Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-04-29

open country u would be light for hall an hour or
more; but within the close streets where my story
leads me it was already dusk. Upon the wooden
doorstep OF low-rooied dark, and unwholcsOmc-
looking house, sat little girl, who was g@zing up
the street with much earnestnoss. The housc-door
which was open behind her, was close to the side
walk and the step on which she sat was so low
that her little unshod feet rested the cold bricks
IL was n chilly evening in November, and light
tall OF snow, which had made everything look
bright and clean in the pleasant open squares
near which the fine houses of the city were built,
had only served to render the streets and
dark lanes drter and more cherries than ever !;
for, mixed with the mud and filth which abound
In those neigbOrhOOds where the poor are crowded
together, the beautiful had lost all its purity.
n great many people were passing to and fro,
bent on their various errands Of duty of pleas.
ure; but no noticed the little girl for there
was no one in the world who cared for her. She
was scanty clad in garments Of the poorest des-
cription. Her hair was long and very thick; un-
combed aud unbccomng, if anything could be
said to be unbecoming to a set of features which,
to casual observer, had not single attracton,-
being thin and sharp, while her complexion was
saliow, and her whole appearance unhealthy.
She had, to be snSc, fine dark eyes, but so un-
naturally large did they seem, in contrast to her
thin, puny face, that they only increased the pecu-
liarity OF It, without enhancing its beauty. Had
any one felt an interest in her (which nobody didl
had she had mother (Which, alas she had notj
those friendly aud partial eyes would perhaps have
found something ia her to praise. AS 1t was
however, the poor little thing was told q dozen
times day, that she was the worst looking child
IN the worlds aud, what was more, the worst be-
hayed. No one loved her and she loved no one
no one treated her kindly one tried to make
her happy, or cared whether she were so. She
was but eight years old, and all alone in the
world.
There was one thing and ono only, which she
found pleasure in She loved to watch for the
coming Of the old man who lit the street lamp in
front OF the house where she lived; to see the
bright torch he carried flicker in the wind aud
then, when he ran up his ladder liz ,he lamp so
quickly and easily, and made the whole place seem
cheerful, one CLEAN Of joy shed ON little
desolato heart, to which glalness was Il stranger (
and, though he had never seemed to sec, and Ger
tainly had never spoken to her, she almost felt,
she watched for the old lamplighter as If he were
friend.
"Gerty" exclaimed q harsh voice within,
shave you been for the milk?"
The child made no answer, but gliding OF the
doorstep, ran quickly round the corner Of the
house, and hid little out of sight
Whats become Of that childg" said the woman
from whom the voice proceeded, and who now
showed herself at The door.
\ boy who passing, and had seen Gerty
run,-a boy who had caught the tone Of the
whole neighborhood, and looked upon her
sort of imp, spirit of ovil,--laughed aloud
pointed to the corner which concealed her, and
walking off with his head over his shoulder to
see what would happen next, exclaimed to him
fix herW
In moment more, Gcrty was dragged from her
hiding-place and with one blow for her uglness
anti another for her inpudenco (ior she was max
ing up faces at Nan Grant with all her might,
she was dispatched down a neighboring alley with
q kettle for the milk.
She ran fast for she feared the lamplightcr
would come and go in her absence, and was re-
joced on her return TO catch sight of him, as he
drew near the house, just going up his ladder
She stationed herself at the foot Of it, and was
SO engaged in watching the bright fame, that
she did not observe when the man began to de-
scend and, as she directly in his way, he
hit against her rs lie sprang to the ground, and
she fell upon the pavement. lIollo, my little
one" exclaimed he, "how's this?" as he stopped
TO lift her up.
She was upon her feet in an instant; for she
was used to hard knocks, and did not much mind
few bruises. But the milk lit was all split.
"Well, now, declared" said the man, that's
too bad!-what III nanny say?" and for the first
time looking full in Gertys face, he here interrupt
ed himself with, Ny! what an Odd-faced child
looked apprehensiyely at the split milk, and gave
sudden glance up At the house, he added, kindly
"She won't be hard ON such n mite of a thing a,
you are, will sheg Cheer up, my duckyl never
mind II she does scold you little. I'll bring you
something Tomorrow, that think you'll like may
be; you're such lonesome sort of looking
thing. And mind, if the old woman makes a
row, tell her did II. But did MT | hurt you p
What was you doing with my ladder?"
'' was seeing you light the lamp" said Gerty,
"ond amt hurt bit; but wieh hadn't split
the milk"
AT this moment Nan Grant camo to the door
saw what had happened, and commenced pulling
the child into the house, amidst blows, threats
aud profane and brutal language. The lamplght-
er tried to appease her; but she shut the door in
his face. Gerty scolded beaten, deprived of
the crust which she usually got for her supper
and shut up inthe dark attic for the night. Poor
little child! Her mother had died in Nan Grants
house five years before; and she had been tolerat-
cd there SINCE not so much because when Ben
Grant went 10 sea he bade his wife be sure and
keep the child until his return for he had been
gone 50 long that no one thought he would ever
come back, but because Nan had reasons of her
own for doing so; and though she considered
Gerty dead weight upon her hands she did not
care to excite inquiries by trying to dispose of hel
elsewhere.
When Gerty first found herself locked up fol
the night in tho dark garTet (Gerty hated anC
feared the dark, she stood for u minute perfectl,
still then suddenly began to stamp and scream
tried 10 beat open the door, and shouted, ''I hat
you Nan Grant Old Nan Grant | hate you L
But nobody came near her; and after while
she grew more quiet went and threw herself dowI
on her miserable bed covered her face with he
little thin hands, and sobbed and cried as ii he
heart would break. She wcpt until she was utter
ly exhausted; and then gradually, with only nov
and then low sob and catching of the breath
she grew quite still. BY and by she took ava,
her hands from her face, casped them together il
aconyusiye manner, aud looked up at a lttl,
glazed window by the side Of The bed. 1t was bu
three panes of glass unevenly stuck together
and was the only chance of light the room had
There was no moOni but as Gerty looked up
she saw through the window shining down upor
her one bsight star. She thought she had neye
seen anything half so beautiful. She had oftel
been out OF doors when the sky was full of stars
and had not noticed them much; but this one. al
alone, so large, so bright and yet SO soft an
pleasantlookng, seemed to speak to her; II seen
cd TO say, "Gorty Gerty poor little Gerty!"-
She thought ii seemed like kind face, such q
she bad a long Time ago seen or dremnt abou
Suddenly il flashed through her mind, "Who |
itf Somebody lit i'll Some good person, know
o, how could lie get up so high % And Gorty fe
asleep wondering who lit the star.