Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1842-01-25

oaSket Two cents he had not one; and he went
away sorrowing, but hoping that he might be able
TO earn the necessary He now returned with
money enoughto buy the chips Greatful ioy made
him digent at his task and in less time than seemed
possible, he was on his way home The shadows
OF evening had already gathered around and he heed
ed not the large snow fakes which the wind was
driving In his face, but ON he trudgea happy in the
houghtof carrying hope and comfort to his mothers
heart
When he arrived home he found his mother, who
had returned before him.. His cheering story chas-
ed away for while the traces of sorrow and ankle
ty which were wont mark her countenance She
had been quite as successful she expected, and had
brought home at least supper and breakfast for her
children They watched the baking of the cake be-
fore the fire. and awaited the roasting of the potatoes
N the ashes with strong interest Mamie asked a
great many questions of her brother, and John was
ready to answer them.
Did the little girl look like me, Johnny asked
his sister
Oh, no, prettier than you Mamie; and besides.
she had whole gown on but he added q dent
think should love her any better than you
we are poor, Johnny replied the child with
great simplicity
The baby in the cradle occasionally manifested
symptoms of uneasness; but as he did not cry, the
mother concluded to finish all she had to do about
the house and then take him up
There was one drawback to their comfort and it
was very great one the constant fears of the ia
theirs return The children were frequently oblig-
ed to hide themselves from his unprovoked cruelty,
while they listened with agony to the torrent of oahs
and abuse which he poured upon their mother. Who
are greater sufferers than the children of drunken
parent
1t so happened that Mrs Smith had occasionally
to send her son up into the loft While there, he
thought he would just feel of his remaining pump
kns and see if they were in danger from the frost
that night What was his dismay to find them gone
Johnny could hardly believe his own eyes
he ran to his mother, and, telling her his loss
exclaimed Father has taken them, he has, mother
know he has,
Why did you not tell us your father had been at
home, Nannie2' asked Mrs Smith, at the same time
smoothing the hair on Johnny's head 1t was the
hardest thing he had yet had to bear and hiding his
face in the skirts of his mothers gown he sobbed a.
loud
Because did not know it, mother replied the
little Mamie trembling.
Have you been out" inquired the mother serious
ly
The little girls lip quvered and she could hard
ly restrain her tears as she declared that when she
was tired of rocking the baby and tired of looking
out OF the window expecting to them return and
having no one to speak to- she Just laid her head on
the bed minute, and went to sleep. In this state,
her mother had found her, and how could she blame
the little watcher for buryng cold and hunger and
WEAKNESS, in the calm of sleep
'Oh, mother, exclaimed John, Il did not raise
them for the purpose of giving father the means of
getting rum. Oh mother, is it not too bad p
Yes, it was too bad Mr. Smith had come in the
afternoon, angry at being refused credit for pint of
liquor He declared he would have it His wife
and John were both absent, and Mamie was asleep
The pumpkins came into his mind, for he accidental
ly discovered their place of deposit few days be-
fore. How lost to every better feeling must this
husband and father be- who, with eager delight
could steal the well earned produce of his little son.
to exchange for glass of rum
1t was November evening the full moon wad-
ed through waves of dark clouds that were driving
heavily before cold northeast wind Every now
and then the snow came whrling and eddying along
bewildering the midnight traveller, and making
promise of the approach of winter The hard ground
and the dead grass, few hours before showed that
frosts had already set in and that few if any,
warm days, could be expected to aid those who had
not already made preparations for the approach of
cold weather, AS it grew later, the bright lights
which had been streaming from one window and an
other, gradually disappeared throughout the town.
Every house became quiet as the grave, and every
living creature seemed to be at rest Not suspi-
cious growl or distant barking, blended with the
whstlings of the wind There are few occasions
when thankfulness rises more spontaneously IN the
heart, than when contrasting the comforts of warm
fre-side, comfortable bed with the wilderness of
winters night; and how seldom do we offer a
prayer for those who are abroad, houseless and
homeless wanderers. In the outskirts of the town,
a stony rising of land stood house where light
was still shining amid the gloom. The house has
but story, and is not pretty enough to be called
cottage; it is old, and in many places the shingles
are falling off several panes of glass are broken,
and the wind has gained free admittance in spite Of
the attered clothes that are stuffed in the openings
A dwelling so cherries without; can ii be com
Portable within2 There is no where to be seen the
nicely split wood piled up, all dried for winter SER
vice. An axe is lying near the door step, beside a
green log of wood, and there is want of thrift APP
parent, which bespeaks something wrong The
light still burns; beside it sits a mother, watching
her sick baby That little room contains all that
she holds dear In trundle-bed are seen two chill
dren in profound sleep; few embers are dying
on the hearth a little table in the corner, are
Of tb