The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-02-19
FOR THE BOYS g. GIRL
The Little Outcast.

~ .'''''N' Is VI 'li' >ptdhCI Wtlt llii-
81 with tears. 1t was a lad that stood at the
outer door, pleading with a kindly look inc
conan, who still seemed to doubt the reality
Of his good intentions
The cottage at hy itself on bleak moor
"r what might have been called such in Scot
land. lSlc time was near the latter end Of
Sep rmhc,S and fierce wind ratified III,
bough> OF the two only naked trees near tn,
house. and fled with >hi.crnr sound int
the narrow doorway a. il seeking for warmth
at the hlazina fire within.
Nox and then snow flake touched with ITS
soft chill the cheek OF the liStcner,or whltcne'
the angr, rcinr,> OF til" poor boys bcnnnbe'
HANDS.
The woman was evidently 10th to grant the
foy', request. and the peculiar look stamped
uron HI features would have suggested to any
mind an idea of dcpra,ity which was far be-
!ond HI years.
But her womar!S heart could not resist the
sorrow in tho,o large but by no means hani-
come eyes
Come in at any rate till the good man
comes home; there, sit down by the fire, You
look pcr>hin. with cold and then she drew
\ rude char TO the warmeSt corner, then suS-
pciou>lv alancing at the child from the cor
,.r. Of her ewes, she continued setting the
table for supper.
Presently, came the tramp of heavy shoes.
the door swung open with quick jerk, and
the .2ood man" presented himself wcarlcd
with labor,
look OF Intelligence passed between his
wife and him>clt-he too scanned the boy )
l..ce with look not c>incins satisfaction. but
h.. nevertheless, made him come to the table.
and then enioved the zcst with which he dis
patched his supper.
Day after day passed. and Vet the 10y be-
g.d to he kept only till tomorrow. 50 the
good couple. after due consideration, conclud-
ed that a, long as he was docile and worked
50 heartily they would retain him.
One day in the middle of winter pcdar.
lonr accustomed to trade al the cottage made
rs appearance and disposed OF his goods read
i!,. As il he had been waited for.
"You have boy ont there splitting wood
see" he said, pointing to the yard.
Yes, do YOU know him"
Il have seen him." replied the pcdIar G.
vas'cly.
And where who is he? what is he"
A Jail bird :" and the pcdIar swung his
pack over his shoulder: that boy, Young as
h: looks, saw in court myself. and heard his
e,ntcncc-ten monthS-hes hard one--you'd
do we'll to look kccrtuIlv after him."
Oh there was something SO horrible in
the word jail-the poor woman trembled as
she laid away her purchase, nor could she be
easy till she called the boy in. and assured
him that she knew the dark part of his histo-
~.
Ashamed and distressed. the boy hung his
head; his checks seemed bursting with hot
blood; his lips quivcrcd. and anguish was
painted as wildly upon his forehead, as if the
words were branded into the flesh.
WELL" he muttcrcd his whole frame re-
l,xing as if burden of guilt or JOY bad just
rolled of,''I may as wei! % to ruin at once -
there's no use in my irwin" to do bctter-ev-
cry body hates and deSpiSes me-nobodv
care, about me- NAV as we'll 90 to ruin at
once"
Tell me-" said the woman. 'how came
YOU to 20 So Young to that dreadful place =
Where was your mothcr?"
"Oh" exclaimed the bov with burst Of
grict that was awful to behold, oh. IhurcIi'
any MOTHER haven't had mother since
wa baby Ifrl only had a mother" h,
continued, hi anguish growing vehement s
the tears gushing out from his strange look
ing srev ewes, IL wouldn't been bound on,
and kicked. and cufed. and laid on to wit
whips wouldn't been saucy and got knock
ed down. and then run away, and then Stol
because was HUNGRY. Oh haint cot n
mother haven't had mother since ! wa
baby"
The strength was all gone from the poo
boy. and he sank on his knees sobbnr grca
choking sobs, and rubbing the hot tears ava
with his knuckes. And did that woma
stand there unmovcd? Did she coldy tel
him to pack up and be of'-the jail bird?
Mono: She had been a mother, & thong
all her children slept under the cold sod i
the churchyard- wa mother still
She went up to that poor DO, not to haste
his dcparturc.hut to lay her hand kindly ,sot,
ly on his head to tell him to look up. an
from thcncrtor,h to find in her mother
". he even put her arm about the neck Of
t.It t"r>akcn. deserted child she poure
FROM her mothers heart sweet. womanly word,
words of counsel and tenderness
Oh how sweet was her sleep that nigh
how ,ott ncr pillow, She had linked a poo
Suffering heart to hers bv the most >;lkcn.th
strongest bands of love; She lad plucke
some ti'orns from the path OF little SHINING
tnt striving mortal. None but the angel
could witness her holy joy and not envy.
Did the boy leave her.
Ar'er-ht : with he stu. yiroron.
manly, Promising youth. The low characte
e: IL .orntenancc has gwen place to an oper