Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-26

stormy morning. The little thing stretched
out her tiny red hand, and in her childish
voice heard, Please, sir, give me cent
to buy some bread 7 Why did not give
her what she asked and more, ask me not:
but drove her from my door, have shed,
many bitter tears over the fact, and prayed
many times to be forgiven the act of that
moment of my life. | told her to 5egone
and called her little Nab. She shut, the
door, and took my seat again by the fire,
but was not easy. I lit cigar and pufed
away at that, but could not forget the lit
little girl. Please, sir give me cent
was ringing in my year. | arose and walk
ed to the window. I rubbed off the frost
with my hand-and looked out, saw the
tracks of the poor little creatures feet, and
discovered for. the first time that she was
,barefooted; yes, upon that cold morning she
Was wading thro' the snow with her feet
bare; yes, there were marks of her feet in
the snow-and in the centre of one of them
was spot of blood. Great heaven what
would / have given to have called her back
Alas it was too late-and Please, sir. give
me cent, rings in my ear to this day.
| tried every way to forget the little girl,
but | could not-and every time looked
out of the window, there were those little
footprints | believe they would have drove
me mad, had not taken the Office broom
and erased them. Night at last came, and
the snow was still falling the wintry blasts
swept through the deserted streets, the snow
fell against the windows, and the trees groa-
ned as they bent before the storm. It was
a dismal night, and few were abroad. I
retired early and was soon asleep, from
which was startled by loud knock at the
door. Inwardly hoping that no poor mortal
wouldrequire my service that night, opened
the door. A gust of wind put out the light
and half filed the hall with snow. When
got nay eyes cleared, | perceived to my
astonishment, a little boy standing shivering
on the steps. He was poorly clad, and the
little fellow was almost frozen but he look
ed up into my face and the tears rolled down
his cheeks as he said, Good, kind Mr..
Doctor, will you come and see my poor
mother she is very sick, she is indeed-and
: mother is very poor, and she says she is
afraid you won't come because she can't paw
you, Sir and little Sis says she'll never
come to your place and make you angry
again, Sir, because she's very sick, and she
says she is going to die, Sir
Gould refuse such an appeal and from
such a source? No! went with the lit
tie fellow to his home. Away up in the
/ tan nf an aid frame house I faaand What he
e Of the world. | thought had seen poverty
! but [ must confess that [ never saw a
e sight like that before. A small piece Of
y candle was burning from the mouth of an old
/ ink bottle, by which got view of the pre-
$ misses, the windows were entirely gone, and
/ large drifts of snow had formed open the
$ floor. Upon bundle of straw, covered
with old rags l found woman, and the
!, little child of yesterday.
! My God 2 exclaimed, how can you
e live here on such nightY The poor wo-
v man opened her eyes-she was too far gone
n to speak, and pointed to crust of bread
IS upon the floor, for she had no table. !
D broke off piece, and she motioned me to
d give some to the little creature at her side
e. [ took the little girl by the hand and upon
,e doing so she opened her eyes, aad recogniz
+ ing me, she exclaimed, 'Oh sir, you viii
re not hurt me will you? assured her that
in would not, and she fell asleep again. They
of were both sick Cold and want had brought
r them to the verge of the grave; they wer,
81 too sick to be removed, and was thinkin,
ne how | could best make them comfortable
We when the little boy who had been standing
ce all the while spoke. ooh, Sir said he
ey can you do anything for them you won
I'll let mother and Sis die, and be buried in th
al ground as poor father was, will you, Sir?
ry told the little fellow that [ would do all i
Of my power to save them. asked him wh
he did not call me before. Oh, Sir say
he he, I was just going to see you yesterda
IA when Sis came, and she said you was dread
an fuI cross man, and she said you had drive
.rd her away, and was afraid you would pl
re me in the poor house, and | did not want
IN. go there, SIR
My Don't tell me it's unmaniy to cry!
ult must have hard heart, indeed, who cou
stand where I did and not feel as / did !;
told the little fellow was very sorry and
should never want for home or frier
while lived. I told him to watch by |
n mother and sister, while would go and 2
n some wood for FIRE, and some other necess
,ro ries did SO, and returning as soon as pC
. avo sible, found the little fellow completely e
its hausted, and fast asleep.
and The mother was dead, and the little gil
led fever was much worse. If it had been l
and own child could not have done more foI
,nle than did for that little girl but death h
: of marked her for It's own, it was too late, a
mes before the sun had set the following
,erv her little spirit had gone to him who g,
ain it. I saw them both buried. | shall ne
;;led forget the scene il. the burying ground;
and grave-digger with bis pick axe; that hear
oon. frozen earth mixed with snow that disI
Lot looking opening in the earth ; all form 2
: rp. of picture never shall forget. The
and minister who officiated has long been de-
no I there was no long line ofcarriages. no mou
had ers out that one small boy and myself.
7 20. minister and myself lowered them-mot
,ster- and daughter, into the same grave, WI
IN Of they will sleep until the judgment.
> WAS knows wept bitter tears that day, for | W
wind wiser man. A few words about that
wos and am done. He lives. / took hin
snow my home, reared and educated him; So
from twenty years since he made the South
blaz. home, and this day that little fellow
N INV was, is one of the most eloquent member
,or / the bar at, and an ornament to
oboId profession. He has been member OF
i not State Senate three terms, and of the Ur
Well States House of Representatives one.