The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-05-19

oui cannot tell you clearly my IitiIe hislory
without. The next day, and the nexif my
little merchant was ri his stand. In the
meanwhile, Nannetic, with the ACTIVITY Pc
culiar 10 her, had made fresh discoveries,
aud was full Of information. The family
above consisted oian old man, and his i've
grand.children-a boy, my little apple mer-
chant, and his sister, sick in bed. Thoy
had lost father and mother, sumo months
since, Of cholera; and The old soldier, ioe
such he was, with great difficulty Kept them
in bread. Indeed, Nannetie said she .ooult
no, make oui where The lille did come from.
One afternoon, some days after receiving
this intelligence, ! happssed in the kitchen,
as my little friend passed up the stairway.
some III greater than 4 rest was being re-
cered, ior the big tea, e ,rc conrsing down
his hollow cheeks. strange impulse
seized me 10 follow HIN. was framing in
my mind some excns . b the intrusion asq
followed unnoticed, for 10 was busy wi,h
his sorrows, and n vain attempt to choke
down his sobs and tears. Arriving nj the
lopmosl landing, ] had 10 parse Tor strength
aud saw him 60 into door partly open,
which he left ajar behind him. In mo.
men, followed. The door was open 70 aid
a poor chimney, and rs II was, looked
through smoky atmosphere upon the sick.
ness and misery within. The room a half
garrei, with ceiling sloping 10 the floor,
and lii by a skylisht Of four panes, was nj.
most des,i!uis Of furniture aud 30 dlmmcd
by smoke, itrescrlbled den. An old Ia
bls---on which were few dishes--,wo bro
ken chairs, and low col made up the cum.
Upon The cot, saw, through The gloom, a
Thin pale face, The counterpart in death al.
most Of my little apple boy an old man.
whose snowy head seemed 10 gather about
and increase The light OF the aparimeni-
The boy stood with his back 10 me in 81.
lence.
"Well, Maurice, my child, did you SEQ
my old general and will the doctor come!"
II was a minute before the boy replied
"They dove me from the door - the
doctor says he has not time, but he will
have Maria taken 10 the hospilal.'
The oil man started, anG said quickly
8" Not there, not there-we have given Il
enough" Then aiter pause he added
" Patience, my children, the good father
will find US yet"
The little sufferer lificd skeleton hand,
and placing j, on The old mans, said
q" am better now much bclier-I will
be well soon, grandpa"
ielt myself an intruder on sacred ground,
aud hastened 10 offer my services. The en-
barrassment connected with such rendering
of assistance was greatly increased by ihe
pride OF The old man. He who did not hes
ilaie 10 expose his aged head 10 The blasts OF
winter upon public bridge, and beg for
his children, shrunk back proudly when
his poor home was entered, and lis secret
life laid bare. drew, however, the prof
lered chair 10 the other side oi the bed, and,
taxing fevered hand in mine, soon found
a way 10 the old mans heart and conf
dence. BY degrees had their history
was told how he had lost his brave boy
how tho wife followed, and how they sank
deeper and deeper ia poverty, until slarva.
hon itself was there. The grandfather had
sought work, bu, was TOO feeble for any
service. The children had s,riven brayely
in many ways, until Marie was taken sick,
and then The furniture and ordinary CON-
forts disappeared, until the las, son went,
and the poor sufferer sank nearer and near
or TO death.
will moi dwell upon This sad picture.
mentioned This instance oi distress TO my
fiend Madam b. and she who knows cv-
erylhing wo!ul, had among other mailer
stored away The cipher which, marked up
on letter addressed TO Louis Napoleon,
takes il directly 10 his hands. She wrote
10 him tha, an old soldier OF the grand army
was starving 10 death a, No.-Sl. Sulp'ce.
She received no answer, and no nolice
whatever seemed taken Of her kind appeal;
but soon aller, an unknown heart came ~
tho assistance Of our poor friend. The fur
niure was restored, fuel and food came in
abundanlly, a Sister OF Charity took her
position by The bed side, and, stranger ihnn
all, one Of The mos, eminent physicians OF
Paris came daily 10 the garrett. saw The
fair donor Of all this good-a stranger 10
me, although her face from cause seemed
familiar. She came in plain private car
RAG, remained but q short time, yet was
very thoughtful and kind. -
Poverty could be driven from the door,
We, sorrow remained. Earth had no min
eral, The fields no herbs, science no skill,
% bring the fleciing shadow back TO lile.--
The physician shook his head sadly, and
every day went more slowly from The hum.
ble home. But il was all in vain; we iek
that sho was dying. One afternoon lille
Maurice came Tor me; ], was indeed the
closing scene. About the bed were galk-
cred the strange lady, the old man, the
Sister of Charity, Maurice and myself
The winds, sobbing rai,led the sleei upon
the roof, AZ we bent over that little couch
10 catch the last iain, b;ea,h. How slowly
The hours wore away. The storm without
gradually grew still, as The little bIea'hines
camo quicker and lower. Al last !hey
ceased-,he storm and struggle-and sud
denly The sun broke through The sky.llgih,
falling in glory upon the lille form, the gray
head. and The beautiful face Of the fair ben.
eiac,ress, and no earthly coronation can ev.
or make her appear hall so beautiful rs sie
was BY The lille couch OF poverty.
These things are done, We are told, ior
political effect, well, perhaps SOL am only
happy in knowing that they are done.
SEEING GoETnE. Celebrated men are
often much annoyed by the visits of siran.
gers. A student once called al Goeibes
house, and requested 10 see him. Goethe,
contrary 10 his usual custom, consented 10
be seer, and after the student had waited
shor, time in the an,echamber, hs appear.
ed, and, without spenking, took chair,
and sealed himself in The middle OF the
room. The student, far from being EN-
barrassed by this unexpected proceeding,
took a lighted wax candle in his hand, and
walking round The poet, deliberately viewed
him on all sides then, sc,'ips down the
candle, drew on, his Purse, and, taking
from Il small piece Of silver, put Il OH the
table, aud went away without speaking q
word. .,..... ......... .-.lf f...