The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-06-16

JiHson, shall dozen children and their
mother win be quite burden on oakdale,
thoughP'
Mrs. Stanwood drew ber shawl sbout her.
and rushed out Of the ofsee; It seemed i'm.
possible 10 breathe In the presence Of thar
man; but the checking sensation did not
pass away when she found herself again 10
the street.
The next day the COW was sold, and for
tGnateiy she brought sum sufficient TO sat.
isfy the denands ofthe storekeeper and the
doctor, but nothing more. For few nights
the two little ones--Netlie and Harry, cried
themselves to sleep becsuse they could have
no milk for their suppefs, but very soon the
bit of dry bread yas eaten with great ayidi-
~, and when the -four barrel was empty, the
roasted potato, or the baked apple. -
! No doubt there were people In Oakdaie,
who bad they known the situation and real
character Of MIRA. Stanwood, woold hare re-
lieved her necessities.andin such manner,
too, that her sensitive heart would NOT have
suffered; but she discovered. on application
to some whom sfIe had considered her friends
for an employment to enable her 10 procure
bread for her children, that the idea which
Mr.. Jillson had thrown out. was cherished by
almost every one. mr.. Stanwood was very
social man, and he was known, and respect
ed by every body In Oakdale, while his wife
who was naturally rather reserved and retfr.
ing, was almost a stranger among the peo-
| pie; consequently the husband had all the
sympathy, while the poor suffering woman
richly deserved her fatel
September was fast passing sway. Half
the month was already gone. Very early
one morning, Mrs Slanwood arose from her
slcepless pillow, but instead Of preparing
breakfast, she sat dawn to piece Of sew.
ing she had procured from tailorts shop a
few days previous, and eagerly piled her
needle, though the trembling fingers seem
ed hardly able to draw the thread through
the thick, hard cloth. The poor woman
had nothing TO prepare for breakfast, for
the day previous Mr.. Jilson had forbidden
her to take anything more from the garden.
She had not eaten a morsel of food since
yesterday at noon, and Willie and Eusy bad
gone supperless to bed.
No tear came to her eye as she sat there
with tho fresh morning air tanning her pale,
sunken cheek, and the songs Of the early
birds filling her ear with melody; not even
when her glance strayed from the window
TO the pleasant scenery about the home, no
longer her own; only sigh, so low and
deep that II must have come from her in-
most heart, told how she was suffering: but
when light, quick step was heard beneath
her window, and, as size looked from IL,
little white face was upturned to hers, and
the low soft bleat for his companions came
to her ear, the tears did come fast and thick;
and opening the door, she stopped to caress
the pet lamb. He had been promised the
day before, to the butcher, but il seemed to
Mrs. Stanwood like putting her family to
dispose of him. Her husband had found
him on cold day in early spring, and had
brought him home, almost liieless; only the
tendereet care of herself and children had
mado him the healthful sprightly thing he
was, and go much was her family attached
to him, that only to keep from starvation
could she have consented to sell him. She
had hoped that the butcher would send for
him before the children walked, but their
voices we're slready heard, and Mr.. Brown
was not making his appearance.
'Last night" Mrs. Stanwood heard Will
lie saying to his brothers aud sisters, "last
night mother sent me with billet TO the
butchers. aid dent you think, Mr.. Browns
boy was killing iambs-dear little lambs,
almost ss white and pretty as Cossie is.-
Their eyes wefe so bright and they looked
so gentle and innocent when he took his
long sharp knife and drew it across their
necks! Oh! dreamed about 1t all night"
"Almost as white and pretty as Cossie
isl" sobbed little Susy.
"And did they diep" lisped Nettie.
"Yes, the blood ran all over their white
fleece" returned Willie, sand then their
eyes grew dim, and they could never stir a.
gain!"
"Well, it wasn't you, was il, Cossie!"
said little Harry, as he bounded into the
room, and twined his arms arotEd the neck
Of the pet lamb, burying his rosy face in
the snowy fleece. 'Nobody shall ever hurt
you, shall they, m other! and when my father
comes home, you shall eat milk again with
me, Cossiev,
Mrs. S'anwood put two melons on dish
which she placed in Willie's hand. "You
can make breakfast OF these, can you not,
children!" she asked. "You shall have
bread for dinner!"
The little things readily assented. awe
will go out under the tree, down by the
WE'LL" said Stephen; "come Cossie? and
Willie, carrying the dish, and Susy knife
to cot the melons, ran out OF the cottage.
They had hardly seated themselves on
the ground, when heavy footsteps were
near them, and looking up, they perceived
the burly form of Mr.. Brown, the hatcher,
approaching the house, followed by his boy
with q wheelbarrow. The older children
glanced at each other.
"They can't be coming after Cossie, can
they, Susyl'' Whispered Stephen, putting
his arms about the lamb, and pressing him
close TO his bosom. "What did mother
send a billet to him for, Williel"
Willie did not know. The knife dropped
from Susy's hand, and she sat anxiously gaz.
ing ON the butcher as he approached the cot
tage door, and at the first word which he ad-
dressed to her mother the child sprang to
her feet, and ran to her parents side; but
when Mr.. Brown looked at her and his great
dog came close before her. she dared not
speak, but stood pulling her mother by the
sleeve, and wiping with her apron the fast
flowing tears from her cheeks.
"There ma'am, is all can give your
said Mr.. Brown, extending his hand, on
which lay four half dollars. "Wool Is low,
and / could not afford to give you as much
as that, only want him to kill toahight"
How little Susy pulled ather mothers
sleeve, and how her tears sfresmed!
az must let you have him." returned Mrs.
Stanwood, s'or can give my children no
food to-day; but pay me all you can afford
for him sir! for know not where to obtain
ANYTHING moe tor my familyp
de- awav vnu 0reat butcher bov! ex-