The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-12-16
CHAPTER III.

| CHAPTER IT,
From the day that Mrs. Williams
placed Ronold's first five dollars worth
Of fruit on her stand, she had, she said,
a constant run of good luck The fruit
always turned out to be sound and of
fine flavor, and she really belived that if
she could have found room for a cartful,
she could, every day she lived, have sold
it long before night. The two half
eagles were in less than two weeks not
only doubled but trebled, and there was
nearly enough beside to replace the
, money she had insisted on lending him
to purchase a suit of clothes. Every
thing looked cheerful at home.
Before Ronald came, there was nc
one to kindle a fire for her, let the
weather be ever so damp and chilly,
when she went home at night Now,
instead of the lonely room, gloomy with
the gathering shadows of approaching
night, bright fire, and still brighter
face, and the music of pleasant voice,
were there to greet her. His spare
hours were spent in study, especially in
acquiring knowledge of arithmetic and
bookkeeping, in which, while his mother
lined, he had made such progress, that
he was able to proceed without a
teacher.
Two years had passed away, and Mrs.
!. Williams no longer sold fruit at stand
in the open air. A small dry good;
store had been opened, and on the day:
when the weather was pleasant, she and
Ronald had full employment in waiting
on customers. Children were sent by
their parents to buy such articles as
were needed, being sure that no advan-
tage would be taken of their inexpe-
rience or ignorance of prices. The sun
of prosperity continued to shine brighter
and brighter, and it was not many years
before they were able to remove to a
large and commodious building in a
more central part of the city.
A cold northwest wind had been
blowing all day, and as night approach
ed, rain intermingled with sleet, COM
menced falling 1t froze as soon as il
struck the pavement, so that it was soor
covered with a glazing of ice. The at
, tention of Ronald, who had stepped tc
the store door for something, was ar.
rested by an elderly gentlemanly on the
sidewalk. Though decently clad, he
had on DO outside garment, and by the
slow uncertain manner in which he pro-
ceeded, notwithstanding the inolemency
of the weather, it appeared as if he
knew not where to 90. Had there been
sufficient light, Ronald might have seen
that his couutenance was pale, haggard
and care worn. He had arrived nearly
opposite the door where the young man
stood, when he slipped and fell heavily
upon the pavement. In moment Ro-
nald was by his side and with no little
difficulty aided by Mrs. Williams, who
had now como out, assisted him to rise.
He had been a good deal injured by
his fall, and it required the united help
of Ronold and Mrs. Williams to enable
him to ascend the door steps. They
then assisted him to parlor back of
the store, and placed him on sofa,
which was drawn up in comfortable con-
tiguity to an open CRATE, where bright
coal fire difused genial warmth
Throughout the apartment.
"l will run for a physician" ," said
Ronald.
"No, no." said the old gentleman,
eagerly, and fixing his keen hawk-hke
eyes upon Ronold L am a beggar
and can pay no doctors bills"
Ronold, without needing the prohibi-
ton, left the room for the purpose
named.
"And you will never get cent for
taking me in," said he, addressing Mrs.
Williams. "Yoa had better have let
me remain in the street, where hunger
and cold would have soon finished me. "
Hunger did you sayi" inquired
Mrs. Williams.
eyes, have not tasted food to-day,
and but very little for number Of days.
II was the weakness caused by inanition,
as much as the icy pavement, which
caused my fall"
"Well, it does seem strange to me
that human being should come to such
straits as " suffer for food in this land