The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-04-13

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little face, on which tears had made chan
nels in the incrustations. Dir. Green was
making up his mind to save further trouble,
the apparition before him must be the same
Peter from whom he had bought the match-
es, the day previous, who had shrunk and
dwindled over night-possibly from cold,
probably from hunger-und who had now
come back to bring the change. But this
idea struck him as too absurd; for how could
such Tom Thumb sell anything, and
where was his basket! While these recol-
lections flashed vaguely across the mirror
Of Mr.. Green's mind, Peter junior had been
diving diligently into the recesses of his
garments, and finally after sundry attempts,
brought out of the side pocket OF his jacket,
which was on a level with his calf, three
distinct copper coins, which he rendered to
Mr.. Green.
sis you the gemmen what Peter owes
sixpence top
"Yes, my lad, am the man." was the re-
ply.
"Peter hasn't got sixpence-Peter's gone,
and was rund over by buss-and lost his
basket, and his cap-and broke his leg, and
broke his arm; and Peter-is-so-o-o-o-I
ill.," (here the child broke out into an un-
comfortable fit off crying;( and three-cents
lis all-he's got"
"The deuce!" excl Mr.. Green,
Jumping up "wherc do you live?"
"Little Rum Street, Mud Alley" sobbed
the child.
"Come along them" and not waiting to
hear Mr.. Smart's sneer of"a very Likely
story, my verdant friend" he was out OF the
room, had called carriage, and was on his
charitable mission with little Joe by the
time Mr.. Smart had finished his sentence"
The carriage stopped before one of those
archways abounding in that part of the city,
and always denoting ilth, drunkenness, and
abject, poverty. The child led the way up
the alley, ascended lew broken steps, ard
entered a doorless hall, passed through it to
the yard, and decendng into what appeared
to be ony hol., but which had on near
er inspection, some steps, opened the door
of low, dark cellar.
When Mr.. Green's eyes had become ac'
customed to tn. darkness, which a ta!low
candle stuck in a bottle, just made visible,
he saw in a corner, stretched upon straw
mattruss, his little acquaintance OF yester-
day; bul ah! how changed-the pnched
f face nearly livid, with here and there bit
of lock of hair glued to it by the cold pers
piration, the little boy, with his bandaged
, limbs, motionless, and low groan, all the
evidence of life. The furniture Of this
abode of human beings consisted of bro
ken table and three-legged stool.
Upon the latter sat poor woman rock
ing herself to an fro with a peculiar mo-
ton Of grief She was a neighbor, she
3 said, poor enough herself. the Lord knew.
The parents of the children had come out
year ago from the old country, poor decent
4 people, with three little ones,and fine child
rem they were; the mother never got over
, the ship fever contracted on the passage,
t and soon left them for better place, taking
=. the babe with her, which was mercy: and
after the father, who was a Woodworking
I steady man, had been killed by fall ( ON
e building, q ncighbor proposed to take Peter,
sending Joe to Randal's Island. But Pc
4 ter had refused to leave little Joe, and scra-
e ping together small sum by the sale of
their fathers effects, had bought his wares,
v and manfully, with big heart in his little
body. through cold and heat, through hun.
ger and thirst, Irsued his calling, making
just enough, with what help the neighbors
k could give, to keep body and soul together.
He was a fine lud indeed, good lad, with
G sense above his years; but now it was all
a over The doctor-good, kind gentlemen,
= he had stayed with him and sent medicine
n said he could not be moved to the hospital,
a where they ought to have taken him at FIRST:
}, and, indeed, there was no need of moving
F. him, for he was sinking fast since morning.
# Green had list med in silent horror to so
i much misery so quietly told, and whether it
O was from the damp cold, or the foul, sitting
A. atmosphere, he felt too sick to speak. Just
"a then the boy opened his sunken eyes, and
e our friend bending over him, flicker of
o recognition passed over his face.
s. "I--had--n not-got-the-monPy. L
,r lost-it-all," he muttered painfully, push
ing out each word with an effort.
10 "Never mind the money, my dear bly,.
- struggled out Mr.. Green, something hard
. and dry in his throat choking him. "You
:, must get better will take care you
- - and little Joe, and you shall be cold, and
i hungry, and naked no more; and you shall
> get better, if care can do it."
"A Alas! little Peter was beyond the neg
ii ii ect of the hardened and the care of this
i world. A smile stole softly over his fea-
- turss-he seemed to comprehend
y "Thank you-little Joe-thank you'll
y, had-not-got the e-"
~ ~ The smile faded, the eye looked fixed and
&c CLASSY; one deep sigh followed by an unmis-
- child's troubles were over. Green ia rly burst
: into tears. He closed his eyes and stood
y, long and thoughtfully over the body, and
~ ~ then leaving money aud directions, he took
A' little Joe's hand aid left the place.
"What about the hatl" cried Jim Smart,
h. meeting our friend few doyS afterward,
% at the Universe. "Guess you may give me
a an order on Genin, suppose you won't see
-, ~ your matoh.boy and your sixpenco any
more"
p "No" replied Green gravely; 81 shall no
os 10 see the boy any more--.he lies under thu
% snow in Greenwood. His body wa
81 wretched, miserable, and neglected enough
60 here below; "but," he added with emphasi
CT "his little soul il now incense before God
2, p Good morning Mr.. Smart, I am leavih;
80 town."
ne EXPENSES OF U. S. MINT.-It appear
to from all official statement Of the director O
y the u. S. mint at Philadelphia, that 70
is the five years ending Dec. 1852, that the nc
et tual expenses over and above the charge
he for coming, amounted to S3o5, ,Sl9 9O-bein
ur an average expense to the United States
FL during that period, of S6l ,l62 SO annually
During the past year-nameiy, TO 3ls
en- Dec, l9A3-the coinage, instead Of being a
We expense, has been source OF profit, tn
m 4