Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-09-01

II. l would not steal al,-naroIy 10 save mySen
from starving"
"You had better have stuck to that last even
ing. You were seen, Tim Barker, TO come
from under Mr. Nchos's garden fence, a little
after nine o'clock with bag full of something
another, over your shoulders. The bag had
every appearance of being filled with fruit, and
this morning the melon beds are found to have
been completely cleared.-Now, sir, what was
there in that bag?"
Like fire itself glowed the face of the detect
ed lad. He spoke not word. All the school
had their eyes directed at him. The perspira-
ton ran down his white forehead like rain
drops.
'Speak, Sir" exclaimed Lusare, with loud
strike of his rattan on the desk.
The boy looked as if he weud faint But
the unmercful teacher, confident Of having
brought 10 light criminal, and exulting in the
idea of the severe chastisement he should now
be justified in infcting, kept working himself
up TO still greater and greater degree of pas
sion In the meantime, the child seemed hard
v to know what to do with himself. His
tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth. Either
he was very much frightened, or he was actu-
ally unwell.
"Speak, l say" again Numbered Lugare;
and his hand, grasping his rattan, lowered
above his head in very significant manner.
81 hardly can, Sir" said the poor fellow
faintly-His voice was husky and thick. 81
will tell you some some other time. Please
to let me go TO my seat ant well"
"Oh yes; that's very likely" and Mir Lugare
bulged out his nose and cheeks with contempt.
m H. holia Eac7
I've found you out, sir, plainly enough; and
am satisfied that you are as precious little VII
lain as there is in the State. But will post
pone settling with you for an hour yet. | shall
call you UP again; and if you don't tell the whole
truth then, | will give you something that'll
make you remember Mr.. Nichols's melons for
many month to come-go to your seat"
Glad enough Of the ungracious permission,
and answering not sound, the child crept
tremblingly to his bench. He felt very strange
ly, dizzy-more as if he was in dream than
in real life; and laying his arms on his desk.
bowed down his face between them. The pu-
pills turned to their accustomed studies, for du-
ring the reign Of Lugare in the village school,
they had been so used to scenes of violence and
severe chastisement, that such things made but
"Now, while the intervening hour is passing,
we will clear up the mystery of the bag and of
young Barker being under the garden fence on
the preceding night. The boys mother was a
widow, and they both had to live in the very
narrowest limits. His father had died when
he was about six years old, and little Tim was
left scky emaciated infant, whom no one ex
pected 10 live many months. To the surprise
of all, however, the poor child kept alive, and
seemed to recover his health, as he certainly
did his size and good looks. This was owing
to the kind Offices of an eminent physician, who
had country seat in the neighborhood, and
who had been interested in the widows little
family. Tim, the physician said, might possl-
by outgrow his disease; but every thing was
uncertain.
1t was a mysterious and battling malady; and
it would not be wonderful if he should In some
moment of apparent health be suddenly taken
away.-The poor widow was at first in con-
,inual state of uneasness; but several years
had now passed, and none of the impending
evils had fallen upon the boys head. His mo-
ther seemed TO feel confident that he would
live, and be help and an honor to her old age;
and the two struggled on together mutually hap
py in each other, and enduring much poverty
and discomfort without repining, each for the
others sake.
Tins pleasant disposition had made him
many friends in the village, and among the rest
a young farmer, named Jones, who with his
elder brother worked large farm on shares,
Jones very frequently made Tim present of
bag of potatoes or corn, or some garden vege-
tables, which he took from his own stock; but
as his partner was parsimonous, high tenn
pered man, and had often said that Tim was an
idle fellow, and ought not TO be helped, because
he did not work, Jones generally made his gifts
in such manner that no one knew any thing
about them, except himself and the grateful OBJ
jects Of his kindness. 1t might be, too, that
the widow was 10th to have it understood by
the neighbors that she received food from any
one; for there is often an excusable pride In
people of her condition, which makes them
shrink from being considered objects OF "cha1-
ly," as they would from the severest pains. On
the night in question, Tim had been told that
Jones would send them bag OF potatoes, and
he nlace at which thew were TO be waiting tor /