
trpm beneyolence and partly from curiosity,
I'VE resolved 10 follow her and look upon the
misery Of which she told "Oh, sir" said
she,as we announced our intention, "ibe God
Of the widow and the fatherless will bless
you'll How faithless was |, TO doub, his
promises. But, sir,p she continued, with
voice broken by sobs, you know not how
strong may be the agony of mothers heart
(. have sat night after night by my meekly
suffering child. praying that she might die;
and when the sun has looked 10 through the
smoky window, and she still lived, Thoughts
Of murder have sprung up in my hearth
But my hand has been Incredibly withheld,
and now know il was for goodn
We passed into a narrow aud dirty lane.
and in few moments paused before a mis-.
erable house. Two or three filthy and half
naked children were PLYING around the
door. while within sat several bloated per-
sons. male and female. drinkingj and bias
pheming and singing snaiches Of ribald and
licentious songs We hadlnever before ga
zed upon so complete picture of human
misery and degradation. Our soul sickened
with infinite disgust. and we were turning
loaihingly away forgetful OF the errand that
tsouyhs us thrns when the poor woman laid
her hand upon our arm aud looked beseech-
| ly in our face Her silent appeal was
enough.--and, without speaking a word. we
followed her guidance. Opening side door
she passed rapidly through dark hall to
the rear ofthe building, andascended a fight
ofcrazy stairs that trembled beneath our step
In a low. dark attick. lighted by a single
narrow;window in the roof we paused We
looked around Us There was no fire-no
chair-no bed. Stretched on couch Of
straw, and covered with a tattered cloak, a
girl OF some eighteenyears lay asleep. Her
face was very pale and emacated but there
was an expression Of patience and resigna-
ton upon itsthat almost made it beautiful
II might once have been So Her rich au-
burn hair was parted over her pale forehead,
andlay in damp masses upon her white neck
One thin hand was under her head, and the
other lay molionless upon her breast, looking
like the hand Of corpse
The sleep OF the invalid was not rest
Her breathings were shor, and quick. as if a
crushing weight were laid upon her heart
that she was struggling in vain to throw of.
|! Her mother kneli by hel side, and laid her
finger upon her pulse, The touch awoke
her. Dear mother" said she in low and
silvery tone. II am glad that you are here
Inn in pain. but have had sweet dreams
| was in my far-away home, sitting upon my
fathers knee, with an innocent and happy
heart My wanderings were all oyer-my
guilt sail forgiven-my fathers hand was
upon my brow and the voice of his blessing
was in my ear Mother shall not my dream
prove trueY
" Alas, poor child do you forget that your
father is dead, and the home of your child
hood passed into the hands Of strangers"
A shade neutrality-suspicious. Of memo
ry--passed over her countenance Another
moment, and her features glowed again. as
she exclaimed with enthusiasm. :" have
house not made with hands, eternal in the
heayensi | shall meet my father there, and
hear his words Of love My heart will ache
no more-my cheek will then be dry--for
God will wipe all my tears away" Al
this moment her eye for the first time rest.
ed upon me, Her countenance flushed with
surprise, and she looked inquiringly into her
mothers face God hath sent him. said
the mother. as approached, "and his err.
nsnd Is Of mercy"
&" Welcome thou blessed Of the Lordi" ex-
claimed the girl, raising herself upon her ell
bow, while her whole countenance glowed
with thankfuiness too deep for utterance;-
"for was ain hangered, and We gave me
meat-l was thirsty, and ye gave me drink
A