The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-10-25
SARAH POISON.

w u6b 6QuGST uhnl6 ! dlQ HOG nuCA VI
name either. It belonged to a very
small Poston, a daughter of a Poston.
We thought it queer when we heard it,
and so we listened to hear more of it.
A lady and a little girl was going by
-or rather, we were going by a lady
and a little girl. The little girl had
sat down a basket upon the sidewalk
and said, Oh dear !"
The basket was heavy-too heavy for
the little form that bore it. 1t con-
tanned the clean cloths of somebody's
washing. Somebody, perhaps, that was
just then saying Obi dear that lazy
wash-woman, why don't she bring home
our cloths ?" Not my eloths-there
were too many of them for that. 1t
was a heavy load, and the little girl
said Oh dear !" with such a tone,
coming so from her own heart, that it
went home to the heart of the lady-some
have hearts-and she stopped and said
STOPPING down as she said it to lift the
basket, "What is the matter, little
girl2n What made you say "Oh dearl''
Is It because this basket is so heavy pr
Eyes, ma'ma, and because my arm
aches 80 and because I am afraid l
shall be to late.n
"Why too late ?n
Because ma said she was afraid /
should be late for Mrs. Heartgrind
told her last week if she was late aguin
she wouldn't pay her a cent"
Then why did your mother send
such a little girl as you with such a
heavy basket ?"
"0hi tits because my mother is sick
She could hardly set up to finish ironing
II did some of the small pieces. Oh
dearl l wish John was here. John
used to carry home the heavy basket for
mother. John was such a good boy"
"And who was John? And what is
your name ?"
my name is Sarah Poison, mama"
just then there was a new listener
The lady and the little girl did not 10
tiee either, perhaps, or that the writer
and a young, manipulating sailor boy
who just then came up behind him, were
getting interested in this street dialouge.
Sarah continued:
And John was a boy that lived in
our ally. And John had no father or
mother, but John was a good boy, and
he used to split wood, and bring coal
and get water for my mother to wash
with, and carry the heavy baskets. But,
Oh, dear John went to sea, and we
haven't heard from him for cen a. most
three years, mother says; I think it
must be a great while longer than that,
I was a little girl them"
What was she now but a little girl ?
She might be three years older aud three
years bigger; but they were three little
years, if they were long ones.
There was a slight movement behind
us as if the sailor heart of a young COM
panion had been touched, and sailor like,
he was going to bestow a portion of the
wages, just paid him for his last voyage,
upon the first needy little girl he met
In the street, He understood the Ian
.guage of a motion of our finger across
the lips, and said by action-actions
speak louder than words" Aye, aye,
Sir I will hold on till the little craft
has fired her volley."
The " little craft" continued as she
lifted her basket: "Oh dear, yes marin
it is heavy; but I am rested low. I
hope the lady will pay me, because il
she don't'-she stopped, sat down the
basket again, took up her little apron
it was a clean white one-wiped away a
troublesome little watery particle from
her eye, and
And what if she don't?" said the
lady.
dWhy then it will be so bad-and
ma sick-and the man coming for the
rent Monday"
1t was Saturday evening now.
|" Well Sarah, said the lady, for fear
she shouldno pay you, take that dollar
to your smother and that is my name
and number; ifyou are in trouble about
the rent next week, you come for me
and Twill see about it."
/" Oh thank you mama. But if you
please, you keep the dollar, and let me
keep the card, and 1 will ask my mother
first i'll may take it. Oh, but if you
will let her wash for you then
50 Well, what then ?'
g Then if John should come back,
and would help me carry the basket,
u Why then hurrah," said the young
sailor, the lady and Sarah started the
latter said, oh dear, how like Johns
voice"
/" Why then hurrah-my little jolly
boat
John has come back and will carry