The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1854-02-15

which is now shisering with the cold
and aching with hunger. This morning
. man met me. and told me Of poor
woman who hxda sick child /; and. said
he. Il think they need q doctor. but
fhey are too poor TO employ one.' i
asked him to show me the house, and
when ! entered | found that q doctor
wasindeed needed. Alittle girl. about
nine years old. was lying on the bed.
very low with fever. I think she
cannot live. A little boy, two years
older. entered while I mas there with
an armfuI Of sticks. which he had pick
ed up from under the snow on the COM
mon; and this. save few brands that
were smoking on the hearth. was all
their fuel. The sick girl. am afraid.
cannot live. and the mother has no
means to make her comfortable 1
doubt whether any of the family have
tasted q morsel Of supper to night"
"But where is the woman's husband"
asked Mary.
THAT l do not know. He has been
gone these seven years. / knew him
when he was worth several thousand
dollars; but villainous partner Of his
defrauded him nf every cent. Poor Ro.
binson was almost broken -hearted he
fingered about the neighborhood for a
while. earning a living as he could. but
finally resolved to 60 to sea. His wife
gave her full consent. as she was able
with economy. to provide for herself
and the children, by her needle. She
did we'll for while, but sickness came
upon her, and she is now poor, very
/ poor. Her husband at different times
sent her money, and always wrote as
though he was doing well. But the
vessel in which he was to have return
ed. three years ago. has not been heard
Off
"And he was drowned D" asked two
or three at once.
al do not know" continued the doc.
tor /" he may be living yet, but I fear
that he has perished. But. my chill
dren, Mrs. Robinson is poor. While
you are so cheerful and happy here in
this comfortable house. and this bleak
cold night, are gathered around this
warm FIRE, think Of Charley Robinson
/ and his muther. Charley has had no
Christmas there is no New Years for
him; for his father may be at the bot
tom Of the sea. His mother is poor
. and his little sister must die. John
| Mrs. Robinson has no money to pa,
. the doctor. Shall stay at home to
night :"
|. "No, father" exclaimed John, ca
gerry. "go and see her, and you may
take my half dollar"
"And mine, said Mary.
. "And my cake" said Ellen.
"And buy Charley rocking horse.
said Willie.
"Cosne, children" said Mrs.yvhar.
ton, "James shall load the hand-sled
with woosl, and carry blanket and a
quilt. will find basket with some
l thing for supper. and perhaps we cal
make them comfortable"
"But, Johnny" asked the doctor
! "why do you stand so still, while 9th
ers are so busy in getting something
!. for the poor family :"
"I was thinking, father" replied
Master Johnny, "of what we said JUS
now,-that our Saviour penf about do
ing good and that it would be more
like Him, five could 60 as we'll as send
Mayn't l go, father!"
"Certainly, my son."
"And father, may go 2" asked Ma
! ry, placing her hands in her fathers
and giving him a most beseechinl
4 look.
Its bleak, cold night" said tn
i doctor, "most too cold for my Mary,
} lear; but ask your mother"
) Mrs. Wharton hesitatcd, but it wa
i but for moment. She knew that Ma
ry could be made comfortable for tn
4 short ride, and she was unwilling t
lose sogood an opportunity for teaching
her practical charity.
nj And now, yhile Mrs. Wharton ant
the children are filling the large basket
j and James, the hired man, is loading
: i the sled, and Mary and John are muf
+ fling themselves for the ride, we viii
. . 60 to the other ireside.
g Far out in the suburbs, on an opc
r. field, where the wind has full swee
e this dismal, stormy night, stands an oil
a brown house, which families, who ca
not afford to pay rent, had one afte
!" another deserted, and which would B
" tenantless now, but Mrs. Robinson ca
,e find no other shelter. Within tina
l.. house, a little boy is laying the las
re stick upon the Fireplace, and tear
n trickling down his cheek. which h
Is quickly wipes away; in the corner
IT the room is low bedstead, the cover
10 ing of which was once good, but thoug
% clean. is ragged and worn now. Ther
Is lay the sick girl. and her mothe
al kneeling at the bedside, was holdln
in one hand those Of her daughter. an
10 with the other was pressing hcr for
h..5 The xrinJ roarctl vitholt ar