The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-02-02
sY, COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL, GENERAL AND


was able, and had carried hi II to the
school house.
The children were wholly unnoticed by
their companions, except now and then
! when they were rudely pushed by some
one who wished stand near the fire. The
| little girl WAS endcavoring, in a low whis-
per, to persuade her brother to eat the
thin slice of dry bread their mother had
given them for their dinnir.
Eat it, dear Charley :" she would sav,
sit is sweet and good =" and to the hungry
child it seemed indeed a tempting morscl
''and mother will have something nicer
still for our supPers tonight you know
she promised it"
But the delicate appetite of the sick
boy refused the dry, hard food
"Oh, Mary, can't. it makes me sick to
look mt it; but if only had an apple
see that red apple in Bcrnard's hand -
Oh, if | only had an apple, Don't you
| think he woHId give Inc a piece of ifyou
only asked him 2" won't YOU ask him,
Mary 2"
The poor child ! it was dreadful task,
for little proud heart was beating under
that mean coarse attire; but when she
looked into the sad, wistful eyes Of her
little brother, she summoned courage to
do it.
"Charlcy is sick, Bernard ~ she said,
she cannot eat his dinner, and he eat no
breakfast either this morning. Will YOU
give him little piece of your apple 7"
The children were so much surprised to
see little Mary Gordon, who was treased
with such neglect by her schoomatcs that
she seldom vcntured to address one Of
them, speaking To Bernard Trask, who
considered himself so much superior to
any OF his companions, that they paused
III their play and listened to her words.-
Poor little Mary her heart almost failed
her at the sudden silence, and she could
hardly taltcr out her request
The whole group laughed aloud as they
heard it, and "Bcggar, beggar.' was re-
Peated by more than one thoughtIess
child.
But there was something in her coun-
tcnancc which attracted the little boys at
tcntion, and he stood twirlinm the apple
hy the stem, and looking in her now
crlmS"u"d face; perhaps he would have
put it into her hand. hut while he was
hcsitating, an older boy offered him two
cents 'or it, and Bernard gave up the fruit
and deposited the coppcrs in his pocket.
Just rs his fathers beautiful hav horse and
handsome sleigh came up to the door.
Bernard was wrapped up warmly in n
buffalo robe and carried to his home; but
when he sat at his fathers table, covered
as it was with dclicacicS. he could not holp
remembering how Mary Gordon looked
as he stepped out Of the school room door
standing by her little brother with one
arm about his neck, and wiping his eyes
with her apron, though she could not re-
strain her own fast flowing tears. The
two cents were very heavy in the little
boys pocket, and he could not relish his
dinner.
Mr.. Trask could not allow her darling
To 90 out again in the snow that dav, bat
the next morning Bernard heard that
Charley Gordon had sobbed himself sick
the afternoon before, that when the school
was half done Mary had carried him home
in her arms; and when their mother re-
turned from her work, an hour after. she
found her children almost frozen. In two
days more, little CT farley was dead.
II did not know Mrs. Gordon was so
poor" remarked Mrs. TraSk. at is said
those children have been suffering all win
ter for food and clothing. Why have
YOU never said anything ahoutit, Bernardo
You must have known how poorly they
were cl I'd, at least"
TO DE CoNTINUED.