Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-12-12
n
A CHILD OF SORROW.

During the late festive season--when
those who thought at all, reflected that,
eighteen hundred and forty three years
ago, the religion of the heart, bringing
peace and good will on earth, came to
soften the rigor fthe religion ofform--
a little girl no! six years old, had been
observed by lonely lady, sitting day
after day OF the step of door, opposite
to her house. IL seemed to belong to
nobody; but at certain hour, there il
was, wrapped in an an old shawl, crouch
ed on the cold stone, and rocking itself
pensiveiy backwards and forwards, more
like an oilng old woman than child
Other children played around it, but this
melancholy little being mingled not in
their sports, but sat silent and solitary.
Soon afterwards it was seen to peep
about the area OF the Iady's house, and
look wistfully at the kitchen windows
The lady who was kind TO children,
thought that the little gIr might be try.
ing 10 attract her notice, opened the door
suddenly, and offered it some ginger.
bread. When the door opened, there
was strange, eager expression in tie
chld's eyes; but when she saw the lady
she looked scared and disappointed. The
kind voice AID manner soon re assurd the
startled child, who thankfully took the
offering, broke il up into little bits in her
hand, and carried il TO the doorstep oppo-
site, where she again took up her station
Another child, seing the gingerbread
came up to the solitary infant, who gave
the new conner some, and, by her gestures,
the lady though. that she was informing
the other child where the gift came. -.
After waiting considerable time without
eating her ginger bread, the poor little
girl rose dejeciedIy and went away, still
looking back at the house.
day or two afterwards, the same
child was seen lingering about the pave.
ment near the area, aud holding out bit
ofsugar candy in It's tiny fingers through
the rails.
The lady, who thought that tie child
was come 10 offer it out Of gratitude for
the ginger bread, went down into the
area; but as soon as she appeared, the
child ran away. Soon again, however,
the child was at its old station, the door
step opposite. The lady had mentioned
this to her only female servant as very
odd, but received no observation in re-
ply.
One morning the door was opened 10
receive piece Of furniture, and the same
child again suddenly appeared and ad.
vanced stealthiy towards the door. The
lady, who was near, said, 81 see your
when the child Immediately retreated to
her doorstep.
"This is very extraordinary" said the
lady to her servant; 81 cannot make out
what that child wants."
"Madam," SAID the servant, bursting
into tears, "it is my child"
"YOur child!-But 90, 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 The
playtme 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 bill Of the sugar can
dy she had bought. Oh, ma'am, have
mercy, forgive me! Do not send me
away"
The lady, who had known adversely,
and was not one of those rigidly right.
eous people who forget the first principles
inculcated by the divine Author OF the
Christian creed, looked grave, it is true,
but did net shrink from the lowly sinner
as if she had the plague, although she
had become a mother before she had
been wife, by the gay cavalier who had
deceived and forsaken her. Nor did she
turn her out upon tho vide world, in the
vlrtuous sternness Of her indignation. -
To the grea, horror of some OF her neigh.
bors, she told her servant that her child
might come 10 see her every Sunday, be.
ginning with the next. When the child,
who no longer The mopplng creature
which it had been before it was admitted
10 the mother. heard this, she immediate.
Iy and aExiously inquired. Glow many
days and nights IS 1t TO Sunday?"
Some may sneer at this: TO me there is
something painfully affecting III the qui.
ct, subdued demeanor of this offspring of
shame, timidly watching TO obtain a
glimpse of her who had borne IT, at an
age when happier children are never
without those greatest Of eDloymen,s, the
calesSess of mother. Think ofthe mis-.
cry of tins poor child, driven, from the
mere instinct Of longing for its parent, TO
tho stad demeanor Of age, willis, the 9TH
er merry little ones were sporting around
it. Think what she must have suffered
as she gazed, day after day, at the lrown-
ing door, that shut out more than all the
worlds value to her. Think of the sui-
fering mother, dreading TO loose, with
her place and character, the means Of
supporting her haPless, preme:urely old
infant. oh man, man, thou hast much