The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-09-21

. ltiI III Tue chculuS' liz tOOh us udll '
round about the village where these poor
folks lived, but went no greater distance
than would allow of his coming back at
night to his bed, which was only sack
of straw.
One evening, however, long after har-
vest-time, when the open ground, with the
starry ceiling above it, no longer served
for a bed chamber, poor Theodore loiter-
ed too long on his way homei he could not
see the path through the dark forest, nor
the glimmer of the village lights, He
hastened on and on, walked all night anx-
iously through forest and field: sometimes
be fancied that he was in a well-known
district, and then again was quite bewild
cred. AS his anxiety increased, he quick
ened his pace. That beautiful Psalm,
the twerty-third, came into his mind
'The Lord is my shepherd; | shall not
want. Yea, though [ walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, [ will
fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy
rod and thy staff they comfort me-
'Ah = said he to himself, 'how true that
is That is better staff than the beg
gar's; and as long as | have it why should
| fear?' Immediately all the anxiety of
his heart vanished, and he resolved to 60
on quietly and leisurely, till the Good
Shepherd, of whom he had been thing
ing should show him way. Upon this
he soon came to beaten footpath, and
went on with comfort; for he said, This
must surely bring me to some place. On
the left something glimmers through the
trees; it is certainly light; there must
be house, perhaps village, where l can
find bed With these thoughts be went
in the direction of the light and left the
path which possibly might be from vii
lage, instead of leading to one. For
long time he could see the light distinct
ly; then it vanished again behind the
trees. But, on turning in another direc-
ton, the light was entirely gone; proba
bly, it was lost behind hill He now
went on at haphazard toward the quarter
in which he believed that he at first saw
the light, till morning dawn arose behind
him, and, very soon after, the first rays
of September sun gilded the tops of the
fr-trees. He came out of the forest on
an open height. And what golden bird
is that which seems to float aloft in the
air? Is it not a wcather-cock? and un-
dcrneath is a golden cross on the lofty
tower of a cathedral? 1t is even so.--
Yes the boy stands at last in sight of a
city, miles distant from his last home
and yet it is in the right way, For the
first time in his life Theodore beheld
city, and that a large one. lie enters
the streets, he feels as if in a new world.
There are magnificent mansions, large
churches, splendid shops, gentlemen and
ladies neatly dressed; and, strange to say.
amidst it all there are beggar-boys like
himself! How is it possible Che thought
that in such beautiful rich city there
can be any poor people! But as he was
looking at these boys, with their touzled
hair and dirty faces, he recollected that
he had not washed himself that morning.
From the high ground where he first
caught sight of the city, he had noticed
that broad river flowed through it; so
he went to wash himself in it, His clothes
consisted at this time Of large black
jacket, which had been a frock- coat be
fore the skirts were cut off; pair of old
patched trowsers of Manchester manufac-
ture, which had belonged to a brewers
drayman; blue stockings, and a pair Of
cast-off women's shoes. He had no shirt,
nor any covering for his head. But his
thick black hair, which he now combed
out neatly, hung in glossy locks on his
shoulders, and, if his white skin had not
been tanned by the sun, he might have
been taken for gypsy with a Circassian-
formed head But what cared he just
then for either Crcassian or gypsy -
He was as hungry as both together; and
went from one street to another, IN the
hopes that one or other of those finely
dressed people would give him something
to eat. But, this hope failing, he ven
turcd at last to ask for loaf at a bakers,
where he saw many in u window, but was
roughly refused. How is this 2 thought
he; lis it a custom in this city never to
relieve a beggar? Then | would rather
60 back again to my village; for villa
ger has never refused NE piece of broad!
Yet how do the beggar-boys live, whom
[ see here in the market-place, if nobody
gives them anything? Perhaps | went
to the wrong door, lie went, according
ly, to another house, and asked the peo-
pie who lived on the ground floor for
morsel of bread, as he had eaten nothing
since the evening before. As they did
not know he had been walking all night,
they thought he was imposing upon them,
and showed him the door. Theodore
was almost driven cut of his senses BY such
but resolved to make one
more attempt, and if that failed, to seek
out his former home, the beggars lodging
and the bed of straw. But it just struck
him that he had piece of money in his
pocket, which tradesman passing by
had given him, and he thought, Now l
need not want; | can buy some bread. =
Unfortunately the coin was foreign one,
and the baker would not take ii; but, as
ha sow the lad was hun0ry he Taye him