Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-12-14
A CHILD OF SORROW.
A THRILLING SKETCH.

THRILLING SKETCH.
During the late festive season, when
those who thought at all, reflected that,
eighteen hundred and forty-thrcc years
ago, the religion of the heart, bringing
peace and goodwill on earth, came TO
soften the rigor Of the religion OF form,
a little girl, not six years old, had been
observed by lonely lady, sitting day
after day on the step Of a door oppo-
site to her house. 1t seemed to belong
to nobody but, alta certain hour,therc
it was, wrapped in an old shaw, crouch
ed on the cold stone, and rocking itself
pcnsively backwards and forwards,
more like an ailing old woman than a
child. Other children played around
it, but this melancholy little being
mingled not in their sports, but sat 81
lent and solitary.
Soon afterwards it was seen to peep
about the area of the lady's and look
wistlully at the kitchen windows. The
lady, who was kind TO children, think
ing that the little girl might be trying
to attract her notice, opened the door
suddenly, and offered it some ginger
bread. When the door opened, there
was strange, eager expression in the
child's eyes but when she saw the
lady she looked scared and disappoin-
ted, The kind voice and manner soon
rca ssured the startled Child, who thank
fully took the Offering, broke it up into
little bits in her hand, and carried it
to the doorstep opposite, where she
again took up her station. Another
child, seeing the gingerbread, came
up to the solitary infant, who gave the
newcomer some, and, by gestures. the
lady saw that she was informing the
other child whence the gift came. AZ
ter waiting considerable time with
out eating her gingerbread, the poor
little girl rose dejcctedly and went a.
way, still looking back at the house.
A day or two afterwards, the same
child was seen lingering about the
pavement near the area, and holding
out bit of sugar candy in its tiny fin
gers through the rails.
The lady, who thought that The child
was come to offer it out Of gratitude for
the gingerbread, went down into the
area and as soon as she appeared, the
child ran away. Soon again, howcv-
or, the child was at its old station, the
doorstep opposite. The lady had
mentioned this to her only female SER
want as very odd, but received no OBJ
scrvation in reply.
One morning the door was opened TO
receive a piece of furniture, and the
same child again suddenly appeared,
and advanced steaIthily towards the
door. The lady, who was near, said,
81 see you J" when the child immcdi-
atcIy retrcated to her doorstep.
"This is very extraordinary" said
the lady to her servant al cannot
make out what that child wants."
Madam," said the servant, bursting
into tears, ait is my child 2"
Your child (! But go, bring her in.
Where does she live ?"
"With my sister, and she goes to
school. have told her never to come
here but the poor thing wiH come
every bit Of playtimc she gets. That
day you thought she was Offering you
some sugar candy, | had been TO the
school and given her penny when
school was over, she came to give me
bit Of the sugarcandy she had bought
Oh, ma'am have mercy-forgiyc me.
Do not send me away %
The lady, who had known adversi-
ty, and was not one Of those rigidly
righteous people who forget the first
principles inculcated by the divine Au-
thor Of the Christian creed, looked
grave, il is true, but did not shrink from
the lowly sinner asi she had the plague,
although she had become a mother
before she had been made a wife, by
the gay cavalier who had deceived and
lorsaken her. Nor did she turn her
out upon the wide world, in the virtu-
Gus sternness OF Indignation. To the
great horror ofsomc of her neighbors
she told her servant, that her child
might come TO sec her every Sunday,
beginning with the next. When the
child, who was no longer the moping
creature which it had been before il
was admitted to the mother. heard this.
she Immediately and anxiously inquir
cd. How many days and nights is ~