Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-26


around her neck, laid his cheek close 10 hers,
and murmured, "come, mother don't give up;
see, this will warm you liue, know il will"
lle was answered by low conVuIsive sob,
which the poor woman Ir:ed in vain TO suppress,
but the brave lad would not be discouraged. He
brought her to lie calm, 10 see how strong he was
he who had eaten nothing for two whole days,
and who always had such an appeiIe-it was
not much 10 be hungry when one got used TO il.
IL was beautiul-this courage in a child 50
young! His voice was unnaluraIly cheerful,
but II had a sound as if the liule fellow was
choking back his tears all the time.
There was a straw bed lying on the floor in
corner Of the room-Joseph had become accus-
toned 10 the dark, so he went to this bed and
shook up the straw; hcaping the principal part
on the side which his mother always occupied.
Then he persuaded her 10 sit down; he spread
the warm quilts carefully over her, iucking
them in against the wall, and placed piece Of
old rag carpeIing between the bed and the floor,
that il might seem as much like pillow as pos
sible.
"Now, mother, isn't it nice to feel that every
thing is so clean, irlhere isn't much of il!" said
the boy, still lingering on his knees where he
had been arranging the fragment Of carpet
do you begin 10 feel any better, molherl''
The poor woman murmured that she did, and
told the child 10 make haste and come 10 bed, for
she heard his teeth clauer as he spoke.
"ln few minutes, molher-l have Just tho't
Of something"-and starring 10 his feet, liule
Joseph went into a back passage and dragged out
an old door which stood leaning against the wall.
He placed this against the bed slanling it over
his mother in a manner that shielded her from
the wind that penetrated the windows.
There" exclaimed the boy triumphantly,
"only think, mother, how much better off we
are than some poor people that haven't any old
door to keep off the wind!"
If 1t had not been so very dark, Joseph would
have been encouraged by the faint smile that
crept over the pale face of his parent; for even
her misery could not resist the determined cour-
Iage of that brave hearted boy.
When Joseph had arranged the door, he
gathered fresh spirit from success, and the exer-
lion of dragging it forth had driven away the
strengh; so, obey ing desperate impulse, he let
himself into the street, and ran across TO The ba-
ker's shop. hard faced woman stood behind
the counter talking to a mild looking female, who
had Just placed couple of shilling loaves in a
basket which hung on her arm. She seemed
TO be the wife Of mechanic, purchasing her
store of bread for the next day. When she tur-
ned from the counter Joseph took her place;
there was something in the clear, frank features
Of the boy which attracted her attention.-
! Though worn to the thread, his clothes were
mended, and perfectly clean; the bright black
hair had never been neglected, and exposure to
the storm only crisped it into thousand tiny
ringets up from his bold, open forehead, and all
the long black lashes that sunk over his eyes
when he felt that she was looking earnestly at
him, concealed an expression of terrible suffer-
ing.
''Mrs. Beake, will you let me speak with you
minule," said the child, lifting his eyes 10 the
shop woman, with an appeal so earnest, that she
impulsivey bent down her head; but the widow
owed her few shiIings, and this thought STEEL
ed her heart against him.
sit is of no use," she said, before he had time
10 express his wishes; 81 can't trust you anoth-
er loaf, it is out of the question:"
81 did not come for trust this time-that is,
not all trust" replied the boy with almost breath
less anxiety. "See-if you will only take these,
and keep them till we can pay you-they have
only been mended twice."
The boy stopped down, united his shoes, and
seemed about TO set them on the counter.
"Dont put your wet old shoes there" exclai-
med the woman, roughly. "Whal good are
such trash 10 me-do get out of the Store"
81 did not mean to set them on the counter
only TO show youhow nicely they are mended,"
said the boy in broken voice, STOPPING dow n
to put on his shoes again, and, as his fingers
trembed among the wet strings, the woman, who
stood at the door, saw that the poor child was
crying as if his heart would break, though he
made no noise. She looked at the bread in her
basket there was just enough for her own large
family-she could not give him that-but six
pence lay within her hard palm-harder than
her heart, good woman. Her face frightened,
and stepping forward, she laid her coin Oh the
counter.
"Give the boy some bread, he looks hungry,
poor fellow;" and before Joseph could start up,
shake the tears from his face, and thank her. the
kind woman had passed into the street, mutter-
ing, "My young ones must do without their can
dy tonight: they will make a terrible time
when get home-no ;nalter-I could not help
| i'll"
Joseph reached up his eager, trembling hands,
and almost snatched the loaf from Mrs. Beake.
He darled through the door, and across the
street, laughing amid his tears; and hugging the
bread close TO his bosom.
The widow had sunk to that heavy, uncom-
Portable sleep which, in truth, was scarcely more
than stupid endurance of prvation and cod.--
She had not heard her son 60 forth, and when
he rushed into the room, sobbing out cough,
and dancing through the darkness, she started
up in alright.
"Here, mother, here, I've got some bread
new bread-a whole loaC-are you setting up,
mother?-come break lt-my hands shake so !
can't. Give me piece of the crust, and cal
the soft yourself Have you got it ?-that's
right-now eat away, mother, it's all paid for"
Joseph broke off short, for his mouth was full
of something more substantial than words, and
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