The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-07-09
THE LITTLE PAUPER.

freshly opened grave stood a little delicate
girl OF five years, the only mourner for the
silent heart beneath Friendless, hopeless
homeless, she had wept till she had no more
tears to shed, and now she stood with her
scanty clothing fluttering in the chill wind
pressing her little hand tightly over her heart
as if to still its beating.
'lts no use fretting," said the 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 to life; pity you hadn't
got no ships cousins somewhere to take you;
its tough world, this ERE, tell We; don't
see how ye're going to weather it. Guess I'll
: take ye round to Miss Fetherbee's, she's got a
power of children and wants hand to help
J, her, so come along. If you cry enough to
tioat the 9rk II wen't do you no gcoap Allie
/ oSsyed isim mechanically, turning her head
every few minutes to take another, and yet
i another look where her mother Law buried
The morning sun shone in upon an under
ground kitchen in the crowded city, Mrs.
Fetherbee, attired in gay colored calico
dress, with any quantity of tnsel jewelry, sat
sowing some snowy cotton lace on a 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
condy-e combatant quitting in" for the
biggest.
Poor Allie, with pale cheeks and swollen
eveiids was staggering up and down the
}ioor under the weight of mammoth baby
who was amusing himself, pulling out at
intervals little handfuls of her hair.
tl.,t IL Il
Fetherbee, in no very gentle tone. Il don't
wonder the daring is cross to see such SOL
emn face. You must get little life into you
somehow, or you won't earn the salt to your
porridge, here. There, declare, you've half
put his eyes out with those long curls dang
| ling round; come here, and have 'em cut off;
they don't look proper for a charity child"
(and she glanced at the short stubby crops on
the head of the little Fetherbee's)
Allies lip quivered MS she said, "Mother
used to love to brush them smooth every
morning; she sad they We're like little dead
sisters; please DON'T" said she, beseechngly.
"Bat tell you do please TO cut 'em, so
there's an end of that" said she, as the sever
al ringets fell in a shining heap on the
kitchen floor, "and do, for creations sake,
stop talking about dead folks, and now eat
your breakfast if you want it; forgot you
/ hadn't any-there's some of the childrens
left; if you're hungry it will 90 down, and if
yo amt you can do without"
| Poor Allie! The daintiea morsel wouldn't
hF,a "gone do.on;" her eyes filled with tears
that tcouldn't be forced back, and she sobbed
aYt j mwstery, il you beat me Zoe it---sny
sheast pains me so bad'
"H-i-ty-T-i-t-yl what's all this" said a
broao-faced, rosy milkman, as he sat his
shining can down on the kitchen table;
"whats all this, Miss Fetherbee! I'd as lief
eat pins and needless as hear child cry.-
Who is She" pointing at Allie, "and what's
the matter with her"
"Why, the long and short of it is, she's a
poor pauper that we've taken in oM of chdritb
and she's crying at her good luck, that's ALL"
said the lady, with vexed toss of her head.
"That's the way benevolence is always re-
warded; nothing on earth to do here but to
tend the baby, and amuse the children, and
run to the door, and wash the dishes, and
dust the furniture, and tidy the kitchen, and
go of n te'o arrandS; ungrateful little bag
gage~
Jimmy's heart was as big as his farm, (and
that covered considerable ground3 gsncing
| pitltully mt the little weeper, he said skifuy,
THAT child's going to be sick, Miss Fetherbee,
and then what are you going to do with her!
besides she's too young to be OF much use to
yOW you'd better let me take her"
swell, shouldn't wonder if you was half
right" said the frightened woman; "she's
been trouble enough already, I'll give her
"quit claim"
"Will you 60 with me, little maid!" said
Jenny with bright, good-naturcd smile.
"lf you please" said Allie, LAYING her little
hand confidngly in his rough palm.
"Sit up Closer" said Jenny, as he put one
arm round her, to steady her fragile figure, as
they ratified over the stony pavements; we
shall soon be out of this smoky old city,.
Conson il! always feel MS if was poisoned
every time come into town; and then we'll
see what sweet hay-felds and new milk and
clover-blossoms and kind hearts will do for
you-you poor little plucked chicken Where
did you come from when you came TO live
with that old Jezebed"
"From my mothers grave" said Allie.
"Poor thingl poor thingp said Jenny |
wiping away tenr with his coat sleeve
SWELL never mind; wish hadn't asked YOU; |
I'm always running my head agn beam.
Do you like to feed chickens, heyl Did you
ever milk cowl or ride on top u hay-cart' or
go berrying! Do you love bouncing red
apples! and peaches us big as your fist! 1t
shall 90 hard if you don't have 'em all
What's come of your hair, child! have you
had your head shavedp
"Miss Fetherbee cut it off," said Allie.
"The old sarpent wished I'd come in
little quicker. Was it your curs them young
'uns was playing withl We'll, never mind"
said he, looking admiringly at the sweet face
before him, "you don't need 'em; and they
might get you to looking in the glass oftener
than was good for you"
"Well, here we are, | declare: and there !
stands my old woman in the doorway, shad-
ing her eyes from the sun. guess she
wonders where raised you" 49, If
"Look here, Betsey, do you see this child
The earth is fresh on her mothers grave. a
She has neither kith nor kin. I've brought {
ler from that old skin.fint of Fetherbee's, t
md here she is: if you like her it's well and s
good, and if you don't she'll stay here just the h
same; but know you ,oiH," said he coaxingly c
is he passed his brawny arm round her capa- n
,ious waist; and now ret something that will | I