Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-12-06

Poison, daughter Of . Poison. W.
thcught it queer when we heard it, and 81
we listened to hear more OF It..
A lady and little girl were going by
or, rather, we were going BY lady an,
little girl. The little girl had sat dow,
= basket upon the sidewalk and said col
dear!"
The basket was heayy-too heavy TO
the little, fragile form that bore it. It con
tanned the clean clothes of somebody swash
ing. Somebody. perhsps. that was JUS
then saying: "Oh dear! that lazy wash
women, why don't she bring home ou
clolhes!"-Nct my clothes-there were
too many of them for that. 1t was heav,
load. and the little girl said ooh dear'
with such q tone, coming so from here owl
heart, that il went home to the heart Of the
lady-some ladies' have hearts--and she
stopped and said stooping down as she sai'
il to lift The basket: ..What is the mat
ter, little girl! What made you say
|"Oh dear! IL it because this basket is 8,
hcavy"
"Yes. ma'am: and because n y arm aches
40: and because am afraid | shall DO Too
late.'
"Why too lnte! ,
"Because ma said she was afraid should
be late; for Mrs Heartgrind told her last
week IL she was late again she wouldntpay
her a cent"
.Then why did your mother send such
a little girl as you with such heavy bas-
ket!"
"Oh. it Is because my mother is sick
She could hardly SIT up to finish ironing
did some Of the small pieces. Oh. dear; |
wish John was here. John used to carry
home the heavy basket for mother. John
wa, such good boy
"a nd who was John! And what is your
name!"
NV name is Sarah Poison, Ma'am."
Just then there was new listener. The
lady and the little girl did not notice either,
perhaps, or that the writer and young
manly looking sailor, boy. who just then
came up behind them, we're getting inter.
es, ed in this street dialogue. Sarah CON-
tinued:
.And John was a boy that lived in our
alley. And John had no father or mother,
but John was a good by; and he used to
split wood, and bring coal and get water for
nv mother to was with, and carry the heavy
baskets. But. oh dear; John went to sea,
and we haven't heard from him for cen
most three years, mother says: think it
must be great while long r than that for
I vas little girl then."
What was she now but little girl
She might be three years older and three
years bigger; but they were three little
years ii they were long ones.
There was slight movement behind Us.
a. if the sailors heart OF our young ,ompan-
ion had been touched, and sailor like, he
was going to besfow a portion Of the wa
ges, Just paid him for his long voyage. upon
the first needy little girl he met in the
street. He understood the language Of a
motion of our finger across the lips and said
by action--actions speak louder than words
-"Aye, aye, Sir, will hold on till the lit
tie craft has fired her volley.'
The "Iiite craft" continued as she lifted
her basket: "OK dear, yes Ma'am, it is
heavy; but | am rested nov. hope the
lady will pay me, because il she DON'T
she stopped, sat dow the basket again, took
up her little apron-it was clean white
one--wiped away troublesome little wa
terry particle from her eye, and
"And what if she don't'" said the la
dy.
..Whv then it will be 50 bad-and ma
sick-and the man coming for the rent
Monday"
l. was Saturday evening now.
"Well, Sarah" said the lady, 'for fear
she should not pay yen, take that dollar to
your mother; and that's my name and mum
Der; ii you are in trouble about the rent
week you come for me aud will see about
it,"
,.Oh thank you maam. Bat, if you
please. you keep the dollar, and let me
keep the card. and | will ask nay mother
first if I may take it. Oh, bu, if you will
let her wash for you, then"
"Well, what thenf'
"Then il John should come back, md
would help me carry the basket, why then
"Why then hurrah," said the young sail
or, the lady and Sarah started; the latter
said: Oh dear, how like Johns voice."
"Why then hurrah-my little jolly
boat-John has come back, and will car
ry the basket and you too" and he took
one upon one arm and the other on the 9th
or
Yes, there was a Observation-Disclosures
-affeciionate as sailor. 1t
came from two happy hearts"
"Yes, and your mother on top. And this
lady-God bless her heart. all the same,
but John will pay the rent, and"
Well it's no use talking. 1t don't take
much to make happiness. What happy
party around the poor washerwoman' 3
daugh;er-little Sarah Poison.
Poor Madam Sontag.