Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-12-18
she allowed no weight to it, and they resolved tc


Now. it happened that poor Ber's life had
been, since yesterday morning, rendered weary
BY the costume of the Charitable Grinders. The
youth of the streets could not endure it. No
young vagabond could be brought to bear its
contemplation for a moment, without throwing
himself upon the unoffendng wearer, and doing
him mischief. His social existence had been
more like that of an early Christian than an in
nocent child of the nineteenth century. He had
been stoned in the streets. lie had been over
thrown into cutters; despatched with mud vo-
lently llattencd against posts Entire strangers
to his person had lifted his yellow cap off his
head, and cast it to the winds. His legs had
not only undergone verbal criticisms and rev-
lings, but had been handled and pinched That
very morning he had received perfectly unso-
licted black eye on his way to the Grinders es-
Enlistment and had been punished for it by the
master a superanuated old Grinder Of savage
disposition, who had been appointed schoolmastcr
because he did MT know any thing, and was MT
fit for any thing and for whose cruel cane all
chubby little boys had perfect facnation.
Thus it fell out that Biler on his way home,
sought unfrequented paths and skunk along by
narrow passages and back streets, to avoid his
tormentors. Being compelled to emerge into
the main road his i'll fortune brought him at last
where a small party of boys, headed by fero-
cious young butcher, were lying in wait for any
means of pleasurable excitement that might hap
pen. These, finding Charitable Grinder in the
midst of Internationally delivered over,
as it were, into their hands-set up general
yell and rushed upon him.
| But it so fell out likewise. that. at that same
time. Polly. looking hopelessly along the road
before her, after good hours walk, had said it
was of no Use going any farther, when suddenly
she saw this sight. She no sooner saw it than,
uttering hasty exclamation, and giving Master
Dombey to the black-cyed, she started to the res.
cue of her unhappy little son.
Surprises, like misfortuncs, rarely come alone.
The astonshed Susan Nipper and her two young
charges, were rescued by the bystandcrs from
under the very wheels of a passing carriage be-
fore they knew what had happened; and at that
moment Ut was market day. laundering alarm
of Mad Ball !! was raised.
With wild confusion before her, Of people
running up and down, and shouting and whee Is
running over them. and boys fighting, and mad
bnils coming up, and the nurse in the midst OF
all these dangers being torn to pieces. Florence
screamed and ran. She rau till she was exhaust
, ed. urging Susan 10 do the same and then,
stopping and wringing her hands as she remem-
bered they had left the other behind, found
, with a sensation of terror not to be described
that she was quite alone.
Susan Susan = cried Florence, clapping her
, hands in the very ecstacy of her alarm. oh
where are they where are they!
where are they 2 said an old woman, coming
i. hobbling across as fast she could from the up
posite side of the way. Way did you run away
from EN- ?
i was frightened answered Florence.
didn't know what did. J thought they wer
with me- Where are they
The old woman took her by the wrist, and sal
I'll show YOU
She WAS very ugly old womandHith red rim
round her eyes, and mouth that Mhmbled am
Chartered of itself when she was not speaking
She was miserably dressed, and carried som
. skins over her arm. She seemed to have 70
, lowed Florence some little way ut all events, fc
she had lost her breath and this made her ug
y ler still, Us she stood trying to regain it; worl
4 ing her slrvelcd yellow face and throat int
:. all sorts of contortions
Florence was afraid Of her, and looked, he's
tating up the street, of which she had almo
:, reached the bottom. 1t was a solitary place
:. more Il back road than street-and there wa
no one in it but herself and the old woman.
, you needn't be frightened now said the o.
=, woman, still holding her tight. Come alou
/. with me-
!. 81 don't know you. What's your name
, asked Florence.
!. 'Irs Brown said the old woman. Good Mr.
Brown
Are they near here 2 asked Florence, beg
"a ming to be led away.
- Susan amt tar off, said Good Mrs. Brow
G. 'and the others are close TO her
l. Is any body hurt 2 cried Florence.
~, 'Not bit Of it, said Good Mrs. Brown.
> The child shed tears ofdelight on hearing TIL
&C and accompanied the old woman willingly; tn
a she could not help glancing at her face as tn
, went aong-pariiculary at that industrio
#, mouth-ani wondering whether Bad Mrs Brow
RS ifthere were such person, was at all like hc
:, ITO be continued