Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-05


ruin the property
$50 o" said the Doctor "a hard Improvement
that' Ihey pay me little more than the taxes, now
and 1t they are improved at that rate, I shall be
made beggar with them. | must look into this
little, sir"
AT TINS moment Pat made his appearance at the
door Helen went to him. led him to a farther
window, and entered into conversation with him.
lie looked like another boy this morning-hope
and pleasure snone in his face, and his whole APP
poarance was tidy and cheerful. The Doctors les
see soon took his leave having first conversed in
an under tone moment or two, with frequent
look toward poor Pat. The Doctors countenance
showed that the lad had gained little in this inter
view.
Now" said the Doctor as Helen led the lad to
him. Your name is Patrick, | believer Patrick
bowed. am very sorry the Doctor continued
ito learn that you are a very bad, and very i'm
pudent boy-though might have guessed the last"
Helen and Mrs. Gregory looked astonshed, and
poor Pat, gathering a hope of sympathy from their
faces, SAID, as he hung his head, and burst into
tears, Sure that will be news to my mother, wher-
ever you heard it,"
"Come, come, sir!" said the Doctor ono more
play with us--we'vc had enough don't want to
condemn you unheard and if you are deserving,
| would do you good. Your sharp answer will
serve Tor an hours amusement; but if you are, as
| am told, very bad boy you a-e n dangerous
playhng; and if you can establish your chnrac-
ter. would do something than anuse myself
WIN YOU tor to tell the truth, you hive interested
me very much Now answer me without evasion
! Whit have you ever done to maintain yourself?"
81 sold the papers, sir"
$50. Yes that explains something. WHY
don't you sell them now"
" My father took Sick sir, and was very bad
and one day with another, sir spent my little mon
ey' and lost my stand, sir, and other BOYS got my
customers, sir and my heart was gone, and my
mother and sisters were starving, and the rent
was MT paid, strand the Lord save you and yours
from tasting the bitter cup"
Helen turned her head to brush away a tear, and
DE- Gregory continued his questions, but in tone
more KIND. " But how could boy suffering all
TINS, he so full of fun and nonsense as you were
yesterday, and you would have been to-day, if eve
ry thing had gone you expected"
"Oh SIR, there's a many ways in the wide world,
and them as travels in one don't know the stones
IN another Two or three days, sir, I'd shivered
6arefooted in the cold, and tould the people what
, tould you Just now, sir and couldn't get six
pence! The blessed angel put me another
track, and your kind face, sir made me try it on
you-and that's the whole truth, sir. I'm no black
guard, if look like one"
"Nery well put! Very well told, Patrck-but
I've something more to say yet. The house you
live in is mine, and your landlord is my tenant"
Then hope" said Pat " he's better tenant
than landlord! -
"Well, he tells me that yesterday, you lied him
down that you haJnt dollar in the world -"
Lied HIM down! Sure 1t was the blessed truth,
sir!'
But he says he threatened you with the House
OF Refuge, and that this morning your mother found
money TO pay the rent in full Now you must
either have had this money, orr am unwilling to
say 1t you must have stolen it since, for he says
you are very poor"
"Ah, look at him your honor! Think of this
backbiter once He knows am poor, he says
and he threatens with the House of Refuge for
not paying my mothers rent, and perhaps he didn't
tell you of that, but he tould me | might as well
have begged money as shoes, and abused me for
the very kindness which your lady had for me =
And then he says stole the money and still he
put II In his own pocket, without a tear ~
Patrick, you have made the case bad for your
nccuser, but you havn't helped yourself yet. Tell
me honestly-where did this money come from?'
=" 1t was loaned to me, SIR
" Loaned" And the Doctor smiled at what
seemed new evasion.
"Yes, sir" said Pat, proudly. " Ioaned May be
you think the impudent little BLACKBOARD has no
friends, " but there's God above, sir, who remem-
bers the widow and the faherless, and he sent an
angel to us when were all in the sorrow The
man that loaned Pat Murphy five dollars-four for
the rent, and one to buy papers land here it ISL
said Fat as he showed it" that man knows that
Pat Murphy will pay if he leaves his body to the
surgeons to do it with And it isn't the first good
thing he's done, sir. He's come out of his bed in
the bitter night time and again, to sooth the pain
OF the poor who could not give him fee or reward,
and he's put his hand in his pocket, over and often,
to pay for the medicine and the food for the dying
man, when he knew he couldn't live much as to
thank him the blessings of heaven fall on him
Tor 1t And now my poor father is in heaven, and
DIR. Henry will one day meet him there--may it be
long day off, for the good of the poor on earth
Good morning, ladies, aud you, sir, too, and when
next you would play with the poor, don't put the
farce before the tragedy, sir, if we please sir for
| that's not the way at the Bowery!"
Helen was in tears, and her mother in silent u
ma2ement at the little fellows eloquence. "Here
. Pat, sop" shouted the doctor, us the boy moved
away.
1T is more play you want, sir ?" asked the boy
? turning hallrouud
"Your name is Murphy? And the Doctors is
, Henry y
"Ies. sir"
. "WelI, here" continued the Doctor, taking up
5 the Medical Examiner lis your fathers case all
printed"
( 81 can read SIR said Pat, proudly. Don't plqy
with the bones of the dead if you please, sir !"
Mono Patrick" said DIR. Gregory, tuking
him kindly by the hand, and drawing him TO him.
" ! know l'r Henry, and there are those in this
3 house who know him better thanI" Pat shrewdly
d looked toward Helen, and she blushed crimson
: I'VE shall inquire about you. What rent do you
d pay"
y "A dollar week."
" FIity-two dollars year. Aud how many
rooms have you /"
"One, SIR"
d "And how many tenants are there, in the whole
It house,
e "Ten sir, beside the corner grocery"
i 5000 hummed the Doctor. "Why, the fell
low gets more for that one house than he pays me
!, for three And he wants to reduce his rent at
1t that Mmeraby must the poor be oppressed by
such harpes I"
d "True'ior you, sir" said Pat-"if your honor
" would take the house into your own hands !"
= 81 can't do that, my boy" said the Doctor, mus
ing-"Pat" he sand, at length, after pause,
e " how old are you?"
" Seventeen, come Easter"
Il $50. Well, I'll ask DR.. Henry about you, and
II if he gives you half as good character as you do
him, I'll give you charge Of the house you live in.
u You shall have it at the same price he pays-on