The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1846-05-14
THE WINTER ROBIN.


Imean 70 say thzl The man or woman
who can deny that the robin which con-
dueied Jane Foster over the moor, and
saved her IRON perishing in The snow last
winter, was commissioned By Heaven. is
not whit belier ihan Pagan. hold
fast 10 that-if didn't should be Pa
gan myself. dol ot-and would wish
this 70 be distinctly understood don {
believe all that IS told about il. For In
stance, when the neighbors assert lhai the
robin changed lis shape after leading her
10 the cottage door, and that she saw an
angel spread lis wings and rise from The
ground, and that she watched him in dumb
awe I'LL he disappeared in the thick vapory
atmosphere. or was hidden BY the binding
snow that came ieaihering down. don't
believe that. Neither do | much credit
the tale which her grandmother repeated
with an air, il is true. Of great Eeracily,
how that sitting by the Preside at the
time when Jane must have been crossing
the moor, and fretling herself lest the child
should lose her way in the snow storm.
she heard songs floating in The air which
no earthly voice could have sung-sweel
holy songs about 1.-The love which the Divine
Friend bore towards little children while
he was on earth, and how he loves and
chenshes them now, looking down upon
them from his far, high home.
II was very cold morning, and they
had eaten liule on the previous day; and
for many days past the cloth had been
spread upon the cottage table for potatoes
alone. Fuel they possessed, the windfalls
Of the woods, CLEANED before the severe
weather set in, but only one crust Of bread
on the cold morning and no money to
purchase any. while, alack, alack! the ba.
ker refused further credit-having three
shillings and fourpence already scored
against them. So Jane pretended that
the crust was larger than il really was, ant
that she satisfied her appetite, soaked i
in some warm milk for her grandmother
and carried il TO The old woman's side.
"Grandmam." said the child, al wan
TO go to Rockfeld to-day"
| :" To Rockheld!" exclaimed the old wo
man. lis the girl mad--to think OF 20
ing TO Rockfield this weather."
"But grandmam, what are we to do
We have no bread aud potatoes"
ais il 10 get bread and potatoes yoi
would trudge sixteen miles afoot on Ion,
common, with snowdrilts higher than III,
hedges! No. no, Jane, stay at home ant
-" s8 -
/ "And starve, grandman!"
/" Why should we slarve-isn't there a
God ahnve MS alls"
"Yes, grandmam." 80
"And does he not feed the young IA
vens that call upon hint"
Yes, grandmam." '<'. '
"And do we not say our prayers morn
ing and night. Why then should you GO
TO Rocklield!"
" Because, dear glandmam, God only
helps those who help themselves. If we
wait both at home, bread will not fall int
our laps. Unjust go out and seek it."
"And how will you seek bread!"
81 will beg, grandmam."
Beg"
"Yes--I will tell the gentlefolks, a.
they pass by, that | have grandmother a
home who is very old and ailing, and tina
we have no food to eat. oh! they arr
very generous-are the rich people, fo
they are Christians, you know, grand
man, and does not Scripture say, He tina
giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord!'
"My poor, poor child! my poor Jane!
The girl was very simple--so simpl,
indeed as TO imagine that she had but L
utter, in sincere and appealing tones, ;
ture and moving tale TO gain compassion
and, what was of more consequence Il
her, relief. The old woman, though sim
pie enough in her way, was wiser on tina
point than her grand daughter. She hat
seen little of the world, and knew tina
4 the christianity of the rich is too offer
like the workman's garment, worn only
on Sundays.
4 my poor Jane, do you suppose tina
the gendefolks will listen to you!"
"Yes, grandmam, why not! Ishall tel
them that you are old and hungry"
"Does it snow now, Jenny, bird!"
"No. grandmam, it is quite fine, and
shall not feel the cold, | walk SO fast, vol
: know"
You shall go to Rockfeld. God will
protect my darling. Fetch me that box
, and give me the key from my pocket"
t Yes, grandmam. o, how good yo'
are to let me CO."
: Mot to beg, my child; you shan't be-
vet. | have something left in this DO!
. that will keep the wolf from the door
little longer, and who knows but what
but there added the old woman, check
i ing herself, and speaking below her breath
"best to say nothing Of him. Poor Rich
A ard, we shall see no more till we meet il
Heaven" ra
j. She drew forth ring from the box
. gold wedding ring, which, if we may judg
:. from the interest with which, if we ma