Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-11-10
Popular Gales.
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.
THE BROKEN LEG :
OR,
The Triumph Of Truth.
BY J. X. MITCHELL, NJ. d.


neat attire, two children were approach
ing the narrow alley, which led to the
Sunday school.
"lIow much, Alexander, dislike to
go through The alley Tom Cranch and
his play-feIIows are always there, and
they are so rude and prolanc"
"Well, Elizabeth" replied her broth
er, eve can only pass on as rapidly as
possible, and hear as little as we may, Of
their nonsense"
by this time, they had entered the
narrow, dirty, unpaved avenue to the
Sunday school-house. The street hav-
ing been "rcgulated," as the surveyors
term it, the houses, built originally on
the natural surface, were SD covered, by
the filling up Of the alley, as to present
the top OF the windows on level with
the new ground. A few boards kept of
the soil from the fame fronts and steps,
rgdely cut out Of the loose earth, led to
the damp dungeon-like recesses OF idle
ness and crime. The bip.roois decayed
in part were just strong enough to bear
on their upper and less precip!ous slope,
set of ragged urchins, who wore
emerging from kind of garret window,
called strap" These were the
Cranchcs, so much dreaded by the
scholars Tom, the Younger, was the
leader in all their mischief Without
hat, shoes, or stockings, his whole wnrd-
robe consisted Of "A pair Of short, ragged,
corduroy trowsers, sustained by being
tied TO a hole in o shirt, scarcely strong
enough to bear any additional weight.
! The left sleeve of the shirt had been
torn of to furnish the gallows string, and
TIRE right being too long to permit the
free. .alse Of that hand, was rolled up
nearly to the shoulder. His black hair
roughly matted together, hung down
like icicles over his shoulders, or stood
up wildly from his forehead. Water had
not passed over his face since the last
rain had furrowed it into ridges Of dirt,
between which could be seen IA skin re-
markable for its smoolhness.
Tom and his brother and his sister hac
been on the watch for their usual Sunday
morning sport, and as soon as they dis
covered the approach OF their game,
sprung to the roof with wild halloo.-
In an instant the scholars were assailed
with missiles furnished by the ro,iing
roof, and shocked with the most offensive
language But they passed on without
appearing to notice The rlbaldry, while
their assaIants, rushing along the roofs,
keptup ns incessant a fire as was possible
in their position.
"There's no spunk in that boy, cred
Bob, cor he'G fling back at us jump
down, Tom, and thrash him for his COW
ardce."
In an instant, Tom sprang TO the
ground, with the dcxieriiy of cat, and
the fierceness Of tiger. The whole
group followed, and in few seconds the
two children were surrounded by the
refuse of the alley. Tom made up Ia
Alexander, aud pressing his fist closely
to his face called him coward. The
word and the action flushed the cheek
of the lad, and the closely clenched
hands and teeth, betrayed spirit scarce
ly curbed by the holy character ol the
day. They were instantly relaxed, and
as sweet smile shot across his face he
replied
81 am no coward, but God has for.
bidden me to profanc his holy day, and
my teacher tells me that courage consists
IN doing my duty firmly, whatever tina
may be and am brave enough to des
pise your threats"
. The cool, collected tone, and the un
quailing eye of the speaker, had sin
gular effect on the audacIous little ruiiian
and after looking sheepIshly at his broth
er, he skunk behind the ring olobservcrs
A shrek from his sister, now attracted
the notice Of Alexander, and the sou
seemed almost to burs, through his eyes
as he bcheld her ondeavouring TO escap'
from the grasp Of Bob Cranch.
| "Ict her 90, SIR" Numbered from hI
lips but the Struggle continued. ="
beg you, SIR" said he, gently, ",o le
NY sister 60"
A loud, iiendish laugh, was the onI.
answer.
u ua ihcn otasncd firmly the arm Of th