American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-09
From Douglas Jerrold's Magazine.
THE WINTER ROBIN.

mean 10 say that the man or woman who
AN deny that the robin which conducted Jane
oster over the moor, and saved her from pc
ishipg in the snow last winter, was commits
oned by Heaven, is not a whit better than
Pagan. hold fast to that; if | didn't | should
We Pagan myself. don't-and | would wish
This to be distinctly UNDERSTOOD don't believe
Ill that is told about it. For instance, when
! he neighbors assert that the robin changed its
hape after leading her to the cottage door, and
|that she saw an angel spread his wings and rise
from the ground, and that she watched him in
biumb awe till he disappeared in the thick, va
)oury atmosphere, or was hidden by the blind
| ing snow that came feathering down--I
don't believe that. Neither do much credit
Ihe tale which her old grandmother repeats
with ALI air, it is true, of great veracity, how
hat sitting by her fire-side the time when Jane
must have been crossing the moor, and fretting
herself lest the child should loose her way in
the snow-storm, she heard songs floating in the
Dir which no earthly voice could have sung
Bweet, holy songs, about the love which the
Divine Friend bore towards little children
while he was on earth, and how he loves and
Ehershes them now, looking down upon them
rom his far, high home.
Il was a very cold morning, and they had
haten little on the previous day; and Tor many
Jays past the cloth had been spread upon the
cottage table for potatoes alone. Fuel they
POSSESSED, the windfall of the woods, CLEANED
before the severe weather set in; but only one
,.ust of bread on that cold morning, and no
money to purchase any, while, alack, alack!
Zthe baker refused further credit-haviHg three
shillngs and fourpence already scored against
them. So Jane pretending that the crust was
larger than it really was, and hat she had sa-
.ished her appetite, soaked il in some warm
milk for her grandmother, and carried it to the
old woman's bedside.
"Grandmam," said the child, 81 want to go
Ito Rookield to-day"
hsTo Rookfeld!" exclaimed the old woman.
| lis the girl mad-to think of going to Rock
[ field this weather."
'tBut grandmam, what are we to do? We
| have no bread, and no potatoes"
sis it to get bread and potatoes you would
trude sixteen miles afoot on lone common
with snow-drifts higher than the hedges? No
no, Jane, stay at home, and"
isAnd starve, grandmam?"
"Why should we starye-isn't there God
above us all2"
"Yes, grandmam."
''And does he not feed the young ravens thai
call upon HIM"
"Yes, grandmam."
'And do not we say our prayers morn and
night-Why then should you 60 to Rock
! feldi"
"Because, dear grandman, God only helps
those who help themselves If we wait both
at home, bread won't fall into our laps. lmus
! 90 out and seek it."
Sand how will you seek bread" y
81 will beg, grandmam."
"Beg?"
"Yes; will tell the gentlefolk, as they pas
by, that have grandmother at home who i:
very old and aillng, and that we have no fooc
to eat. Oh, they are very generous-are the
\ rich people, for they are Christians, you know
I grandmam; and does not Scripture say, He
that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lordi' >
"My poor, poor child my poor janet"
The girl was very simple-so simple indeed
as to imagine that she had but to utter, in sin
cere and appealing tones, true and moving