Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-08-03
MISCELLANEOUS.
NIGHT SCENE IN A POOR MANS HOUSE.
BY MARY HOWITT.

I night OF the twenty-third of January
| when the weather was miserably cold; il
neither decided froZe, nor did it thaw
but between the two it was cold ane
4 damp, and penetrated to the very bone
even OF those who sat in carpeted rooms
before large fires, and were warmly clad.
1t was on this evening that the seven lit.
tie children Of David Baird, the weaver
stood huddled' together in their small
room, beside small fire which was burn.
ing comfortlessly. The baby lay in a
wooden cradle that lay Oh the corner of
the hearth. The fire, to be sure, gave
some warmth, because it had boiled an l.
| ron pot full ofpotatoes, but it gave very
little cheeriness 20 the room. The moth
er had portioned out the evening meal
few potatoes to each-and she now sat
down, by the round table, lighting the
farthlng candle, and was preparing to do
some little pieces of housewifery.
May stir the iire?' asked David, the
eldest boy.
No, no., replied the mother, lit burns
away too fast if it is stirred
i wish we had good fire y sighed
Judfth, the second girl.
Bless me- said the mother, sit is a
good fire! Why, there's Dame Grumpy
ard her grandchild gone to bed because
they have no fire at ALL
Il should like some more salt to my
potatoes said little Betsy; may |
have some more, mothers'
'There is none, child she replied; Il
put the last in the pot
% dear..' cried out little joey, smy
feet are so bad; they get no better, moth
er, though did beat them with holly
Poor thing!' sighed the mother; Il
wish you had better shoes
There's pair said Joey, briskly. sat
Jimmy Nixon's for fourteen pence
Fourteen Pence.' repeated the moth
er; sit would take long time to get
fourteen pence
'aIot Willis begged pair of nice warm
boots;' replied Joey, experimentaliy.
'We Will not beg said the mother,
If we can help it-Eet me see the shocs;'
and Joey put one of his frost bitten feet
on his mothers knee.
Bless thee. poor lad, said the mother;
thou shalt net go to work again till it is
warmer
Mother interrupted little Susan, may
| have some more?'
There is no more,' said she, but
have whole loaf yeti
'Oh dear, oh dear, how nice!' cried
the children, clapping their hands: 'and
give joey the bottom crust said one,
because of his poor feet:
and give me Il big Bit cried Susan,
holding out little fat hand.
The mother divided the loaf, setting
aside piece for her husband; and pre-
sently the husband came.
1T rains, and is very cod,' said he,
shivering.
please God,' rejoined the mother, it
will be warmer after the rain.'
David Baird was tall. thin man, with
an uneasy look-not that he had any
fresh cause of uneasiness-his wages had
not been lowered his hours of labor had
| not been increased; nor had he quar-
relied with his master; but the life of a
poor man is an uneasy llfe-a life of care,
WEAKNESS and never ending anxieties.-
What wonder, then, if his face have a
joyless look?
The children made room for their faith
er by the fire; Susan and Neddy placed
themselves between his knees, and his
wife handed him the portion of supper
which had been set aside for him.
Mary, the eldest girl, was sitting on Il
box, feeding the squirrel with the bread
which her mother had given Eer-she
was very happy, and kissed the squirrel
many times; Judith was sitting beside
her, and David held the cup out of which
the squirrel drank.
Nobody has enquired after the squir-
rel,' said the father, looking at them.
NO. replied Mary. and | hope no
body WILL
''rhey will not now,' said the younger
David, for it is three months since we
found it,
I'VE might sell it for half a crown. said
the father; Mary looked frightened, and
held the squirrel to her bosom.
'Joey's feet are very bad,' remarked
the mother.
and that Doctors bill has never beer
paid said the father seventeen shil-
lings and sixpence.
s'Tis more money than We can get III
a week. sighed the mother.
| Il go round by the back lane, to avoid
passing the door, said the father, and he
! asked me for it three times
We will getit paid in the Summer,
reioined the mother. hopefully; 'bu
Goals are raised, and bread they say vii
jrise before the week is out.
Lord help us!!' exclaimed the father
1 internally.
MARY, fetch the other eandle,' CRIED
] the mother. as The farthlng candle burn