The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1848-11-03

| To stiug his small aud uncovered feet,
As the poor beggar boy crept by.
| They sat together--the widow and the
boy-wretched, hungry and desoIate. A
few pine shavings has Just sunk ia'o n
handful of black ashes on the broken
hearth, and one lingering spark of FIRE
tiny serpent through them, was all The
promises Of warmth afforded by that yaw.
ming and andy FIRE place. Yet the day
was bitterly cold. the bleak lind gushed
down the chimney, scattering the ashes
over the floor with each chilly blast. II
came through the crevices and pierced
| the Inflated windows till the snow, which
lay embarked against the glass, dritted
| through from the area. and lay in ridges
| all around the sash. The boy had been
crouching close to his mother. and, as
| the are went out she drew him nearer 10
her side, and strove to shelter him beneath
| he old shawl which but scaniily protect
ed her own shoulders. The boy mes led
| close to her bosom, for moment, but il
was uot To seek shelter from the cali The
poor woman felt his srms g,rdliug her
waist with an sfec,ionate clssp, and bis
warm ilps were pressed 10 her cheek
aga'n aud again, til the tears that stood
kslf frrZen there vanished beneath 'tha
ioviag cares Alas, for lhe widow! save
these young lips there was 10 warmth ~
he world for her!
.'Mo,her, are you very hungry! ! !inquirtd
| she Sos. Tie w,afar ,w'ligtf flied ,ts
| room, or the pale, tamished face of that
| poor woman had been answer enongh. -
| She turned away her head aud murmur.
| ed As
No--not very
oh! mother cried the boy, drawing
| back his head and looking in her face
| Trough the dim light, 'if we could but
get shilIIng-ore little ehlIling-I saw
tour PIGS feet lying close by the door Of
| he gr"cery this morning; one of them
was almost oOt on the pavement. You
d nn't know how ! tried TO earn a shill!ng,
rr sixpence, ar only three cents, that |
nigh, bring one for ynnr supper; bat no
ne W. uld give mr work, and you told me
not to beg
The poor mother burst into tears, and
kissed TIE face lifted with such tonc!lng
earnestdess to hers. ,g
Your father li'ile thought his son-his
and NINE. would ever have thought of
beggiog.' she said ihournh,lly.
bat I've did not know how hungry We
should be, said the lad meekIy, while his
eyes dropped beneath their thick fashes,
and look Of shame stole over his features,
for he understood his mothers words as a
reproach. He had not seen you shiver
ing with the cold in the dark here
oh. il / could have forseen il! The
poor woman rose TO her feet as she spo Ike, 4,
and gathering the shawl about her. took
an old quilted hood from her chair. and
seemed preparing to go out. The lad
turned his ayes snxion.ly on her
May go with y"ii mother!' he said
buttoning the scant jacket round his 6ne.
" moulded person and taking a leather
cap from the -four. he siobd ready to 60
forth.
u will try again muttered the nnfor
,,or,nu Tneonh an III oo
once more TO Mrs. Henry's. tits but ten
cents and she may have forgotten il; hut
even then il is nothing TO her--every
thing 10 us; surely we cannot starve. hov
-s,.rve when food lies before us in snch
quantities. As she spoke the woman
lifted her finger, and pointed to the ba
ker's shop across the wav. where the win
dcws had just been lighted. and Ioaves Of
bread lay heaped on the tonnier berond.
THIS Conversation had led the snfFering
pair INTO the street, and they walked for
ward facing the wind and the driving
snow with desperate energy.
'Mo'her.' said The lad as the tw o paused
hefore the high granite steps Of proud |
! elling in Broad street, ,fwill ten cents
be -nongh to hGy the pigs feet, aud fire
10 cnck ,hemt'
.Do 10, begin to think ofu.' said the
u idow. Il have heen here sgsin aud !
gain. bat could nese, see the l,dy; u
mas he SO now; try and think Of some
hing beside. fncd for ! have little hope.
,f any TO night .
j would think Of something else If T.
-ere not for yoa ,'no'her,. lean do with
,ut eating a lung time, but Y