Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-05-28


the door, and took my seat again BY the fire. bu
was not easy. lit cigar and pulled away a
that but could not forget the little girl. PLEASE
sir, give me cent was ringing in my ear. Iaros
and walked to the window. l rubbed off the fros
with my hand-and looked out, saw the track
of the poor little creatures feet and discovered fo
the first time that she was barefoot yes, upon tina
bitter cold morning she was wading through tn
snow with her little feet bare; yes there were mark
Of her feet in the snow-snd in the centre of ON
of them was spot of bloood. Great heaven. wha
would not have given to have called her back
Alas it was too late-and Please, sir, give rue :
| cent, rings in my ear to this day. tried every
way to forget the little girl, but l could not-and
every time looked out of the window there were
those little footprints believe they would have
drove me mad, had not taken the Office broom nd
erased them Night at last came and the snow was
still falling; the wintry blasts swept through the
deserted streets, the snow fell against the windows
and the trees groaned they bent before the storm
IL was dismal night, and few were abroad. | re-
tired early and was soon asleep, from which was
startled by loud knock at the door-inwardly
hoping no poor mortal would require my service
that night. opened the door and a gust of wind
put out the light, half filling the hall with snow
When got my eyes cleared, perceived to my as
tonishment, little boy standing shivering on the
steps. He was poorly clad, and the little fellow
was almost frozen; but he looked up into nv face
and tears rolled down my cheeks as he said, Good
kind Mr.. Doctor, will you come and see my poor
mother? she is very sick, she is indeed-and mother
is very poor, and she says she is afraid you won't
come because she can't pay you Sir; and little Sis
says she'll never come to your place and make you
angry again, Sir, because she's very sick, and she
says she is going to die Sir
Could | refuse such an appeal and from such
source? No! l went with the little fellow to his
home. Away up in the top of an OLD frame house,
l found what he called home. / thought knew
something of the world. ! thought that had seen
poverty-but, must confess that never saw a
sight like that before. a small piece of candle
was burning from the mouth of an old ink bottle
qy which got view of the Premises the win
dows were entirely gone, and large drift of snow
had formed upon the floor. Upon bundle of
straw covered with old rags, 1 found woman, and
the little girl Of yesterday.
MY Godr exclaimed, how can you live here on
such uight?' The poor woman opened her eyes
she was too far gone to speak, and pointed to a
crust of bread upon the floor, for she had no table,
broke off piece, and she motoned me to give
some to the little creature at her side took the
little girl by the hand, and upon doing she open
ed her eyes and recognized me, she exclaimed, '0h
sir you will not hurt me will your / assured her
that would not, and she fell asleep again. They
were both sick. Cold and want had brought them
to the verge of the grave they too sick to be
removed. and | was thinking how | cOuld best
make them comfortable when the little boy who
had been standing all the while, spoke. oh Sir
says he, can you do anything for them? you won't
let mother and Sis die, and be buried in the ground
as poor father was will you, SIR" | told the lit
tie fellow that would do all in my power to save
them. asked him why he did not call on me be
fore. oh, Sir, says he. Il was just going TO see
you yesterday, when little Sis came, and she said
you was dreadful cross man, and she said you had
driven her away and | was afraid you would put |
me in the poor house, and did not want to go |
there Sir
Don't tell me it's unmanly to cry!' he must have |
a hard heart indeed, who could stand where did |
very sorry and he should never want for home or
a friend while lived told him to watch by his |
mother and sister, while l would 90 and get some
wood for fire, and some other things to make |
them comfortable; did So and returned as soon |
as possible, and found the little fellow completely |
exhausted and fallen asleep
The mother was dead and the little girls fever |
was much worse If it had been my own child l |
could not have done more for it than did for that |
little girl but death had marked Der for its own it
was too late and before the sun had set the follow
ing day, her little spirit had gone to him who gave
it. / saw them both buried | shall never forget !
that scene in the buryng ground; the grave-dgger
with his pick kaxe; that heap of frozen earth mixed
with snow; that dismal looking Opening in the |
earth; all form part of picture never shall
forget. The old minister who oficiated. has long
been dead; there no long line of carriages no
but that one small boy and myself. The |
minister and myself lowered them--mother and
daughter into the same grave, where they will sleep
until the Judgment God knows | wept bitter
tears that day, ana IL Ide nc Il better anu WiSer
man. A few words about the boy and am done.
He lives-I took him to my home reared and edu-
Gated him some twenty years since, he made the
South hi. home and this day that little fellow who
was is one of the most eloquent members of the |
bar at --, and an ornament to the profession. |
He has been a member of the State Senate three |
terms and of the United States House of Repre- !
sentative one.
My friends, my story is finished, and the old Doc
tor will conclude by saying when you pu: money |
in the contribution box for foreign missionaries,
also remember the poor at your OVn door.
A new Microscope.
.--C L. .AL,Iu