Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-08
Gbuitr IitRraturR.
The Little Pauper,

The following touching and over TRUE tale
will not only fill the eye but suggest pre-
cious lessons to the heart. Alas, how many
unpitied, motherless Allies are perishing,
and no generous Jem or Betsev at hand to
save them and rear them into angels. Our
sketch is from the Boston Olive Branch.
The day was gloomy and chill. At the
freshly opened grave stood delicate little
girl Of FIVE years, the only mourner for the
silent heart beneath. FriendIess, hopeless,
homeless, she had wept till she had no more
tears to shed, and, now she stood with her
scanty clothing futtering in the chill wind,
pressing her little hands tightly over her
heart as if to still its beating
az nj 'sUs5r1rPca int
over all the child had left to love fretting
don't bring dead folks to life; pity you hadn't
gotno ships cousins somewheres to take you !;
its tough world, this'ere I tell ye; l don't
see how ye'er going to weather it. Guess
I'll take ye round to Miss Fetherbee's, she's
cot power of children and wants hand to
help her, SO come along. If you cry enough
to float the ark it won't do you no good
Allie obeyed him mechanically, turning her
! head every few minutes to take another, and
yet another look where her mother lay bur-
/ led.
The morning sun..shone in upon an utder-
ground kitchen in the crowded city. Mrs
Fetherbee, attired in gay colored calico
dress, with any quantity Of tinsel jewelry
sat sowing some snowy cotton lace on cheap
pocket handkerchief. A boy Of five years
was disputing with a little girl of three
about an apple; from big words they hac
! come to hard blows; and peace was finally
declared at the price of an orange apiece
and a stick of candy-each combatant put
!, ting in for the biggest.
Poor Allie, with pale cheeks and swollel
/, eyelids, wss staggering up and down tn
:, floor under the weightof mammoth baby
: who was amusing himself, pulling out at il
' tervals little handfuls Of hair.
: 'Quiet that child can't ye?' said Mrs
!, Fetherbee, in no very gentle tone. Con
7 wonder the darling is cross to see such
e solemn face. You must get little life int
: = you somehow, or you won't earn the salt
:. your porridge, here. Then l declare, you '
e half put his eyes out with those long cur
, dangling around; come here, and have'eI
y cut off /; they don't look proper for CHART
N child , (and she glanced at the short, stu
at by crops on the heads of the little Fethe
" " bees.)
Of 81 Allies lip quivered, as she said, Moth
to used to love to brush them smooth eve
ne morning; she said they were like little des
ng sisters please DON'T said she beseechingl
S. But tell you [ do please to cut'em,
Il there's an end of that said she, as the Sc
eraI ringlets fell in a shining heap on t
%, kitchen floor; and do for creations sal
n9 stop talking about dead folks, and now {
10 70. your breakfast if you want it; [ forgot y
he hadn't had any-there's some Of the ch
ief dren's left if you'er hungry it will 60 dov
ed and if you amt you can 90 without
he Poor Allie The daintiest morsel would
ed have gone down. her eyes filed with tel
ne that wouldn't be forced back, and she sobt
ne out, | must cry if you beat me for it
;na heart pains me so bad.'
) a 'H-i-t-y-T-i-t-y! what's all this sai'
ing broad faced, rosy m1ilkman, as he sat
on shining can down on the kitchen tao
lily what's all this, Miss Fetherbee I'd
re- lief eat pins and needles rs hear child I
,om Who is she,' pointing at Allie, and VIII
: - the matter of her?
her why, the long and the short of it
and she's poor pauper that we've taken in
nor. of charity. and she's crying at her good II
So that's ALL said the lady with vexeG tos
lore her head. That's the way benevolence is
OF ways rewarded; nothing on earth to
and here, but tend the baby, and amuse
;alo -in' children, and run to the door, and wash
'.u en- dishes, and dust the furniture, and tidy
her kitchen, and 60 few arrands; ungra
lyed title baggage?