Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-01-05
ANTI-sLAVERY BUGLE, SALEM, o.

what light the omission was viewed.
Christmas eve proved to be one of un.
usual inclemency. The snow had been
falling all day, driven into every nook
and corner, cleft and Granny, by a pier
cling north. easter, and now, although the
wind had ceased to roar among the chin.
neys, and to whirl the snow with blind
ing violence into the face Of any one who
ventured abroad, the broad flakes were
falling slowly, but more heavily than
since morning, tho the ground was COW
cred already 10 the depth of many inches.
1t was a night to make the poor feel So
Der as they gathered more closely around
their small fires, and thought of the few
sticks Of wood or pecks of coal that yet
remained Of their limited store.
On this dreary night, a small boy, who
had been at work in a printing office all
day. stood near the desk of his employer
waiting to receive his weeks wages and
60 home to his mother, a poor widow.
whose slender income scarcely suficed
to give food to her little household.
you needn't come tomorrow, john
said the printer, as he handed the lad the
Two dollars that was due him for the
weeks work; Tomorrow is Christmas
The boy took the money, and after lin
gering a moment, turned away, and walk
ed towards the door. lie evidently ex-
pected something, and seemed disap-
pointed. The printer noticed this and at
once comprehended its meaning.
John he said kindly.
The boy stopped and turned round; as
he did so the printer took up a half dol.
lar from the desk, and holdingit between
his fingers, said
You've been a good boy, John, and
think you deserve Il Christmas gift
Here's half a dollar for you
Johns countenance was lit up in an in.
stant. As he came back TO get the mon
ey, the printers eyes rested upon his feet,
which were not covered with a very COM
Portable pair of shoes, and he said
Which would you rather have, John,
This half dollar or a pair of new shoes =
I'D rather have the new Shoes re.
piled John, without hesitation.
very well I'll write you an order on
a shoemaker, and you can 90 and fit
YOURSELF" and the printer turned 10 his
desk, and wrote the order.
As he handed 10 John the piece of pa.
per on which the order was written, the
lad looked earnestly into his face, and
then said with a strongly marked hesita-
ton
i think, sir, that my shoes only want
mending, they will do very we'll if mend
ed. Won't you please write shoes for
my mother, instead of me?'
The boys voice trembled, and his face
was suffused. He ieit TIA. he had veniu-
red too much. The printer looked at
him a moment, and said
Does your mother want shoes badlyl'
20, yes sir. She doesn't earn much
by washing and ironing, when she can
do it, but she sprained her wrist three
weeks ago, and she HASN'T been able to
do any Thing but work a Iiule about the
house since
And are your wages all she has to
live upon?'
'They are, now
you have a little sister, | believc.'
Yes
Does she want shoes. too
'She has had nothing but old rags on
her feet for a month";
Indeed !
The printer turned to the desk and sat
and unused half a moment, while John
stood with his heart beating so loud that
he could hear its pulsations.
Give me that ORDER The man at
length said to the boy, who handed him
the slip Of paper. He took it and tore it
up, and then took his pen aud wrote an
other.
Take this he said presenting it TO
John. Il have told the shoemaker TO
give you a pair for your mother, yourself,
and your little sister, and here is the half
dollar, my boy, you must have that Also
John took the order aud the money,
and stood for a moment, looking into the
printers face, while his lips moved as if
trying to speak, but no sound came there
from. Then he turned away and left the
office without uttering a word.
John is very late tonight said the
poor widow, as she got up and went
to look out in the hope of seeing her boy.
Supper had been ready for al least an
hour, but she did not feel like eating any,
thing till John came. Little Neuy had
fallen asleep by the fire, and was now
snugly covered up in the bed. As Mrs.
Elliot opened the door, the cold air press
ed in upon her, bearing its heavy burden
of snow. She shivered like one in a sud-
den ague fit, and quickly shutting the
door, murmured-
my poor boy-it's a dreadful night
for him 10 be out, and so thinly clad.
wonder why he stays so late.'
The mother had hardly uttered these
words when the door was thrown omen
and John entered with a hasly step, bear.
ing with him several packages, all cover
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