The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-06-29
CHA PIER I.
The Christmas Supper.

The Christmas Supper.
Pclcg.-A homely name for a
homcly boy, but boy as good as he
was homcly. Pcleg Brown, or as
the school boys tauntingly called him.
because his complexion was nearly
the color of hazel nut, Brown Pc
leg, was the son Of a worse than
widowed woman, who lived in an
humble cottage on the outskirts of a
village situated upon the romantic
stream, Kishacoquilas, a Pcnlsyva-
mia tributary to the noble Juniata.
Peleg's mother, one Of those zen
tic women, who seem only able to
hold life in its sunshine aspects, but
whose experience is an evidence that
they have latent strength for cloud
and storm, was worse than widowed, il,
because her husband, John Brown,
had, for several years, been con
iirmed drunkard, dependent uron the
efforts of his gentle wife and feeble
son for his food, rai,ncnt and shelter,
as well as for the means, obtained
through force and stealth, by which
lie purchased, as the village grog-
shop, the numerous drams that rcll-
dered his wife creature of sorrow.
and his son L youth Stunned and for
3 sss99ken by the boys Of his age.
;SsitsSS was Chlistmas-a holiday to
81 sIl Ss@ S;Sssf boys-but n day Of labor to
EsSs EssSSss Brown. With Ills saw buck
Ss Ss:s3is:ilSis$s5slis shoulder and his wood saw
SsfSsSlnis arm, Pclcg trudycd tl,ro'
n ssSssSsSES$SssSSw, from one house to another
si,Ss SSssS a job. A pile Of wood in
Va Ess the mansion Of enc of the
weGSSsSSest-:neh 81 the rina..c attract.
cd his attention, and he begged the
privilege of saving it into proper
stovelcusths. lie was told that lie
might carry it into the backyard,
saw it, and pile i'll the wood-housc.
TWAS "a good job, Pclcs was small
boy, but he though how many com
forts he might buy his mother with
the money the job would bring him,
and, with cheerful heart, and
willing hand, he went to work. Noon
came and he sat down on his saw
buck to eat his frugal dinner. 1t was
clustering day, and the snow,
whirled from the tops Of the houses,
fell upon Pelcg, Until he looked as if
he were mlllcr's apprentice, but he
needed not the snow or the cold, and
was hurrying with his rcpast, that he
might have the more time to work,
when he found himself face to face,
with handsome, well dressed boy,
about his own age, but of much
larger size, who said to him
lIalloa, little fellow, how much
did you have to spend for Christmas"
Il had nothing, sir, honestly an
swcred Pcley, somewhat astonishcd
at the abrupt question, but if |
work we'll today, mother will make
INC nice pic when | go home
LA, ha,' cried the wcll.dresscd
boy work or Christmas and get
a nice pie for it. You'le little un-
fortunate. Where do you live p
,Elis.was- sara sara with an air, as If the
speaker regarded Pclcg a curiosity !;
but Pelcg was too honest to notice
such irony, and he answered frankly.
Il live i'll the little house back Of
the church OH the common
'Oh! then you are tue son of
drunken Brown. No wondcr you
don't have any money to spend on
Christmas. L had three dollars =
my father amt drunkard.'
pclcg was hurt -sorcly hurt but
he thought Of his mother and uttered
no retort. lie made his saw run
glibly through the wood, and paid no
attention to the careless boy that had
tauntcd him. When he turned
around to get another stick Of wood
to lay upon his buck, lie noticed that
his tormcntor was gone.
This boy was the only son Of the
merchant Tor whom Pclcy vas saw.
ing wood. When he left the yard.
ilc ran into the parlor, where his
mother, father and sistc. were sitting.
and marching up 70 the latter, lie
Whispered,
'Thee's character in the yard
Jane, a chap 'hat'll jnst suit you
lie is saving wood on Christmas tc
geta pic at night. Amt he a char
actor?'
What charactcr,' inquired tho
father, catching the last words
come, Frank, What mischief hav,
You bccp up to now ?
NolhlnS, Pa, returned The boy