Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-15
From the Boston Olive Branch
THELITTLE oUTCAsr.
ny Mrs. DENlsos.


''MArN'T l stay, ma'am? I'll do any
thing YOU give me-cut wood, go after
water, and do all your errands.'
The troubled eyes of the speaker were
filled with tears. 1t was a lad that stood
at the outer door, pleading with a 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 car
led such. The time was near the latter
end of September, and fierce wind ratified
'lhe boughs of the only two naked trees
near the house, and dew with shivcring
sound into the narrow doorway, as if seek
ing for warmth at the blazing fire with
in.
Now and then q snow flake touched
with its soft chill the cheek of the listener,
or whiteued the angry redness of the poor
boy benumbed hands.
The woman was evidently 10th to grant
the boys request, and the peculiar look
stamped upon his features would have
suggested to any mind an idea of deprav-
ity far beyond his years. liza
But her woman's heart could not resist
the sorrow in those large, but by no means
handsome gray eyes.
Come 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 cor
ner; then, suspiciously glancing at 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 a
quick jerk. and the ''good man" present
ed himself wearied with labor. IN
A look of intelligence passed between
his wife and himself: he too scanned the
boys face with an expression not evincing
satisfaction, but, nevertheless, made him
come to the table, aud then enjoyed the
zest with which he dispatched his sup
per.
Day after day passed, and yet the boy
begged to be kept comfy till Tomorrow
so the good couple, after due consideration,
concluded that as long as he was SO docile,
and worked so heartily they would retain
him. r#a
One day in the middle of the winter, a
pedler, long accustomed to trade at the
cottage, made his appearance, and dis
posed of his goods readily, as if he had
been waited for.
"You have a boy out there, splitting
wood see," he said, pointing to the
yard. a.r-E.
Ives; do you know him?"
81 have seen him" replied the peddler
evasively.
''And where-who is he? what is hep
ga Jail bird;'' and the peddlar swung
his pack over his shoulder; ''that boy,
young as he looks, 1 saw in court myself,
and heard his sentance-'ten months
he's hard one. You'd do well to look
keerfully after him.
OH there was something so horrible in
the word iail-the poor woman trembled
as she laid away her purchases; nor could
she be easy till she called the boy in. and
assured him that she knew that dark part
60fhis history. s.gs ls-.-.t
Ashamed, distressed, the child hung
his head; his cheeks seemed bursting with
b the hot blood; his lips quiyered, and an
guish was painted as wildly upon his
q forehead as if the word were branded in
to the flesh. .-.-.. -
@'Weh," he muttere6, his whole frame
pelaxing as ifa burden of guilt or Joy had
suddenly rolled off. ''.I may as well GO
to ruin at once-there's no use in my
T trying to do better-eyerybody hates and
dcspises me-nobody cares about mol
may as well go to ruin at once