Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-01-06
BY VIM. f. RYTHER.
From The Rochester Duly Democrat
, THE LOST FOUND.


melancholy face were well calculated to ex-
cite observation and pity. 1t was but too
evident that the vessel which he carried had
been diverted from its legitimate use, and
that il was now used, not as an oil-can, but
as a whiskey jug Having seen him twice in
one day with his ever-present can, we had
The curiosity to accost him, and did so by
inquriag his residence,
-'sI lve,' said he, FIVE miles from the city,
on the --.
-o''You have been to the city once before
today have you notr
aU'Yes, sir, came down in the morning
but couldn't get what was sent for, and
had to come again
What was you sent for, my lad ? 1t must
be something very important to make it
necessary for you to walk twenty miles in
this storm
why, sir, it was whiskey that | was sent
for. Father had no money, aud he sent to
Mr.. Is to get trusted but he wouldn't
trust any more, so | had to 90 home without
the whiskey, but father sent me back again
'IIow do you expect to get it now, when
YOU couldn't get it in the morning
ID why, sir, have brought pair Of shoes
which sister sent mother. Mr.. ---, will
give whiskey for them. lie has got ticO or
three pair of mothers shoes NOR
aa'Do you like to carry whiskey home, my
boyr
gn'Oh, no sir, for ii makes all so unhappy f;
but can't help it,
ad We took the responsibility of advising the
boy not to fulfil his errand, and returned
home with him The family we found
consisted of husband, wife, and four chill
dren. the oldest, the boy, was not more
than ten years of age, while the youngest an
infant of few months. 1t was a cold
clustering day The north wind blew harsh
", and came, roughly unbidden through the
numberless crevices Of the poor mans how
ell. A few black embers occupied the FIRE
place. around which were huddled the
half-naked children and the woe stricken
mother and wife, Her face was haggard-
her eyes sunken-her hair dishevclled-her
clothes tattered and unclean.
no She was seated upon an old broken chair,
and was mechanically swinging to aud fro
as if endeavoring to quiet her infant, which
moaned pitifully in its mothers arms. 1t
had been sick from its birth, and it was now
seemingly struggling to free itself from the
harsh world into which it had, but few
months previously, been ushered There
was no tear in the eye of the mother, as she
gazed upon the expiring babe The ioun-
tain had been, long before, dried up by the
internal fires which alcohol had kindled and
fed Yet she was the picture OF despair
and we could not but fancy as she sat thus
that her mind was wandering back to the
happy past-the days of her infancy and
girlhood, and her early home Poor thing
She had given her affections and her HAND
to a man who had taken the first steps in in.
temperance She had left her home full
of buoyant hopes-hopes never to be real
ized-to spend life of misery with sot-
Broken hearted-c out from the society
of her former friends--frowned upon by the
good society humane-spoken of as the
miserable druukard herself
BY the side of this woe-smtten mother
kneeled little girl of five or six years, dowr
whose sallow cheeks tears were coursing
and who ever and anon exclaimed, Poo
little Willie, must you die Z! oh mother
must Willie die and then kissing tho
clammy sweat from little Willie's' brow, GOV
cred her face with her tattered apron ano
wept.
In the opposite corner of the chimney
and among the ashes which covered til
hearth, sat boy Of about seven years, drag
ging from the half dead embers potatoe
which he broke open with the remark
Mother, give this TO little Willie. MAJ
be he's hungry, I'm hungry too, and so il
sister but Wilie's sick. Give him this pc
tatoe, mother
No, poor boy : said the mother, Willie
will never be hungry again. He wW sool
be dedd.'
This remark drew all the children aroun,
the mother and the dying child. The faith
er was sitting upon what was intended for
bedstead, without hat, shoe, or coat, witt
hand thrust into his pockets, apparently in
different to all that was passing around him
His head was resting upon his breast, AM
his blurred eyes were fastened upon thu
floor, as if he were afraid to look up at III,
sorrowing group who were watching tn
countenance of the dying infant
There was moment of silence. Not
sound was heard Even the sobs of the lit
tie girl had ceased Death was cross
ing the novels Threshold The very res
piration of the household seemed suspend
ed when slight shiperng of the limbs O
the infant and shrek from the hall-con
scious mother, told all, that the vital spar
had fed.
For the first time the father moved. Slow
iy advancing to where his wife was seated
with Quiyering lips, he whispercd-'is Willie
dead 2
yes, James, the poor baby is dead
was the choaking reply of the mother, VIII
still sat, as at first, gazing upon the face q