Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-04-14
MISCELLANY.
Reuben Grants way of Gathering Sun.

" fe have the poor always with you, and when,
sever yc will ye may do them good
Never mind, little girl" 1t was a hard.
toil-stained hand that raised the frightened
child from tho slippery brick pavement upon
which she had fallen, but the benevolent and
kindly feeling bcaming from the windows of
his capaciOus soul, made the coarse features
look almost beautiful, and 50 modulated the
tones of his voice, that one might readily be-
lieve strain of music from some harp had
foated to his ear.
:" That was hard fall, but hope you are
not much hurt"
Only little, sir, can walk now
But when the kind farmer Withdrew his
hand and the child attempted to move for
ward half lfsmothered scream of pain and a
tinid limp told him that she was bravey
trying to conceal her suferings.
=" Now, look here, child, if you are not
afraid of my milk-cans, Just let me lift you
up to that seat and I'll take you home as
softly in that milk-cart, as if it were a
chaise, y"
THANK you, but shall be great trouble
for live in Elm street. near the Asylum. -
g Then Ilu sure you ii have ride !" and
hitting, as he spoke, the littls, fragile child to
his seat, he placed himself beside her, and
they started in the direction of Elm street
- hat sent you from home SO early this
cold morning, my little girl !" asked Reuben
Grant, while his uncouth cart was rumbling
over the frozen ground.
"Mrs. Daily sent Inc to the market, sir"
lis Mrs. Daily your motherr'
"Oh, no.-my name is Dora Hamlin, and
mother died last spring, Mrs. Daily took
me from the asylum And now IA warm
gush of tears, which her sprained ankle failed
to draw from their fountain, rolled over
Dora's checks.
"Ncw, don't cry" said Reuben, .. but tell
me about your home does Mrs. Daily often
send you to the market -
4" Almost every morning, sir
" And what else do you do for Mrs. Daily"
- mind the baby, wash dishes, and ran
of errands.''
Mind the baby and wash dishes ~ ex-
claimed the farmer; why you are only a
baby yourself, not more than eight years old,
| reckon ~
- Nearly ten, sir
why you don't say SO such little
chick now suppose Mrs. Daily is a clever
woman, and treats you kindly haf-sug-
gestcd, halfqueried Reuben.
" She's not like mother" sobbed the child,
" but she gives me home, and there is no
one else to care for me-"
The farmer drew his coat-sleeve across his
eyes, for some unusual moisture obscured his
vision, but except an occasional word Of en-
couragement to his horse, he said nothing
more, not making IA single attempt to hush
the child, who was now sobbing violently
until she reminded him that they were in
Elm-street, and the next house was Mrs
Dally's.
The farmer drew up and got down from his
cart, but when the child reached forth her
hand for assistance, he only said, A." Sit still,
sit STILL till ! come back. ="
Farmer Grant was not "A man of many
words, and when Mrs. Daily. IA dumpy woman,
with small grey eyes, flushed face and flying
cap-strngs, presented herself at the door, he
did not stop to comment upon the dampness
of u cold November morning, but related as
simply as possible how he had picked up the
child from the icy walk on which she had
fallen that she was uralla 10 NH nod ''~
believed her ankle was sprained, perhaps
broken.
Z" Bless me broken limb what shall !
do with the careless jade I've house full
of boarders and six children beside. III send
her back to the Asylum. She's always been
puny, whimrcrng thing, not earning her
She'll be a great trouble, no doubt,
ma am and was thinking Just now that
YOU would like to give her bit Of country
air for month or So
A" Can't afford it, sir who ever thougt of
giving an alms-house beggar air, I'd Ike to
know ~
I'll just take her along in my wag6i, no
expense to you, ma am. My vile willikc
1 the fun of nursing her up
The dark frown which had knitted Mrs.
Dally's brows, disappeared like a snowflake
in a summer stream, and glad to be rid { the
/ orphan, now that she was likely to boil a
lew days, she smiled most blandly, and think
ing the farmer for his kindness, feari he
was taking upon himself too much troule.
" No trouble at all I've taken iaiy to
the childs large eyes, and We have nolttle
folks at home. "
1t was IA little thing for Mrs. Daily, re-
sign the orphan beggar to an entire stggcr
There was no one to inquire after the Ware
of the little errand girl, and if her Ight
form, soft yoceaud large eyes We're misd in
the crowded market, the hurry and buie of
every day life allowed no one time to NJ her
whereabouts.
Closely wrapped in WOODEN shawl itch
Reuben had bought for his little proteg'and
with her teur- stained face pr, ssed again his
broad bosom, Dora was carried into tle,rge
kitchen OF keubens substantial farm m-Llsc.
" Here's present for you, l)emn, n
little orphan brggar whom found ! the
street, naed not ask my wife TO he k To
the mothrrlcss.'
p There was an expression very niue H.
p surprise and dlslhrasure on Deborah Sod
, natured face, when Reuben made Il an
I, nouncemcnt, but when she stopped to r p,c