Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-07-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
NIGHT SCENE IN \ POOR MANS HOUSE.



1t was in the middle of Winter, the night of the
twenty-th Of January, when the weather was mise
raby cold; neither decidedly roze, nor did L thay
but between the two it cold and damp, and pene
tra,ed the bone, OF those who sat in car
pe,ed rooms before large fires and were warmly clad
1t was on this evening that the little children
of David Baird, the weaver, stood huddled together
their small room, beside a small fire which was
burning comfortlessly The baby lay in wooden era.
die on the of the hearth. The fire. to be sure
gave some warmth, because II had boiled iron pot
full of potatoes, hut it gave very little cheeriness To
the room. The mother had portioned out the evening
meal-a few potatoes TO each-and she sat
down, by the round table, lighting the farhng candle
and was preparing 10 do LITTLE pieces Of house
wifery
"May | stir the hre." asked David, the eldest bow.
"No, no. replied the mother al burns away too
fast if it is stirred"
al wish had good fire. sighed Judith, the
second girl.
"Bless me, said the MOTHER at is good FIRE. Why,
there's Dame Grumpy and her grandchld gone 10 bed
because they have fire at all.
81 should like salt to my potatoes,
said little Betsey "mny have some more, mother }"
"There is none, child, she replied; 81 put the last
in the pot"
40 dear" cried out little Joey ny feet are so BAD
they get no better, mother though did beat them with
holly"
"Poor thing sighed the mother; 81 wish you had
better shoes
"There's pair, said Joey, briskly, Eat Jimmy
Nixons for fourteen pence
Fourteen pence repeated the mother 81. would
take a long time to get fourteen pence
"Mat Willis begged pair of nice warm boots" re-
piled Joey, expermenially
ave will not beg said the mother, elf help
it-let the shoes and Joey put of his frost
bitten feet his mothers knee
"Bles. thee, poor lad said the mother; shou shalt
not 90 work again till warmer"
'Moiher, interrupted little Susan, 'may | have
some more!"
"There is more, said she, ''but have whole
loafyet"
ooh dear, oh dear, how nice.' cried the children,
clappng their hands land give Joey the bottom crust
said one, "because Of his poor feet
Sand give me big b;t, cried Susan, holding out
little fat hand
her husband; and presently the husband came.
at rains and is very cold, SAID he, shivering.
"Please God reoined the mother, "t will be warm
er after the ram.
David Baird was a tall, thin man, with uneasy
look-not that he had any fresh of uneasnrss-
his wages had not been lowered his hours of labor had
not been ncreased had he quarrelled with his
master; but the life Of poor uneasy life
"a life of care, WEAKNESS and never ending ankle
ties. What wonder, then, i! his face have joyless
look
The children made for their father by tie fire.
Susan Neddy placed themselves between his knees
and ms we handed him The portion OF supper which
had been set aside Tor hlia
Mary, the eldest girl, sitting a box, feeding
the squirrel ,h the bread which her mother had given
her-she very happy, and kissed the squirrel many
times; Judith sitting beside her. and David held
the cup out of which the squirrel drank.
"Nobody has enqured after the squirrel said lhe
father, looking a, them.
mo" replied Mary, sand hope nobody will"
sThey will not now, said The Younger David "for
IT is three months since we found 1t
awe might sell il FOR half crown, said the father;
Mary looked frightened, and held The squirrel to her
bosom.
'Joeys fee, very bad, remarked the mother
"And that Doctors hill has been paid, said
the fa,her-''seven'een shiilings aud sixpence."
3" lis more money than get a week,
sighed the mother.
81 90 round by The back lane to avoid passing the
door, said The iaher "and he asked for it three
times"
1--WE will GET paid in the Summer" rejoned the
mother hopefully; "but Goals ra,sed and bread they
say will rise before the week is OUT
"Lord help u.s. exclaimed The father internally.
"Nary, fetch the other CANDLE, cried the mother,
as the far,hing candle burnt low in the stick, and
went out
"There is not one" replied Marv tive burnt out the
other last night
"Havc you a far,hinr, DAVID asked the wife
"Not one replied he, rather h.s,i!y
"Nor have one in the house,, said the wife; ~
paid all We had for the bread "
"Stir mp the FIRE, then, said David.
"Nav," reloined the wife, "coas raised.
'I.ord help US" again sighed David and two OF the
children began coughing. "'fhose childrens coughs
ten,ly And the baby woke-so did Betsy, who had
fallen asleep OH the floor unober"ed, crying, 81 am so
cold, father; | am so cold.
"Go to bed with her, Mary" said the mother, "for
you up betImes, this morning, washing-pull up
your clothes on the bed, and keep her warm
Mary into the little dark chamber TO bed
with her sister and her mother tried hush the crying
infant.
David was distracted lie was cold, hungry, weary
and in gloom Eight children whom he loved were
about him, and he thought of them only as born &c
poverty and care like himsef-he felt unhappy, and
grew almos, angry 5 the baby continued to cry
Cheer up David, honest man! there is tina, coming
even now-coming within three streets length of thee
which will raise thee above forever Cheer up
this the last hour any Of you shall want FIRE; the las
hour you shall wan, for candle light Thou shalt kecF
thy squirrel Mary. Kelsey, thou shalt have blankets
to warm thee! The Doctors bill shall be pad-por
Baird shalt thou again skuk by backways to work
TO avoid importuna,e creditor. Joey, thou shalt
turn the wheel onger-thy feet shall get well in
wooen stockings, and warm shoes al FIVE shillings a
pair. You shall no more want 10 sell potatoes, nor
shall Susan 90 short again OF her supper But OF this
all this as yet, you know nothing the relie-and
such splendid relief too that now is approaching
your door! Wall little baby and thou wilt-nurse thy
poor tingng feet, joey, by The fire. and in sad
ness on thy poverty, David Baird, We, for few mo-
ments longer it can do harm, for the good news is
even now turning the corner OF your street.
Knock. knock, knock David starts from his re.
verie
"Some one is at the door,, said the wife; and up
jumped little David "fit is neighbor Wood come &c
borrow meal, you can get her cup iul, addee
the mother, as the knock repeated more Justify.
Up rose David Baird, and thinking OF the Doctor
bill, opened the door reluctantly.