Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-01-16

VI IVY w Tvs lOC' Du' h"III 'H""'SS1
little wants he had always supplied with the
two fold delight of happiness both impaired
and received; he entered and his wife and
children ran to embrace him. James clasp
ed them in his arms, but his sorrowful and
desponding looks e%vinced, to the quick dis
ccrnment of his wife, that some secret unea-
siness was prcying on his mind.
Dear husband, what is the matter! has
any misfortune happened TO youF'
"No moro work." replied James, as he
sunk upon his chair.
"No more work. repeated the poor moth
or, in a voice Of agony. "No more work."
echoed little Francis; and the three looked at
one another with an air Of stupefaction.
James wept no longer; it was his duty to
give them an example of resignation; but the
burning tears of the ~anXions mother fell on
the little hands of the infant she held in her
arms, and the innocent smile of the babe
re-invigorated the mother and the wife.
"Don't despair, James, tomorrow you
may perchance find somethingto do. Goo is
our Father, and while He is rich in love, we
shall not want"
sob, yes; wife will look for work; here
are my eighteen francs; for the weeks work,
make them last as long as possible"
Francis was soon despatched with ten
francs TO pay the baker; il was the amount of
a whole weeks consumption, and the credit
of the poor is limited.
Next day James left home very early to
look for work, but all his efforts were inef-
%fectuaI. In vain he depicted the distress of
his family, in vain he exhibited the %certiii-
cate Of his good character; most Of the facto-
ries were idle. He returned and his wife
asked him no questions, the detection Of his
countenance sufficiently attested his want of
success.
\ week passed in the same manner, and
every evening James came home more
wretched than the preceding, while the in
tense GOODNESS of the winter still increased
the suffcrings of his family! The children
were kept in bed for James had no wood: the
poor little things had no support was Sat
urday night, and the baker had refused any
more bread on credit. Already the mother,
deprived as she was Of food, could afford
her babe little nourishment, and the restless
ness of the poor innocent betrayed its hun
ger.
Meantime, the two children awoke, and
crying, asked for bread. On hearing this,
James became desperate. Smiling his fore
head with his clenched hand, he hurried to
and fro across his chamber, eXclaiming,
There is wealth enough around us-super-
fluous wealth: the unfeeling rich revel in "a
bundance, and prodigaliy waste more than
would keep these poor babes from starving.
Why do they not search out the dwellings, of
the needy, and prevent crime by relieving
those small but emergent wants which too
often prompt it's perpetration!"
There was reason IN this madness; but
James permitted it to go too far, and he brood
ed over it until his disordered mind settled
in a desperate and ruinous determinations
h cnt hn,tp ln,tinr 81 Ii ,,;c, ,,;.L, SEQ
cant stare.
"You look at me- said she, and yet You
appear not TO see me! James, my dear, tell
me what ails you"
"Nothing! nothing! wife, why weep
they are famished-they shall have bread
So saying he rushed out Of the room and
disappeared. His wife uttered a piercing
scream; "James! James! where are YOU 90
lng!" But James did not hear her, the
slamming of the ally-door announced to her
that her husband was already in the street.
Poor wife, unhappy mother! your PRESENT.
ment is just: the thought Of crime had enter
ed his p%a'ernal heart.
1t was eleven o'clock; from the severity of
the weather, the obscure street in which he
lived was almost deserted. The first person
James met, was i workman; returning from
his days labor, singing merrily. "Ah!"
said he to himself, he is happy, he has work;
or at least he has no children starving with
hunger; pass on comrade. you have nothing
to fear from me-"
He again heard the hasty footsteps of
some one approaching; it was a young man
wrapped up in 4 large cloak, the scarlet lin
ing of which was conspicuous at a distance.
James rushed upon him, and seizing him by
the arm, ~ our purse!' cried he with a terri
Bile voice, "your pursa!'
my friend" said the young man, startled
at this sudden appearance, "Iou are follow
ing but a wretched business, but | will sat
isfy you; here's my purse"
''llow much is there in it!"
"Three louis, | believe, and two five
francs"
James took out Of the purse two FIVE franc
pieces only, and gave the rest back to its
owner. SSH" said he in a milder tone, Il
only want ten f%rancs;" and left him.
The astonished young man followed the
robber with his eye, and saw him hurry to
the bakery; he soon came out with a loaf I'M
der his arm, and disappeared in the darkness.
He readily conjectured that necessity alone
had driven this man to the commission Of
crime, and he himself entered the sh cd
"Who is the person that just bought a loaf
here!" e%nquired he.
"Ah! sir" answered the bakers wife, she
is a poor mechanic, burdened with a family;
he lives in yonder house in the fifth story,
where you see the light in the window. lie
owed me ten francs, which he has just paid
me! they are very honest folks, but we can't
afford long credit to the poor"
Fright! madam" answered the stranger;
'here are ten francs more; furnish them it'll
bread till that sum is exhausted; | will see
you again.