Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-06-02
THE LITTLE

One rainy afternoon in the earliest part of Au-
tumn, | heard a low knock at my back door, and
upon opening it found Il peddler. Now ~peddlers
are IL great vexatiOn to me they leave the gates
open, they never have anything | want, and |
don't like tie faces that belong to most of them,
especially those OF the strong men who 90 about
with little packages of coarse goods, and | al
ways close the door upon them, saying to myself
lazy.
This was a little hey, md he was pale and wet
and looked so cold that | forgot he was a peddler,
and asked him to come in by the fire. | thought
he appeared as though he expected | was going to
buy something, for he commenced opening his tin
box, but l had no such intention. lie looked up
III my face very earnestly and sadly, when | told
him to warm himself NY the fire, and did not
wish 10 purchase anything. He rose slowly from
his scat, and there was something in his air
which reproached ny, and | detained him to n
quire why he was out in the rain. lie replied
81 am out. every day, and can't stay in for n
little rain besides, most peddlers stay at home
then, and | can sell more on rainy days"
"llOw much do you earn in a day ?"
sometimes two shillings, sometimes one, and
once in a while | get nothing all day, and then
rna'am, | am very tired"
Here he gave a quick, dry cough, which star
tied me.
GLOW long have you had that cough2"
81 don't Know, ma'am."
Does it hurt your"
"Yes, ma'am."
wv here does your mother live ?"
"ln heaven, ma'am,', said, he uHmoved.
"llave you a father?"
ayes, na'am, he is with mother" he replied in
the same tone.
"llave you any brothers or sisters?
Il have a little, sister, but she went to mother
about Il month ago"
"What ailed herr"
'She wanted to see mother, and 80 do l, and !
guess that's WHY l cough So"
Where do you live?
with Mrs. Brown, on n. street."
Does she give you any medicine for your
cough ?"
Not doctors Medicine.-she is too poor, but
she makes something for me to take"
xvii you take something if | give it to you ?"
"Nu, ma'am, | thank you: mother took med.
icine, and it didn't help her, though she wanted,
to stay, and you see | want to go; it would not
stop my cough. Good day, ma'um."
wait a minute" l said, II want to see what
you carry"
lie opened his box. and for once l found what
! wanted. Indeed, | didn't think i. would not have
mattered what he had. | should have wanted it
for the little peddler had changed in my, eyes
he had Il father and a mother in heaven, and Sc
had |. How strange that peddiers had never
seemed like peOple-human, soul filled beings be
fore. How thankful he was, and how his greai
sunken, blue eyes looked into mine when | paiC
him.
You don't ask me to take q cent less" said
he, after hesitating a minute, 81 think you mus
he rich"
'Oh, no." | replied. 81 am very far from
that and these thiags are worth more to mt
now than | gave you for them. Will you CONF
again"
Yes ma'am, if l don't go to mother soon."
Are you hungry"
mo ma'am, | am never hungry now, | some.
times think mother feeds me when | sleep, though
| don't remember it when | am awake. ! only
know l don't wish to eat now, since my sister
died"
Did you feel very sad then ?"
"IfLlt very big in my throat, and thought I was
chstea I'M ] didn't cry a bit, though | tels very
lonely at nishtfu q while: butt am glad she's III
there now?"
'Nahady, hat | know l am. Perhaps I'll g
before Christmas"
! could not endure that, and tried to make hin
stay, tut he would run and tell Mrs. Brown VIVA
good luck he had met with. lie babe mo gooc
day again cleerfaiiy, and went out into the colt
rain ubite l eouid only say,
God he with you my child
4 lie never cslse sSsia, though l looked for hin
every DAY At length about New Years / wen
LIS Sae place ne called home. Mrs. Brown va
there, hut the little ~pigrimI ass weary feet wer
al rest. and never more 1ouid hiS gentle Ina.k b
heard "a tae door oS those, who like a,yseif, forge
that necessity and stern gSat often sent abJ<.
Ties Saodc:eEs ir3Ts house to house, and ttei
employment TsSght DE far more unsteady 10 tlie1
thhn saSay5rz ss as 1 have learned \ Iessng
and / never sec a peddjeT asnd;qg with his load
SSE my heart S0ftens tn them, and 7 woader j
tAty &s S@f wish 70 lay aside their burden and !
al resi- Bonaxs' Adz0caie