Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-04-20
Jane Hall, the Honest Girl.

er died. He was poor man, but he was one
who loved and feared God, and loved to read his
Bible and to pray to God. When he was well
he used to work hard, and then Jane and her mo-
Their had good food to eat and clothes to wear !;
but one day he went out into the woods to cut
down some trees, and the axe struck his leg and
cut it to the bone. Some men took him home,
but his leg grew more and more sore, and at last
it was cut Off
Then he grew more sick every day and when
he was told that he could not live but few days
he called his wife and little Jane to the side Of his
bed, and told them that he must die; and who will
take care of you when / am gone " said he.
"God will take care of us" said James mother.
eyes, God will take care Of you" said the poor
man, 'if you love and serve him; the will Of the
Lord be done" Soon after this, he babe them
good bye and died.
Poor little Jane cried very much when she saw
her dear father laid in the ground; but her moth
er told her that his soul was not there. His body
was laid in the ground but his soul had gone to
be happy with God, and he would never be poor
or sick, and never would suffer any more
ooh" said little Jane, Il wish we could go
there too, for we shall always be poor, now that
father is gone"
"God will take care of U.S." said her mother, as
she took little James hand in hers, and led her
from the grave.
James mother found some work to do, but she
had to work very hard to get money to buy food
to eat, and clothes to wear, and wood to keep them
warm-for it was very cold, and the snow was
very Deep and the wind blew through the poor
house in which Jane and her mother lived
AT last, one very cold day, when they had nc
food to eat, James mother went to take home some
work she had done for a lady. The snow was
very deep, and Jane took little spade, and tried
f,,,b ar 10Th ts
get into the road. After she had gone, Jane found
some chips and sticks, and tried to make a little
fire to warm her mother when she came home.
When her mother came in, she said 'Jane deal
am very sick and very cold; help me to bed"
Jane did all that little girl could do for hel
mother, and then she said:
Smother you told me you would buy some tea
and some bread with the money which the lady
would pay you"
"She paid me no money, my poor child" said
her mother; 'the lady was not al home, and had
to leave my work"
"Oh dear what shall we do?" cried little Jane
"God will take care Of us, my child" said hel
mother.
"Oh mother, that is what you always say" said
Jane; shut God does not take care of us. You
are sick, and we are poor and cold, and L am SC
very, very hungry"
"Hush, Jane, hushw said her mother; ''you
must not talk so. Has not God taken care Of us
so far? We still have place to live in and he
has not yet left us to starve. Come here, my
child, and kneel down by me- and we will pray
God to take care of us, and to forgive you for the
bad thoughts that are in your heart"
The tears ran down James cheeks as she knelt
down by her mother, and then she got into bed
and they tried to get warm. Jane soon cried her
self to sleep, and forgot how cold and hungry she
was till morning came.
When she awoke, she found her mother was
much worse, and a poor woman who came in said
all she wanted was some good food and warm tea
and she would soon be well. Then said Jane
"Oh, mother, may go to the lady who owes you
the money, and ask her for it, and buy some tea
and bread? Her mother said she might 90 and
told her where to find the ladys house. SO Jane
put on her bonnet and her shawl, and went to find
the house of the lady. In about an hour she came
back with some bread and some meat and some
tea, and a little broth in a small tin vessel
Her mother was lying with her eyes shut and
her face was so very pale that poor Jane really
thought she was dead. She ran up to the bed
and said, "Open your eyes, dear mother! See
see what nice Things i have for you" But her
mother did not move nor seem to hear her. Jane
then put some of the broth on the fire, and as soon
as it was was warm, she took it to her mother,
and put some in her mouth. Soon her mother
looked up and seemed TO feel better. Then Jane
made some tea, which her mother drank, and she
then showed all the nice things she had brought.
."rhen you got the money, did you, my child P"
asked her mother, in a weak voice.
"No, mother, got no money!" said Jane.
"Then where did you get all these nice things? 7"
said her mother.
Little Jane had taken off her shoes, which were
wet and full of snow and she said SNOW, mother,
while warm my hands and feet will tell you
all. The lady had gone out of town, and the cross
man at the door would not even let me go in to
warm, but shut the door in my face Then
cried, for l could net help it, was so cold and
hungry. AS came away, had to pass the shop
of baker, and there on a stand by the door, was
a nice loaf of fresh bread, and thought how nice
it would taste, was so hungry But called to
mind the words you had often taught from Gods
holy book, Thou shalt not steal and did not
look at the loaf again, but came away"
Thank God for that, my child said her mother
"By-and-by, little girl went by me, who was
taking walk with her nurse. She had on fine
clothes, and was eating piece of nice cake and