Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-01-31

coarse food for the table, and cover the haHeo-
ness Of her family.
To supply the pipe and mug Of Claire from
two to three shilIings a week were required
This sum he usually retained out Of his earnings
and gave the balance, whether large or SMALL
to his frugal wife. No matter what his income
happened TO be, the amount necessary TO obtain
these articles was rigidiy deducted, and as GER
tainiy expended. Without his beer, Claire real
ly imagined that he would not have strength SUI
fcient to 20 through with the weekly toii-how
his wife managed TO get along without even her
regular cup Of good tea, it had never occurred TO
him to ashland not to have had pipe TO smoke
in the eve ming, after each meal, would nave
been a deprivation hey ond his ability to endure.
So, the two or three sbiIliDgs went regularly III
the oIo way. When the sxpences and pennies
congregated in goody numbers in the shoefna-
kers pocket, his visits TO the ale house were OIL
ten repeated, and his extra pipe smoked more
frequen tiy. But, as his allowance for the week
diminished, and it required some searching IN the
capacioas pockets, where they hill themselves
away, to find the struggling coins, Claire found
it necessary to put some check upon his appe
tites. And SO il went OH, week after week and
month, after month. The beer was drank, and
the pipe smoked usual, while the whole family
bent under the weight Of poverty that was laid
upon them.
Weaker and weaker grew little Lizzy. From
the coarse food that daily set before her, her
weak stomach, turned, and she hardly took suf-
fcien, nourishment to keep life in her at,enua-
ted frame.
Poor child. said the mother morning. 'she
live If sI,e iocsu't at Rufc bread
and potatoes and butter milk 20 against her weak
stomach. All, me! If We only had little that
the rich waste!'
There is a curse in poverty. rep'ied Ciaire'
with bitterness that was unusual to him, as he
turned his eyes upon his child, who had pushed
the food away that had been placed before her,
and was looking at it with an expression Of dis
appointment on her face "A curse in poverty"
he repeated. why should my child die for
want of nourshing food, whi!o the children Of
the rich have every luxuryl
In the mind Of Claire. there was usually a dead
calm. lie podded on, from day to day, eating
his potatoes and butter milk, or whatever came
before him. and working steadily through the
hours allotted to labor, his hopes fears in life
rarely exciting him TO an expression of discon-
tent. But he loved Lzzy better than any earth
" thing, and TO her turn with loaiiiing from
her Coarse food. the best he was able to procure
for her, aroused his sluggish nature into rebellion
against his lot. But he saw no remedy.
Can't we get something little better FOR Liz
zy7' he said, he pushed his plate aside. his APP
petite for once gone before his meal was half ca
ten.
Not unless you can earn more replied the
wife. Cut and carve and manage as l will, it's
much as can do to get common food
Claire pushed himself back from the table.
and wi,hou, saying word more. went up to his
shop in the garret, and sat Gown to work. There
was d troubled and respondent feeling about his
heart. lie did not light his pipe as usual, for he
had smoked up the las. of his tobacco on the
evening before. But he had penny left and
with that, soon lie had finished mending a
pair Of boots and taken them home, he meant to
get new supply of the fragrant weed The
boots had only half an hours work on them
But few stitches had been taken by the coiDber,
when he heard the feeble voice of Lzzy. calling
to him from the bottom Of tine stairs. That voice
never came unregarded TO his ears. lie laid aside
his work, and went down for his patient child,
and as he took her light form in his arms. and
bore her up into his little work shop, he felt that
he pressed against his heart the dearest thing to
him in life. And with this fee ling came the Bit
ter certainty that soon she would pass away and
be more seen. Thomas Claire did not ofte IL
indulge in external manifestations Of feeling
but now, as he held little Lazy in his arms he
bent down his face and kissed her tenderly. A
light, like CLEAN Of sunshine, fell suddenly
upon the pale countenance of the child. while a
fan h,,fIc ~ har
father kissed her again. and then laid her upon
the little bed that was always ready for her, and
once more resumed his work.
Clalre's mind had been awakened from its usu :
al leaden quiet. The wants Of his failing child
aroused it into disturbed activity. Thought beat
for awhile. like IA Gagged bird, against the bars Of
necessity, and then flu;trrrd back into painting
imbcc ility.
AT last the boots were done, and with his
thoughts now more occupied with the supply OF
tobacco he was TO obtain, than any thing else,
Claire started TO take them home. AS he walk ed
along, he passed frui, shop. and the thought OF
Lizzy came into his mind.
III couii afford her some of these nice
things he said 10 himself, 'thry would be food
and mrdiciae both To- the dear child. But he
added, W it'll sigh, we poor.-we are poor.
Such dantics not for the children Of poverty.
He passed along until he to the ale house
where he intended TO get his penny worth of to-
baceo For the FIRST time Il thought Of self de
NAL entered his mind, "a l,r stood by the door
with his hand in his pocket. feeling for his soil
tary copper.
This would buy poor Lizzv an orange he
said to himself But them WIS quickly added
u would have no tobacco to-day nor Tomorrow
for won't be paid for these before Saturday,
when Barton gets his whg-s'
Then came u long. hcsi,ating pause There
was before the mind of Claire the image of tbs
faint aud feeble child with the refreshing orange
10 her lips; aud the re was also the image Of hi IN
self uncheered for two long days by his pipe
But could he for moment hesitate. if he r-all,
loved that sick childl is asked. Yes, he coul.
hesitate. aud yet lore the little sufferer; for, 4
one OF his order Of mind and habits Of actin: