The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-12-31
THE LITTLE OUTCAST.

you wish-cut wood, 60 after water, and do
all your errands." "
The troubled eyes of the speaker were FILL
ed with tears. 1t was a lad that stood at the
outer door, pleading with kindly-looking
woman, who still seemed TO doubt the reality
Of his good intentions.
The cottage sat by itself on bleak moor,
or what in Scotland would have been called
such. The time was near the latter end Of
September, and a fierce wind ratified the
boughs of the two only naked trees near the
house, and fed with shivering sound into
the narrow doorway, sif seeking for warmth
at the blazing fire within.
Now and then a snowflake touched with
its soft chill the cheek of the listener, or
whtened the angry redness Of the poor boys
benumbcd hands. -'
The women was evidently 10th to grant
the boys request and the peculiar look
stamped upon his features would have sug-
gested to any mind an idea of depravty fur
beyond his years.
But her womans heart could not resist the
sorrow in those large, but by no means hand
some, gray eyes. ..... -.f ....r
"Colne in, at any rate, till the good man
comes home; there, sit down by the fire; you
look perishing with cold and she drew
rude chair up to the warmest corner, then,
suspiciously glancing Mt the child from the
! corners of her eyes, she continued setting
the table for supper. .... ..''..'
Presently came the tramp of heavy shoes;
the door was swung open with quick jerk,
and the good man" presented himself wearl-
led with labor.
A look OF intelligence passed between his
wife and himself he, too, scanned the boys
face with an expression not evidencng salts
faction, but, nevertheless, made him come to
the table, and then enjoyed the zest with
which he despatched his supper,
Day after day passed. and yet the boy beg
ged to be kept "only till morrow" so the
good couple, after due consideration, conclud-
ed that rs long as he was docile, and worked
so heartily, they would retain him.
One day, in the middle of winter, pedlar,
long accustomed to trade at the cottage,
made his appearance, and disposed of his
goods readily, as he had been waited for.
"You have boy out there splitting wood,
| see,p he said, pointing to the yard.
"Yes; do you know him!" IS
81 have seen him." replied the pedlar, eva
sively. -...
sand where who is he! what is he!"
"a Jail bird!' and the pedlar swung his pack
over his shoulder; that boy, young as he
| looks, saw in court myself, and heard his
sentence-'tcn months;' he's n hard one
you'd do well to look keerfully after him"
Oh! there was something so horrible in the
word Jail the poor woman trembed as she
| laid away her purchases, nor could she be ca
| sy till she called the boy in, and assured him
that she knew that dark part of his history.
s Ashamed, distressed the child hung down
his head; his cheeks seemed bursting with
his hot blood; his lips quivered, and anguish
was painted us wildly upon his forehead rs
| if the word were branded into his flesh.
"Well," he muttered, his whole frame re-
laxing as If burden Of guilt or JOY had sud
denly rolled off, 81 may Us well go to ruin at
once = there's no use in my trying to do bet
ter-everybody hates and despises me no
body cares about Inc. may as well go to
ruin Mt once" .a L.-
"Tsl me-" said the woman, who stood of
far enough for flight, if that should be neces-
sary--'how came you to 60 so young to that
dreadful placc' Where was your mother!
where" .. ....... ....-n ..r ..f
"Ohm exclaimed the boy, with burst of
grief that was terrible to behold, "oh! haint
no mother OIL haint had no mother ever
since was baby. IfFd cnly had mother"
he continued, his anguish growing vehement,
and the tears gushing out from his strange.
looking grey eyes, 81 wouldn't a been bound
out, and kicked and cutfed, and laid on to
with whips. wouldn't Il been sauey, and
got knocked down., and then run away, and
stole because was hungry. Oh! haint got
no motber-I haven't had no mother since
was n baby"
Tic strength was all gone from the poor
boy, and he sank on his knees sobbing great
choking sobs, and rubbing the hot tears away
with his poor knucklcs. And did that wo-
man stand there unmoved! Did she coldly
bid him pack up and be of = the Jail bird!
No, no; she had been mother, and, though
all her children slept under the cold sod in
the churchyard, she was a mother still AND
She went up to that poor hoy, not to has
ten him away, but to lay her tingcrs Kindly,
softly on his head tell him ID look up,
and from henceforth find IL her mother
Yes, she even put her arm about the neck 81
that forsaken, deserted child she poured
from her mothers heart sweet womanly
words, words of counsel, tenderness
Oh! how sweet was her sleep that night
how soft her pillow She had linked poor,
suffering heart to hers by the most silken, tho
strongest bands of love; she had plucked
some thorns from the path Of n little shining,
but striving mortal. None but the angels
could witness her holy JOY, and not envy. Be-
Did the boy leave her! ...... ...i...
Ncvcr---he is with her still avigorous,
manly, promising youth. The low character
ofhis countenancc has given place to an open
pleasing expression, with depth enoughto
make il an interesting study His ioster-fa.
ther is dead, his good foster mother aged
and sicdy, but she knows no want Tho
once poor outcast is her only dependence, and
nobly does he repay the trust
ale that saveth soul from death, hldeth
n multitude of sins."- 0fipe Branch.
RErRBuTroS.-Th Petersburg 1ntelli.
-, ,,,;,;,,, Al N ,ccas.ion of Innia M.