The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-08-31

/ e
sad a tone that the French captain who
commanded the detachment, and who had
been silently watching her, approached.
| "A pretty business he said, affecting
severe tone, .to give your breakfast e
your enemies
Enemies sirP exclaimed Martha, they
are poor hungry people,
Yes, but they are English; and tho Eng
lish are the enemies of france E'i
Sir, IneEer thought whether they were
enemies or not when | saw them suffering.
The officer took her little hand. Have
you eaten your own breakfast, my child?
4 sNoSsir.' e -s q.
''Thcn you must be very hungry?
-t0h, / dont't much mind; I'm used tC
lit.,
Does your mothor allow you to want
food% s.@
ooh, no, sir, my mother always gives
US children our meals before she takes a
bit herself. WheniI am hungry, it is not
her fault, but mine for giving my bread
away 1
At that moment, an inferior officer ap-
preached the captain TO ask for orders, and
Martha went away, retraciug her steps TO-
wards home; for, not having anything to
carry to her brothers and sisters, it would
have been useless to visit them atschool.
What will my molher say, she thought.
Twill tell her the exact truth, and then |
hope she win not be angry. e. W 4.
When Martha entered the usually neat
cottage, she was surprised to see the fur
niture in disorder, and her father during
the last six months had never Quilted his
bed, seated, pale and faint, in an arm chair.
Her mother was counting some money in
herlap, pausing now and then to brush
away the tears that filed her eyes.
'0h, mamma, what is the matter?'
we are ruined, replied her mother, and
win have in future to beg our bread.
The child threw her arms round thepoor
woman's neck, and exclaimed, oh, no,
mamma, III work for you'll
| Poor childp said Madame Biget, sor-
lrowfully, looking at her daughters slight
delicate frame.
But, mamma, how has all this happen
cd?'
we owe my lord de Varennc one hun
dred crowns for rent, all that we possess
would not pay it, and his stewart told us
this morning that we must give up the
| farm
'Instcad of talking to that child, Catha-
rine.' said her husband, peevishy, you
ought to cook the dinner
'rhe dinneris both cooked and eaten,
dear, said his wife, gently; did not l give
you your soup just now?
But your dinner and the children's?'
'Ah, they have had some nice cakes
which my sister sent therh; and as for me,
my heart is too full TO cat
Poor little Martha turned so pale, and
tremblcd so visibly, that her father re-
marked it, and said, I'llanswer for it, she
has, as usual, given her breakfast away to
some poor person.
'Mamma--papa don't be angry" said
the child, bursting into tears; but met
some poor prisoners on the road; they
seemed to be dying cf hunger, and you
know that God commands as to feed the
hungry, SO / could not help giving them
all the cskes.'
Naughty child!' cried her mother, an
CRY at the thought of what her chiidren
might suffer; how dared you give away
all that you had?' . ~
God feeds the little birds aether, and
He will not let as want said Martha, in a
tone of such gentle persuasion that Mad
anne Biget was quite softencd, and said:
Well, well, l have enough for ye all TO-
day''-And, giving the child bowl of veg. .
ctabic soup, thickend with barley, she re-
marked that her mother had kept none for
herself, and accordingly said: Mamma,
you don't eat
Il can't child
'Mamnaa,' said Martha, after pause,
will you permit me 10 go out for two
hours?' o~t
Whittier do you want 10 go?
please don't ask until l rctnr.'
Lot her go If she wishesit,> said her
father; L dare say there are sonfe poor
lsiek persons she wants to visit: Kiss me,
Martha; you are a kind chile, and God will
bless YOU
Good morning Smonne said MartaSS, as
she approached cottage door where an
old woman was sitting.
And good morning toyou, Martha Biget;
you look tired, little one. Come in and rest
yourself. Have you far to go?'
TO the castle, dame
'Ah, you want to see the bonfres that
are to be lighted in honor of my lords re-
turn - s
Then he is arrived?' said the child
sAppiHg her hands; 4 am 50 glad, glad fer
want to speak 10 him.
| The old woman burst out laughing. IL
won't be very easy for poor child like
You TO get a speech of him to-day
What shall / dor said Martha, ,despond-
ingly,
is your business very pressing?'
oh, indeed tits, dame. But who are
those two children coming towards us?'
how beautifully they are dressed!'
'They are my foster children, Martba-
the son and daughter Of Lord dc Varenne.
The moment they return from town, they
run to see their old nurse. DarlingsP she
exclaimed, extending her arms TO receive
q boy Of ten and girl Of about year old
er.
Have you made hot cake for us muse?
asked the little boy throwing his arms q.
| round her neck.