Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1852-12-24
The Lille Ontcast.
BY MRS. DrNIsoN.

J" S"y Nid uth " 10 uNVlnl0g
you give me-cuI wood, 60 after wafer, and do
all YOUR errands."
The troubled eyes Of the speaker were filled
with tears. lIwas lad that stood a, the outer
door, pleading with a kindly looking woman.
WHO still seemed 10 doubt the reality Of his good
intentions.
| The cottage sat by itself on u bleak moor, or
whu in Scotland would have been called such.
The time WAS near the laller end of September.
and fierce wind raItIed the bouphs of the only
Two naked trees near the house. and flew with
a shvering sound Into The narrow doorway. as
II seeking for warmth at the blazing fire within.
Now and then a 81 ow fake touched With ils
soft chill the cheek Of the listener. or whitened
the aogry redncss Of the poor boys benumbed
hands.
! The woman was evidently 10Th to grant the
boy request. and The peculiar look stamped
upon his features would have suggested TO sny
mind an idea Of depmvhy FAR beyond his wears.
! But her woman's heart could not resist The
sorrow ia those large. but by no means hand.
some gray eyes.
Come in at any rate I'LL the gaod man comes
home. There. sit down by the fire you lock
perlshng With the cold !" aud she drew rude
chair 10 the wurmesI corner then, suspiciousv
glaucing at the child from The corners Of her
eyes. she continued seIlng table for supper.
| Presently came the tramp Of heavy shoes
The door was swung open with quick Jerk, and
the "good mau" presented himself, wearied
with labor.
look OF intelligence passed between his
wife and himself; he TOO, scanned The bows
face with an expression NOT evncing salislac.
ton, but, nevertheless, made him come 10 The
table, and Then enjoyed the zesl with which he
dispatched his supper.
Day utter day passed, snd vet The boy begged
to be kept ''ony lIIl to morrow :" so the good
couple. alier due consideration, concluded thar
as long as he was so doclic, and worked SO
heartily, they would retain him.
One day in the middle of the winter, a ped.
lar. long accustomed to trade at The cottage,
made his appearance, and disposed of his goods
readily, rs if be had been waited for.
" You have boy out there, splitting wood,
see" he said, pointing to the yard.
Yes. do you know him ?''
&" | have seen him." replied the pedlar, eva.
svely.
"And where who is he what is he ?"
"A Jail brd;' and the pedar swung his pack
over his shoulder; that boy, young as he
looks. saw IN court myself. aud heard his sen.
Ience-'ien months He's hard one, you'd
do well 10 look carefully after him"
Oh there was something so horrible in the
word jaIl-thp poor woman lrembled as she laid
away ber purchase; nor could she be easy ill
she called the boy in, and assured him that she
knew tina, dark part of his history.
Ashamed, distressed, the child hung his
head; his cheeks seemed bursting with the hot
blood his lips quvered and anguish was paint
ed as wildly upon his forehead as if The word
we're branded into The flesh.
" Well, he muuered as If burden Of gull,
or y had suddenly rolIen OF, g | may as we'll
90 to ruin al once there's no use in my irving
10 do better every body hates and despises me
no body cares about mel may as well 60
TO ruin at once"
Tell me-" said tie woman who stood cfr
far enough for flgh, if thai should be necessary,
" hos came you 10 60 SO long 10 thai dreadful
place Where was your molher-where r.
"On ~ exclaimed The bov. with a burst Of
grief that was terrible to behold. " Oh ! han't
10 muIhtr! On haln', had 20 mother ever
suce was a baby. II Ia only had a mother"
he continued, his anguish growing vehement.
and the tears gushing nut rom his strange look.
| ing gray eyes, " wouldn't "A been bound out,
aud kicked. and cuf.d, and laid on To with
whips. | wouldn't "a been saucy, aud got
knocked down, aud run aWav, aud then stole
because was hungry. Oh ! haInt got hu
mother-l han't gt no muthev--l haven't had
no mnIher since was baby"
The strength was all gone from the poor bow,
and he sank on his knees, sobbing great chok-
ing subs, aud rubbing The hot tears away with
his poor knUckles. Add did that woman stand
there unmnved Did she coldly bid him pack
up and be off--,he ia,l.bird
No, no; she had been mother, and though
all her cqlldren slept under The cold sod in The
church ard, she was a mother still.
She wen. up 10 that poor boy. not to hasten
him away, bu. to lay her fUgers kindly, softly
on his head TO tell him To look up. aud from
hence(onh find 10 her a mother. Yes, she even
put her arm about the neck of that forsaken,
deserted child she poured from her mothers
heart sweet. womanly words, words OF counsel
and tenderness.
Oh. how deep was her sleep lha, nighG how
sofI her pillow! She had linked poor suffer
ing heart TO hers. by the most sllken, lhs strong
est bands of love she had plucked some lholns
from the path of lille, SHINING, but striving
mortal. None out the angels could witness her
holy joy, and not envy.
Did the boy leave heri
Never lie is with her still vigorous,
manly, promising youth. The low character
Of bis counlenance has given place to an open,
pleasing expression, with dspth enough to make
Il an interesting study. His fostes.fs,hsr 10
.