Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-08-19
SCENE IN A. POOR MANS HOUSE.
BY MARY HowlTT.

were warmly clad. 1t was on this evening that
the seven little children of David Baird, the
yer, stood hudded together i'll their small room be-
side a small fire which was burning comfortlessly
THE baby lay in wooden cradle on the corner o
the hearth. The fire, to be sure, gave some warmth
because il boiled All iron pot full of potatoes, but
il gave very little cheeriness TO the room. The
tnother had portioned out the evening meal-a few
potatoes to each-and she now sat down by the
round table, lighting the farthing candle, and was
preparing TO 40 some little pieces of housewifery
May stir the FIRE % asked David the eldest
boy.
mo, no." replied the mother, it burns away
too fast il it is stirred.
81 wish we had good fire !" sighed Judith,
the second girl.
Bless men' said the mother, " il is a good fire
Why, there's Dame Grundy and her grandchild
gone 10 bed because they have no fire at all
~ should like some more salt TO my potatoes"
said little Betsey; " maysI have some more, moth
er!''
"There is none, child,' she replied: I" put the
las; in the pot"
"Oh, DEAR" cried out little Joey, "my fee,
are SO bad! They get no better, mother, though |
did beat them with holly.'
/" Poor lhing," sighed the mother; 81 wish you
had better shoes.n
ssThere's pair" said Joey, briskly, " at Tim
my Nixon's for fourteen peace"
s. Fourteen pence." repeated the mother; "it
would take long time to get fourteen pence"
Mat. Willis begged pair of nice, warm
boots,' replied Joey, experimenalyl
" We will not beg" said tine mother, {" if we
can help it-let me see the Shoes" and joey put
one OF his frost-bitten feet OH his mothers knee.
6 Bless thee, poor lad" said the mother, thou
shalt not 90 to work again till it is warmei."
Is Mother - inferrunted little Suean. Vm L
have some more?''
"There is no more," said she, " but have a
full loaf yet.n
"Oh dear! oh dear, how nice!" cried the chill
diem clapping their hands; sand give Joey the
bottom crusl," said one, because ofhis poor feet'
Sc And give me big bit," cried Susan holding
out a little fat hand.
The mother divided the Loaf setting aside a
piece for her husband; and presently the husband
came.
1t rains and is very cold,n said he, shvering.
"Please God,'' rejoined the mother, E" il will
be warm after the rain''
David Baird was tall, thin man with an un-
easy look-not that he had any fresh cause Of un-
easIness-his wages had moi been lowered; his
hours of labor had not been increased; nor had he
ouarrelled with his master; but the life of poor
man is an uneasy life--a life of care, WEAKNESS,
and never ending anxieties. What wonder, then,
if his face have joylsss look!
The children made room for their father by The
FIRE Susan and Ned 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 box feeding
the Squirrel with the bread which her mother had
given her--she was very happy, and kissed the
squirrel many times; Judith was sitting beside her
aud David held the cup out of which the squirrel
drank. 49,.
the father looking at them.
! uNo,o replied Mary, " and | hope nobody will
uThey will no, now,'' said the younger David,
6 for il is thee months since wo found it,"
I'VE might sell il for halt a CROWN" said the
father: Mary looked frightened and held the squir-
rel in her bosom.
Joey,s feet are bad" remarked the mother.
I" And that doctors bill has never been paid,''
aid the father-ssseventeen shillings and sxpence
1,Tis more money than we can get IN week,
sighed the mother.
Is 90 round by the back lane to avoid passing
the door, said the father, +" and he asked me for
il three times"
"We will get it paid in summer" rejoned the
mother. hopefully; but Goals are raised, aud the
brsad they say, will rise before the week is out''
| &C ord help us.,, said the father internally.
| Mary, fetch the other candle,n cried the moth
er. as the farthing candle burnt low in the stick.
aThere is not one," replied Nary" we burnt
out the other last night
q Have you farthing, Davd!" asked the wife.
" Not one," replied he, rather hastily.
Nor have we one in the house," said the wife
| Il paid all we had for bread"
| g Stir up the fire, them" said David.
60 Nay" rejoined the wife, a" Goals are faissd.'
.sLord help usm again sighed David, and two
of the children commenced coughing. Those
chldren's coughs are no better"' remarked the
father, somewhat impat entity. And the baby
woke-and so did Betsey--who had fallen asleep
unobseryed, crying, " am so cold fatherm
AGO to bed with her, Mary" said the mother,
8. for YOU we're up betmes, this morning, washing
nut M your clothes on the bed. and keep warm"
| M,ry went into the little dark chamber TO bed
with her sister, and ner mother tiled to hush the
crying infant.
weary and in gloom, Eight children, whom he
loved were about him, and he thought Of them only
as horn m novelty, uneasness and cafe, like him.
seH-he felt unhappy, and grew almost angry as
the babe continued to cry.
| Cb.er nm. David, honest man there is that COM
;ny even homecoming within three streets length
Of thee-which will raise thee above want forever
Cheer uu--,hs 10 the last hour any OF you shall
van, FIRE; the last hour you shall want Tor candle
l,pht. Thou shall, keep thy squirrel, Mary! Betsy
thou shalt have blankets to warm thee. L ne Doc
tors. bill shall be pasnor, Baird, shalt thou ever
cain skulk thy back ways 10 work TO avoid an i'm
no,,,,a,e creditor joey thou shalt turn the wheel
no Ionr.r,hy feet shall get well in wooden stock
;,gs and warm shoes, at FIVE shillings pair. You
sbsIl no more want to seIl toes--or shall SUI
san 20 shon again Of her supper. But OF this, all
this, as yet, you know nothing about the rslel--
.nd scb .1,endid relief 100, that even now Is APP
nroac bios vour door. Wall, little baby, and thou
viii. nurse Inv poor, tingling feet, joey, by the
s-.g sod muse in sadness on thy poverty, David
Rail We, for few moments longer. II can do no
harm. for the good news is even now turning the
corner Of your street,