Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-05-02

day.
/ 90, ma'am, mean my book; there's five
pounds in it, and will draw it out for you tO-
day
mo, boy, no. said Kitty, applying the cor
ner of her apron to her eyes would Mt rot
the orphans that way; what luck could ] ex
ppct for my own if | did Keep your little
penny, oleat; ] am as mnch obliged to you as
if took it,
Ma'am, said Charles, earnestly, if you
please Won must take it. Are MT you and poor
Tom like parents to Nelly and me don't you
share every bit and sup with us, though you
want it so badly yourselves ?-how, then, could
have the bcart 10 see you and the children
want, while have it 2
well Charley, you re good boy, and will
take it from YOU as a loan. Please God, when
himSefis well. wei soon be able to put it back
and indeed think he'd Almost murder me for
touching it at all
The book was produced ; Charles took it to
the town, drew out his money, and having pur-
chased some necessares for the family, re-
turned cheerfuly home. He gave the money
TO Mrs Handley +; but she, although a kind
hearted, honest creature, was, truth to tell, a
bad manager, that the sum did not last as
long as it should have done.
One day, when l1andley was Just able to 90
out his eldest little girl, fine, intelligent child
of seven years old, her fathers special favor,e,
fell off wall over which she was climbing,
and injured her knee severely. The hurt was
at first neglected, and then carecssly looked at
by an ignorant village apothecary, who pro-
nourced that it required nothing but rest: and
the consequence was, that the Joint stffened
aud the poor child seemed condemned to d lie
LAM La ic o1
dom come alone. At this last stroke Tom
llandley, as he sad fairly lost all heart lie
surrendered his little farm, removed into a
small cabin, and engaged as a day-aborer with
neghboring farmer. Workmen at this lime
were very plenty, and money very scarce; so
that the united earnings Of Tom and Charles
scarcely sutiiced, in Irish phrase, to keep
soul and body together
The children and Ellen grew pale and thin,
and poor Mrs. llandey almost hear, broken.
'Ah, Nelly,' she would say, as she gave her
the youngest child to hold, the darling i-n t
heavy now to carry God help my little Tom
my, he's wasting away like a snow-driit on the
hill. May our kind heavenly Father lock
down ON us all :.
From long confinement poor little Mary be-
came very tretfnl and AS Ellen WAS complete
ly occupied in minding the youngest child,
which was cutting its teeth, and Mrs. llandley
had AS she often declared, fifty things to do
at once. there was seldom any at leisure TO att
tend 10 her. But when Clarles came in from
his daN', work, her pale face used 10 brighten.
tor the boy took pleasure in amusing his little
sick cousin, and had many playful devices for
that purpose. Tom Iandlry used TO sigh when
he saw his poor child unable TO eat the coarse
porridge, which. IN very scanty measure, was
all lie could procure for his family; and once
Charles heard him mnrmur, 'Ah, then, aeah, if
could get you the white bread, and the new
milk, and the drop of broth, you d soon be well
aud strong, and jumping on my lap as you used
long ago.
One day Charles was driving the cows
through a turf boz, he saw fine solid piece of
the black oak, winch in Ireland abounds be-
meath the peatmoss, and is used by tho peas
aniry for iirewood. lie careessly picked it up
hnnlng it would make the fire Llaze that eve
ming; and afterwards, when be sat down beside
a rock, watching his charge, he took out an old
penknitc, and began idly TO chip the edges OF
the wood. Suddenly he remembered toy
which he had seen and greatly admired years
before, it was cup and ball and it occurred
to him if he could carve one ever so rudely, il
would afford great amusement to little Mary.
lie accordingly commenced; and although the
wood was hard, the hnte blunt and his hand
unpnctised, yet he had made some progress
before evening. Alter supper, he sat next to
Mary and while telling her some little long re-
membered tale, he continued carving and rub
bng his slip of bog 'ak. In two days the cup
and spike was finished and then came the
ball, and this without lathe, was no easy mat
ter to accomplish. However, perseverance is
rgnI ;
discovered without it the most triling enter-
prize will rarely succeed. So Charles worked
hard at his ball. and after many failures made
one so round and smooth, that his delighted lit
tie cousin, after some practice, seldom failed to
catch 1t on tie cup; and even now and then,
with the utmost triumph, displayed it sticking
on the spike.
1t happened about this time, that the farmer
whose cows Charles herded, had occasion for a
messenger TO send to the country town, to
bring home some groceries which could not be
procured in the village. lie told Charles he
would send him. and give him sixpence to pro-
cure his breakfast in the town, desired him to
start before dawn, as he would have distance
of fourteen miles 10 walk, but could return with
his purchases in neighbor's cart.
In due time Charles reached the town, exc
Culeu MS COMMISSIONS, anu saw lnen salelY
slowed away under the care OF the man with
whom he was to return, before he thought of
refreshing himself. lie then took out his silver
sixpense, saying to himself as he looked at it,,
: can't SO home without eating something
e5hF have naae9nE 5dH dH!pe pehGS half penny 1tRi Rhsi
wants thimbIe ! saw her poor finger quite
red aud sore from trying TO work without one
that will cost another penny. will take a
nice white two penny loaf TO little Mary, and
the three -ha(-pence then left over will put by,
towards mendng Ellen's shoes
The boy had finished his scanty breakfast,
and was thinking that but for the dear ones at
home, he would very much like TO buy another
piece of bread when his foot struck against
something that arrested his attention. The
street was very muddy, and when he stopped,
he saw small paper parcel almost covered by
the gutter. He picked it up, opened it, and
found wrapped up in three papers an old bat
tered gold coin. lie turned it round, and on
examining the envelop in which it was folded,
perceived written on it the name Of Mr.. Martin,
Jeweler in the town.
To his shop Charles hastened, anxious TO
restore the com, for the idea of retaining il
never once occurred to his honest mind, When
he entered he found Mr. Martin engaged in