The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-11-01
CHAPTER III.
THE BIRTH-NIGHT PARTY.

THE BIRTH-NIG HT PARTY.
Spring bad GOMEZ Birds sung swecuy in the
bushes and modest flowers were spiinging to new
life in the narrow beds around the pretty cottsge
where dwelt little Peleg, and bis mother but
within there was sadness, sorrow and death
There lay body, prepared for the narrow bed
appointed for all the living" from which there is
no nelrllfc-the Spirit uHprepared had been lib
Grated by violence, from the bonds which confin
ed 1t to earth aud was now where il Witnessed
in all dreadful reality the degrading results Of
those habits which debsse high res,lv and yield
holy pleasures, for the qualification uflow passions
and groveliiug appetes.
! The husband and father lal been found dead
on the highway between the village grpg shop
and bis home,-his death was a VIZ, mt Cne--what
man who ever died Of the direct influences o! in
tcScatIon did not have violent death
The funeral was not numerously attended rom
the church yard 10 their ssdtlencd home, but one
person accompanied the ehisf fmourncrs that one
was Jane fridors She was welcomed to the cot
tage in II amer which showed che was frequent
but never n tedious visitor.
"You have been So Kind to U.s." said Peleg-
You are a little girl not bigger than | am, but
You can do so much.'
'"'''' 10 hlliu w titp' he IN iNf, NIu
and have something to do with. If you were
as rich as AN, you could do great deaf more
| than ! do"
Hi9l ,ael thssna ssaI ! II 40 ..a.st.' >
| perhaps YOU can do something for some Of my
folks some day" returned Jane
But you're So rich, You II never be poor, and
what can DO | must do for tie poor | never
can forget the time when vase poor dIunkard's
son If live to be u hundred years old, aud oct
as rich as Stephen Grari,' answered Prleg
I've read in my books. Pelcg" said Jane, "of
many rich people becoming poor You nor
don't know what may happen, but | must run
home now. Good bye Pel'g and good bye Mrs
Brown"
Good bye, my little be,cf,ctress," said Mrs
/ Brown.
pelcg followed Jane 10 tie garden gate, and
there said good bye, as Jane went tripping over
tho common towards the village In a momcn,
she cried "releg Peleg'"
rcleg came to meet her wen she whispered,
as il the wind must not catcl the sound aud bear
it to other ears.
"rve thought Of somethinh Pcleg-Tve some.
hing to tell you, Pelcg-br won't tell it now
to morrow, Peeg to.morrw"
And although the boy male an effort to detan
her in moment she was tripping across the com.
mon again. Pelcg could noIimagine why Jane
should not tell him then, II SO had any thing i'm. !
por'ant to communicate, nor vas he able to con.
lecture what she might han to tell him. He
went back 10 tho cottage, lat said nothing Of
James conduct, determined nat until he knew
her secret, he would keep hhown |
When Jane reached home she found that her
father and mother haIjlst taken dinner, sud were
in the p1l'or. She AZ her dinner in haste, fear.
ing that her father wnlll 90 . the store before ,
she could see him. Wien ,h. was ready to en-.
Ter the pnrlor, he wa still at home however and
she greeted him in lr most pleasant manner. ,
And where ha'eyou been roaming to-day,
Jane I" inquired Mr,Prdore
II went 10 Mr. Brwns funeral"
"The Browns hay become great fvorites Of
yours. Jane"
"They are nice peple father, and I could not
neglect the mother, nj that honest little boy, Jus,
because Mr.. Brown US a drunkard"
"Well-wel', Janeou cant be Frank, and |
suppose you must ha, your whims, don't ex
peet much ofyou'
Now, pa, don't beros,. or scold me to-day"
said Jane, walking uronflentially to her faith.
er and placing her Ind on lis knees. Il have
something to ask ofya"
Mr. Prdore was nn who, with all his harsh.
ness to Jane, loved to ilulge her, He was touch.
ed by her winning ma,er, and said smiling
"Well Jane, am !, in bad humor, and it
would not be strangef garnted you favor,
notwithstanding you ke been truant to- day"
NO, pa, mother sail might go to the funeral :;
but don't want to as anything for myself
heard one of the clcrk,ay. this morning, that
boy was needed at thdtorc. Won't you let that
little Peles Brown, cont He'll work hard, faith.
er, and know he's host"
"Well-wll, Jane III Mr. Pridor., ~ should
think you were gettins,mlar with the Browns,
the first we know, thistle Peleg will be beau
cfyours drunksrlss waiting upon my daush.
! ter"
"No-no, father; Tasure never thought Of
havin beau. don't ant a beau" interrupted
Jane, in her simplCity,pt seeing the bearing of
her fathers objections But, pa do give this boy
a place. He supports mother, and I'm sure
| he's honest I
"You'vc set your hca on it, Jaue. Perhaps
I'll take this fellow llhs about it ,h, evening"
THANK you, pa not tmyself but Tor the poor
boys widowed mother, hid Jane following her
father as he walked ,hngh the hall, on his way /,
to the counting room ofc firm Of Pridcre 4 Co ,
Whether Mr. Pridorc tide any inquiries respec' !
ting Pclcg Brown, he nar chose to disclose, but ,
certain it is that, on the orrow Jane sent note U
to the boy which. when lopend it, with beat. i
ing heart. and glstcnipsye, 10 found to contain
the following words:
"DEAR Princ IL coul'not come to see you n
to day and tell you that srct go have sent th, n
note. You arc to live aur h,use--no YOU are Il
TO work IN the store, NJ live n, home il YOU "A
please. viii you come Don't say no got h
tue place for you, from, T Come this afternoon I.