The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
For the National Era.
JAMES MCLARY AND HIS BOY.
BY PATTY LEE.

| Concluded from our last
The young man, who had really kind
heart, and was no more depraved than the
atmosphere in which he had always dwell
necessarily made him, put his arm about the
shrinking girl, saying, Now, mind, Molly
like you Just as well rs though you were ever
so finely dressed; but say it's mean in oul
folks, don't you?"
Molly hid her trembling lip with her hand
kerchief, but said nothing
Is that the best handkerchief you haveN
asked William and for the first time the girl
perceived that it was ragged, saying
"Let me get out and go home!"
"No won't" said William, but I'll tell
what will do if you will not refuse it will
| give you home"
Mary cried more than ever, saying che wish
| ed she was dead, and out of everyboI y's way /;
that she didn't want to live any longer that
| way"
"Will you or won't you, then ?" said Viii
liam letting his horse fall into walk, rs they
passed under the arches Of an old bridge
Mary, imagine, said she would, from the
fact of looking all smiles and bushes as they
emerged, and also from the privileged manner
and tone of the young man, who said rs he
drew her closer to him
"Now, wipe your eyes little Molly; but no,
cry, if you want to; we are going to funeral,
you know"
They had neither of them ever thought or
spoken of love before, 40 much has mere acct
dent to do with the shaping of our lives.
Before the little hovel where they presently
drew up. stood a shabby old hearse and one
mean carriage A few poor-looking men lin
gcred about the door, among whom William
sto,paJ Az In mid bo WouId rotbar ha whip-
ped than attend funeral, and so he amused
himself by pairing his nails, talking to his horse,
&C., till the brief services were concluded
Within the small, ill-furnished room were few
poor needle and washer-women, with two or
three old and apparently Woodworking men,
compelled by necessity to spare the time they
could i'll afford Close to the cheap coffin,
looking very red, and smelling disagreeably of
the varnish stood a little brght-eyed boy. His
thick auburn hair hung in heavy curls along
his forehead, his dress was quite too thin for
the season. and his little naked feet were
chapped and swollen with the frost. He
seemed about eight years old though he might
have been younger, and, as he stood by the
head of the coffin, looked bewildcred and afraid,
and like the helpless little orphan that he was.
| The lid of the coffin was slipped back little,
! and n white cloth, notched around the edge,
lay over the face of the dead and the hands
were folded across the shrOuded bosom-at last
| in peace. No one seemed TO have any care Of
the little boy, and sometimes he would lift the
cloth from the face Of his mother and then,
seeing that she smiled not nor spoke, calling
him little Willie. NJ she was used, would shrink
away, his eyes full of tears.
The preacher prayed eloquently for the or
phap. that the wind might be tempered to the
sborn lamb. and that the fatherless child might
feel continually about him the arms OF Fa-
theirs love. But when the lid was screwed
down over the frozen features, and like child
lost in the wilderness he stood crying and
wripging his hands, il was not the arm OF that
mons man that was twined about him, draw
ing him tenderly away, while the old ladies
shook hands with each other, saying What
a beautiful prayer
When Mr.. McClary returned, he affected to
feel great sympathy for the orphan, and sor-
row for his absence at the time oi his mothers
death saving repeatedly, :" My Lord mother,
how unfortunate! ] wish could have been
with her in her last moments, for the sake OF
lanes poor fellow He is dead and gone, TO
he sure but his widow should have had some
fhe widow of James for whom he mani
tested such tender regard, had, during her
hard struggles Cfor her husband died when when
| little Willie was but six weeks old received
little aid or comfort from her rich brother-'n-
law: but now that she wanted nothing more,
he was safe in making professions
any son William he said, moving away
from he table as though grief would not let
him eat. adid you follow the remains OF your
amt 10 intermenti My daughter Mary. did
Won 20 tool On being answered in the afnrm.
alive he said, aThst was right my children !"
and presently added, sdid you hire car