Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-09-13
INNOCENCE AND CRIME.
AN ANECDOTC.

benevolent old gentleman-the late Mr..
iiarcourt Brown Of Beech Iiall-was ploddn ,
his way home TO his hotel from a ramble 10 the
suburbs OF London; and having made bold
attcmp, at a short cut soon found himself
lost IN a maze of squalid streets, leading one
mo the other, and apparently leading nowhere
else. lie inquired his way in vain From
tie first person, lie received a coarse lest ;
from another a look of vacant stupidity;
third eyed him in dogged silence. lie stepped
with one foo; into several wre,ched little shops
but the people seemed to know nothing beyond
the next street or alley, except one man, a
dealer IN trPe, of strange, earthly color, who
c"I'I over his shoulder Oh, you're miles
out your way Ihe only exception to the
general indifference, rudeness and stupidi,v
was thin sallow checked man, who had a
tNed smile on his face, and spoke in rather an
aIJect, orirg ging tone of obsequiousness and
even walked up one street and down second
to show Mr.. Brown the way But it soon be-
came evident that he knew nothing about the
matter, and he s!uHh away with the same fixed
meaning smile.
In this state of affairs Mr.. Brown butoned
up his coat, and manfuIly resolved to work his
way out Of this filthy locality by walking
straight forward.
Irudg'ng onward al a smart pace, the wor-
thy gentleman presently heard the sound of sob
bng and crying, and behind the boards of n
shed at the side Of a ruined novel he saw oirl
OF some nIne or ten years of age, caeping and
unc!asping her hands in a paroxsm of grief
and apprehension. "Oh what shall d y?-What
shall do 2" sobAel the child.
She started with terror as Mr.. Brown ar
proched, and hid her head in the folds of her
niue apron; bnt upon being assured by the
! mi ynlp fAE NJ
thought OF hurting her, she venlured to look
up. She had soh-jluc eyes, naxen hair Of sill.
very glossness, pretty features and, notwith
standing the stain of tears down a check which
had a smear of brckdust upon it, had most
innocent and proposses>ing face.
" hat is TIE matter, my little girl (? ?iaquirei
Mr. Brown.
The child turned one shoulder half round.
and displayed the red and purple marks or blows
from whip or stick.
What cruel wretch has done this p asked
Mr.. Brown. Tell me child tell me directly
1t was mother sobbed the child.
'Al'-i'm sorry TO hear this. Perhaps YOU
have been naughty"
Yes, Sir, answered the child.
Poor child circulated Mr.. Brown; 'but
You wi! not be naughty again, What was
your offence. Come, tell me p
: shook it, Sir; oh yes, It's quite true; |
did shake it very much
What d you shake 2? inquired Mr.. Brown.
shook the doll, Sir
The doll o., you mean YOU shook thc b, =
BY That, certainly, was naughty of you,' said
Mr.. Brown.
NO, sir; it was not the baby | shook-it
was the doll and I'm afraid to 90 home
mother will be sure to beat me again
An imnulsa IF bonav,I,,oo IL Al n,
hand to search for his purse. Had he tried the
wrong pocket? Ills purse was on the other
side. No, it was mott must be ia this inner
pocket Where is Mr.. Browns purse 1t is
not in any Of his pockets lie tries them all
over again. And his pocket, book !-ohieAy Of
memorandums, but also having a few bank
notes. This is gone too--and his silk bandker.
ehief--bo his fandkerchiefs also his silvor-
gilt snufi-box, filled with rappee only five min.
utes before lie left the hotel this morniru-he
is certain be had ii when he came OUTPUT it
is certainly gone Every single thing he had
in his pockets is gone.
The child also-now she has gone Mr..
Brown looked around him, and yondcr he secs
[ the poor child flying with frequent looks behind
OF lorror,-and now shrill and frigh,ful voice
csrs IS him TO start. Tuning in that direction
the sudden flight Of The little girl is immediate.
ly explained. Over the rubbish and refuse, al
a swift, wild pace, courses a fcndi-h woman
wiha savage eye and open mouth, her cheeks
hollow, her teeth projecting her thin hair flying
like blt of diseased name over her shoulder
she has stick in her hand, with which she
constantly threatens The flying child, whom he
eXecratlonl follow yet moTe ewiftly than he
feet,
Mr., Blown remained watching them liIl lhs,