The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-06-03
The LittIe PauPer.

iresnly Openeu grave utOOu Hs'io vShNePe
girl oil 1--WE years, the only mourner Tor the
Silent heart beneath. Ffiendless, hopeless,
homeless, she had wept until she had no
more tears TO shed, aud now she stood with I
her scanty clothing Auttering in the chill /
win :, pressing her little hands tightly over
her heart, as II to still its beating, /
'It's no use Frctting, saidthe rough man,
as he stamped the last shovel full of earth /
over all the child had left TO love; 'fretting |
won't bring dead folks 70 life; pity you
hadn't got no ships cousins somewheres TO
take you; It's tough world, this ere, tel
you'll don't see how ye're going to weather
1t. Guess I'll take ye round TO Miss fether-
bees; she's got a,,power ofchildren, wants
a hand to help her, 50 come along. ltyou
cry enough to float the ark it won't do you no !
pood.n Allie obeyed him mechanically, |
turning her head every few minutes 70 take
another and yet another look wnere her
mother lay buried.
The morning sun shone 10 upon an under
ground kitchen in the crowded city. mrs
Fetherbee, attired in gay colored calico
dress, with any quantity oftinsei lewelry, sat
sewing sonie showy cotton lace on cheap
pocket handkerchief. A boy Of FIVE years
was disputing with little girl Of. three about
an apple; from big words they had come to
hard blows; and peace was finally declared
| at the price Of an orange apiece, and stick
of candy-each combatant putting in for the
biggest.
Poor Allie with pale cheeks and swollen
eyelids, was staggering up and down the
floor under the weight Off mammoth baby,
who was amusing himself by pulling out at
intervals little handfuls Of her hair.
| 'Qaiet that child! can't YET said Mrs. Fcth-
erbee, in no very gentle tone. 'ldon't won
der the darling is cross to see such solemn
face. You must get little life into you, or
you won't earn the salt TO your porridge,
here. There, declare, you've half put his
eyes out with those. long curls dangling
round; come here, and have 'em cut of, they
don't look proper for a charity child" (and she
glanced at the short stubby crops on the
heads Of the little Fetherbees.)
Allies lip quivered, as she said, Mother
used to love to brush them smooth every
morning; she said they were like little dead
sisters; please don't said she beseechingly.
"But | tell YOU ! do please TO cut 'em, SC
there's an end to that said she, as the sever
al ringlets fell in shining heap upon the
loory and do, for creation sake stop talking
; about dead folks, and now eat your breakias
Iifyou want IT. forgot you hadn't had any
; there's some Of the childrens' left; il you're
: hungry 1t will go down, and If you amt yo'
! can 60 without f.t- -lt.
Poor Allie The dantiest morsel wouldn'
. have gone DOWN. her eyes filled with tear
D that wouldn't be forced back, and she sobbe'
out, 4 must cry, il youbeat me for Tiny hear
pains me SO bad
Hi-i-t-y, t-i-t-y! what's all thisp said
!, broad rosy faced milk-man, as he sat his shin
; = ing can down on the kitchen table;whatS al
i this, Miss Fetherbee! I'd Us lief eat pins an
~ ~ needles as hear child cry. Who is she
y (pointing at Allie,) and what's the matter O
. herp
;. why, the long and short Of it is, she's
poor pauper that we've taken in ont of chd'
;. ity, and she's crying at her good hck, that
= all, said the lady, with yexed toss Of tn
head. 'That's the way benevolence is a
ways rewarded; nothing on earth to-do her
but tend the baby, g. amuse the children, an
n run to the door, and wash the dishes, and dus
!, the furniture, and tidy the kitchen, and e
:. of few errands; ungrateful little baggage'
!. Jemmy's heart was as big as his farm
q (and that covered considerable ground;
i. glancing pitfully at the little weeper, he sal
a skillfully, that child's going to be sick, Mit
~ Fetherbee, and then what are you going to
a. with her!-besides. she's too young TO be I
much use to you; you'd better let nc TAX
her. 81. -uEff
e. We'll, l shouldn't wonder IL you was hu
s. right said the frightened woman; 'she
Is been trouble enough, already; PR give her
rs quit claim
in 'Will you 20 with me, my little maid
is said Jenny with a bright, good-natur'
i'm smile.
" Ifyou please said Allie, laying her lit
hand confdingly into his rough palm,
'Sit up Closer said Jenny, as he put oil
't. arm around her, to steady her fragile fgur
w as they ratified over the stony pavement
Ie, we shall soon be out Of this smoky old cit
ad (Consarn it'll always 4 0 as il ] was poison
W every time come into town. 3and then we
rs, see what sweet hay-felds, and new mil
a and clover blossoms and kind hearts will
u, for you-you poor little plucked chicke
nd Where did you come from whom you came
live with that old Jesabel!'
From my mothers gravei' said Allie.
W. W. poor thing! poor thing! said Jenny, wi
ee ing away a tear with his coat sleeve, we
eh never mind; wish hadn't asked you; a
-, always running my head agin beam. /
70 you love to feed chickens, eh! Didyou eV
=" milk cowl or ride on top hay cart! or
10 a berryng! Do you love bouncing red a
''' pies! and peaches as big as your fst' i sh'
90 hard If you don't have 'em all. Wha'
,r, come ofyour hair, child have you had 20
es head shavedP
en- Miss Fetherbee cut II off, said Allie.
To- The old serpent | wish I'd come in
It's little quicker. Was it your curls them youI
it 'uns was playing With Well, never min
e. said he, looking admirably at the sweet ia
before him, you don't need 'en; and tn
No. might get you to looking in the glass oftn
"s than was good for you. -
n well, here we are, declare; and the
=" stands my old woman In the doorway, shS
~, ing her eyes from the sun. ! guess 8
81, !! a. wonders where raised you!
IN Look here, Betsy! do you see this chi
The earth is fresh on her mothers grave.
tie She has neither kith nor kin. I've br
ny her from that old skinflint Of q Fetherbee
les and here she is; il you like her its we'll a
"a good, and il you don't she'll stay here j
nd the same; but know you pal,' said he cot
jte ingly, as he passed his brawny arm arou
hat her capacious waist, And now get
something that will bring the color to
civ cheeks; for, mind you, Ill have no ,O'
.cn slaves on my farm'
ng How swectly Allie'S little III
ew limbs rested in the fragrant lavendel
sheets! A tear fingered on her cheek,