The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-02

the olive branches which are numerous round
the table.
Whilom, the little ashop-maton was a lively,
ehattering "lad," as we used to call him.
Since his condition has become so that the
reality presses hard-presses almost his little
Life out of him-thcre IS not only q stunt face,
but q pale one, and the joUal companion of
better days has been strangely transformed
into silent man. Il Is evident he never was
intended for the post of labor he occupies.
Now and then short requisite whistle escapes
him, or he ventures upon snatch OF some
former ditty-he knows but little the recent
songs. @
The shops clock has just struck eleven,
whereat, as if not certain of the counting he
looks up to see the time. The striking Of the
clock interrupted his whistle, and with renew
ed effort he applies himself
Through the half pauses of the wind, slight
pattering, as Of juvenile feet, Is heard and
presently . lifting of the latch of the outer
door below, and, enters fairy child, girl of
four or five years. Closing the door softly-a
approaches with sylph-Eke movement the sit
ter, around whose neck instantly are her arms
and her ringlets-
The golden nlngling with the gray,
And stealing half their SHOWS away"
Tie young cheek is pressed to the beard
pricking pale face, and "Pappy-ps!" chimes
forth with true affection, and the sweetest of
little voices. 1t is all she says then stands by
his side, one tiny fake-hand remaining at his
shoulder, cycling intently and curiously the
largeness of the boot on her pappy- pas knee.
Turning round cautiously, the room is ginger
ly scanned, the darkness of the corners eyed
suspiciously Thus engaged, sudden gust of
wind without startles her, and again she snug
giles up to the seat
Poverty has its expedients. The candle-he
can afford to burn but one-being burnt down
into its stocket and dying out, he proceeds to
rake up bits of wicks remaining in the melted
tallow of the bowl of the csndlcstick, which is
pendant from the ceiling. He has managed to
get above the oil three noses which he sue
ceeds in lighting by management with coal.
In this operation the little girl seems particu-
larly interested-now here, now there, trying to
be of some advantage. She has managed to
drag up chair, and has seated her busy body
upon il and with her feet-little toes looking
out of the shoes-on the upper round, and her
hands in her lap, she is demurely contempla-
ting the white flames that burn brightly, like
little conhagrations. Presently one is extin-
guished shortly another, the consumption be-
ing too extravaganza.
At last tired of the candle, the little form
leaves the chair, and sides up nearer the boot,
which it would seem were a heavy task for
the small man, yet which is readily, almost to
q miracle, controlled. IT is lesson to see him
ply with his dexter hand the ponderous ham
mer, necessary to drive home such pegs, and
with his sinister fit but for cambria purposes,
| clasp the coarse anvil This he does with com
| parative ease-tact rather; but not so easy to
draw from its thrust the large spike, which Of
| ten staggers him.
He has finished his pegging, and it "will do.D
| The heel also is secured and the "cap" on
But now comes the worst. see he breads it
looks doubtingly, not about doing the work, but
whether he can do it. He has still left him to
sew on the cap, or foxing; and this requires
strength to secure it so as to pass the ordeal OF
inspection, on which his chance of support il
depending. 1t is well that he meets but sell
dom with 80 desperate case These lady-liks
hands must do it, and they are willing.
| Again he looks at the dial. An hour has
expired, and one boot is worked off" He
looks at the other, and patiently takes it up
but directly puts it down again. The flame
has finished the oil and new, a whole can
die, which is somewhat eyed, as 'twere pity
to consume is taken from the bench's drawer
and set azbnrning.
Footsteps are again heard, and the door
opens to woman this time. 1t needs no effort
to guess the character of the visiter Scarce ha:
the door opened ere with bound the ringleteG
child, like little Eva as she is, trips forward
and, with arms outspread clasps the skirts
of the entering form, exclaiming cob, my
mamma l"-looking up pleased, as only such
| angel-chid can.
Here is q form that would strike the unac
| ouainted at once but the chance seldom occurs
1t is but at this still hour of midnight and
when no inquisitive eye is present that it Ii
seen abroad, within the precincts of Uttered
workshop. Her decision and frmness are un
mistakeable in that stately walk and set coun
tepauce-sternly set, as if against fate, bet
relaxing. momently, In the sunny mirror Of
that child-faoe, upturned to meet the kindred
image STOPPING to embrace it. Her quick eye
having observed the stairway open, che ap
proaches and shuts the door. In q short time
two hammers arc busy, and the shop feels ar
increased activity.
Presently the stairway door again opens
and up comes the lad; but on seeing my room
dark-which he discovered only on q near ap-
| preach, being partly blind-he stopped short
remarking. half to himself, rs he turned to de-
| scend-
{" thought you were up yet"
"Come up! come upi" | called after him.
"Never mnd-it matters not--you're tC
bed.n
"Come up, lad, want to see you; Pm not
in bed" replied, we'll aware he wished &c
communicate something.
al intrude," he continued. By this time
the lamp was Lit, for had not yet lain down
Seeing me up and dressed, he ventured into the
room and with a betrayed painful effort, and
an endeavor to suppress trembling OF the
voice. he spoke
81 thoug ht, if you wasn't engaged, you might
not care to change little work with me. Il
you could sew on cap on one OF giant Jake
| boots, chat would finish the Job. He'll be
after them in the morning The cowhide il
too heavy for me, Pm afraid"
| went down with him, and "sewed on the
capn In asking for its mate, he told me it wa
"done"
clad. YOU never could sew it stout enough
| where is the boot?'
It was handed me, and the work was well
| done but his hands were swollen, and blister
ed, and red
When entered the room with the lad, il
Yves past midnight; and there, with work
strapped to her knee, found his wife engaged
in driving pegs. | will say nothing Of the en-
barrassment caused by such necessity, and the
excuses, when they came as they did and from
! q high-minded woman who is the type of her
sex in all that makes the dignity Of noble
| souled humanity This was not my initiation
i Dor; was long aware Of it. And here let me
say that this is not an invention, but fact
occurring to my knowledge, almost daily-a
woman working bona tide, on q shop-bcnch
among the litter and bad air Of such place,
mending coarse mems boots and hammering
leather, as would any journeyman of the trade,
| all from sheer, pinching necessity and to save