The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-08-04

"Lord help us y exclaimed the father
internally.
"Mary, fetch the other CANDLE" cried
the mother, as the farthing candle burnt
low in the stick and went.
"There is not one" replied Mary:
"we burnt out the other last night"
"IIave you farthing, David Vi asked
the wife.
"Not one" replied he, rather hastily.
"Nor have we one in the house, said
the wife; 81 paid all we had for the
bread"
"stir up the fire, then said David.
may" rejoined the wife, "coals are
raised"
Lord help us !" again sighed David,
and two Of the children began coughing.
"Those children's coughs are no better"
remarked the father somewhat inpatient
| ". And the baby woke-so did Betsy,
who had fallen asleep on the floor unob-
served, crying, 81 am so cold, father! |
am so cold !"
600 to bed with her Mary" said the
mother, "lor YOU were up betimos, this
morning, washing-pull up your clothes
on the bed, and keep her warm"
Mary went into the Little dark chamber
to bed with her sister, and her mother
tried to hush the crying infant.
David was distracted. He was cold,
hungry, weary, and in gloom. Eight
children whom he loved were about him,
and he though, of them only as born to
poverty, and care, like himself--he felt
unhappy, and grew almost angry as the
baby continued to cry.
Cheer W, David honest man! there is
that coming even now-coming within
three streets length of thee-which will
raise thee above want forever Cheer up
this is The las! hour any of you shall want
fire; the las, hour you shall want candle
light. Thou shalt keep thy squirrel,
Mary! Betsey, thou shalt have blankets
to warm thee The Doctors bill shall be
paid--nor Baird, shalt thou ever again
skulk by backways TO work TO avoid an
impor,unate creditor. Joey, thou shalt
turn the wheel no longer-ihy feet shall
get well in wooden stockings, and warm
shoes at five shillngs pair =! You shall
no more want TO sell potatoes, nor shall
Susan go shor, again Of her supper But
Of this, all this, as yet, you know nothing
about the relief, too, that even now is APP
preaching your door Wall, little baby,
and thou wilt-nurse thy poor tingling
feet, Joey, by the fire and muse in sad.
ness on thy poverty, David Baird, yet
for few months longer i, can do nc
harm for the good news is even now
turned the corner of the street
Knock, knock, knock David starts
from his revere.
"Some one is at the door !" said the
wife, and up jumped little David. "lf il
is neighhor Wood come to borrow some
meal you can get her a cup full," added
the mother, as the knock was repeated
more Justify.
Up rose David Baird, and thinking Of
the doctors bill, opened the door reuct.
antIy.
"Are you David Baird :" asked the
letter carrier, who had knocked.
81 am" SAID David
This, then is for you; and there arc
twenty-five pence to pay on it," said tho
man holding forth large letter.
at is summons :" cried the wife in
dismay; "lor what is David Baird sum.
moned ?" and she rushed to the door
/ with the baby in her arms.
at is not for me-" said David, hal
glad to escape his liability to pay the two
and twenty pence.
, "Bul, are you not David Baird, tho
r weaver'"
81 am" said David.
a "Then," continued the letter carrier
| "pay NE the twenty-five pence, and if i
2 is not right, they will return you the mo
ney a, the post Office
3 twenty-five pence" repeated David
I ashamed TO confess his poverty.
"One shilling ten pence " said TIT
: wife "we have not SO much money by
US, good man."
"Light CANDLE" said the letter carrie
bursting into the house, "and hunt vi
what you have"
David was pushed to the extremity
!, 1--WE have none, said he we have N
4 nancy to buy candlo!'
"Lord bless me !" said the letter car
d ricr, and gave David the younger fou
pence TO fetch a half pound Of candles
n David and his wife knew not what I
l. think, and the letter man shook the we
from his hat. In few moments III
= candels came and the letter was nut il