Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-04-20
POOR BEATRICE.

Tho following beauitful story Of every day life is
from Ttmarsh's Paris Sketch Book
Beatrice Mercer was Mr. Ttmarsh', scrvani-utal
work in Paris; dressed his wife, his dinner, and his
children did beefseaks and plain work,made his beds,
BACKED his boots, waited his table. and finally, he
assures Us, told him such story OF her childhood
would have done honor to the natural and happy uven
ton of Goldsmith, the pathetic humot OF Stone.-
This is the beginning Of It:
My father died., said Beatrice about six years since,
and left my poor mother with little else but small cot
tage and strip Of land, and four children too young
TO work. twas hard enough in my fathers time TO
supply many little mouths with food; and how
poor widowed woman TO provide for them now who
had neither the strength nor opportunity to labor'
Besides us, to be sure, there my old aunt; and
she would have helped MS but she could not for the old
woman IS bed-ridden so she did nothing but occupy
our best room, and grumblc from morning till night.
Heaven knows, poor old soul, that she had reason
to be very happy; for you know sir, that It rets the
temper to bc sick and that IS worse still to be sick
and hungry too.
Al that time. in the country where we lived On Pic
ardy, notyery far from Boulogue) times were 50 hard
that the best of workmcn could hardly find employ and
when he did, he was happy if he could earn matter
OF twelve sous day. Mother, work as she would,
could not gain than six; aud it was hard job
out of this to put meat into six stomachs, and clothing
on six backs Old aunt Bridget would scold, as she
got her portion of black bread and my little brothers
used to cry ftheirs did not come in time focused
cry when got my share for my mother kept only
little piece for herself and said st she had dined in
the eldleaven pardon her for the lie and bless her
as am sure He did, but for him. working man or
woman could subsist upon such wretched morsel as
my dear mother took
Matters grew worse with poor Beatrice as time rolls
on, aud she resolves at last that the six might get
slice of black bread among them, to secretly
away from home and look for work elsewhere. She
tells only her bed-rlddcn aunt, and leaves the house
with her reproachos ringing IN bcr ears.
i heard the old woman screaming after me, but did
not stop to turn round don't think could, for my
heart was very full, and i'll had gone back again |
should never had the courage to 90 away. So walk
cd long, long way, until nightla; and | thought Of
poor mother coming home from mass, and not finding
me, aud little Pierre shouting out, in his clear voice,
for beatrice to bring him his supper think should
like TO have died that night and thought should too,
for was obliged TO throw myself the cold hard
ground, my feet were too torn and weary to bear
any further.
Just then the moon got up and do you know felt
comfort IN looking az II, for knew it shining on
our little cottage and II seemed like an old friends
face. llule way on, as | by the moon, a
village, aud saw, too, that man coming tow
ards me he must have heard me CRYING.
Was not God good to me, This man was far
NOR who had need Of girl in his house; he made me
tell him why was alone, and told him the same sto-
" have told you, and he believed me, and took me
home had walked six LONG leagues from village
that day, asking every where foe work in vain, and
here at bedtime. found bed and a supper
Her di3ressos in this home are great, for her
! mistress IS not kind; 50 after some months she gets
home-sckness, and runs back 10 the old village,
and the dear mother, # only for a day. Mother falls
into fit on seeing her, aunt Bridget stops Seeding for
TWO days, AID little Pierre offered the whole bis
supper poor little man his slice Of bread not a
Nt bigger than before went away But She is now,
happily, taller aud stronger and she goes to seek work
two leagues from home, and gets H. and with less
/ Than SIX SOUS a day, and q sleeping shed IN a cow
! house. You may fancy how happy was now, at
! the prospect OF earning 50 much money
! There was an old woman among the laborcrs, who
ID o. lis f,f. II.f Cor 4,If