Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-06-28
The Little Peddlers.

q The Little Peddlers
Ose rainy afternoon in the earliest part Of
Autumn, heard low knock at my back door,
and upon opening i, found peddler. Now
peddlers are great vexation 10 me; they leave
ihs gates open, they never have anything /
want, and don't like the faces that belong to
NEST Of them, especially those Of the strong
men who 60 abou, with little packages of
eoarse goods, and always Gloss the door up
on them, saying TO myself-lazy.
This was liule boy, and he was pale and
wet and looked so cold l forgot no was ped
dler, and asked him to come in by the fire. /
thought he appeared as though he expected |
was gaing TO buy something, for he commenced
opening his tin box, but l. had no such inten-
ton. He looked up in my face very earnestly
and sadly, when told him to warm himself BY
the FIRE ard did not wish TO purchase anything.
He rose slowly from his seat, and there was
something in his air which reproachsd me, and
detained him to inquire why no was out in
she rain. He replied
am out every day, and can't stay 10 for
little rain besides most peddlers stay at horne
then, aRd can sell more on rainy days
How much DO you earn in dayp
Sometimes two shilings, sometimes one,
and once in a while l get nethius all day, and
shen ma'am, am very tired
Here he gave 4 quick, dry cough, which
startled me.
How long have you had that coushr
don't know, ma'am.'
Does it hur, your
Yes, ma'am.'
Where does your mother live =
In heaven, ma am said he, unmoved.
Have you a fa,hert
Yes, am, be is with mother he replied
10 the same tone.
Have you any brothers or sis,ers.'
have a little sister, but she went to meth
or abou, month ago.
What allied her,'
She wanted TO see mother. and 80 do l. and
Iguess that's why cough so.'
Where do you live .
with Mrs. Brown, on N street,
Does she give you any medicine fer your
cough,'
No. DEBTORS medieine-she is too poor, but
she makes something for me tie take
Will you take something il give it Ia
your
No ma am, ihaak you; mother took med
icine, and it didn't help her, though she wan
isd to stay, and you see want to 60; it would
rot stop my COACH. Good day, ma'am.'
Wait minute,' said, / wan. to see
What you carry
He opened his box, and for once found
what wanted. Indeed, Ididnt think it would
nave matiered what no had. | should have
wanted it, for the little peddler had changed in
my eyes-he had father and mother in heav-
en-, and SO had l. How strange that Peddlers
never seemed like people-human, soul filled
beings, befors. How thankful he was, and
how his great, sunken blue eyes looked into
mine when paid him.
: You don't ask me TO- take a cent less,' said
he after hesilating minute, think you must
be very sieh.'
oh, no. / replied; an far from that; and
these things are worth more to me now than
gave you 70. them. Will you come again .
Yes, ma'am, if don't 60 to mother soon
z Are you hungry,'
No a'am, l never fell hungry now
sometimes think mother foeds me when sleep
though don't remember it when am awake
only know don't wish to eat now, since my
sister died.
Did you feel very sad then, .
felt very big in my throat, and thought
was checked, but didn't cry bit, though
felt very lonely at night for a while bu. I'm
glad she's up there now
- Who told you, you were going to die .
Nobody, but know am. Perhaps I'll 70
before Christmss.'
could no, endure that, and tried to make
him stay, but he would run and tell Mrs.
Brown what good lack he had met with. He
babe me good day again eheerfully, and wen
cut into the rain, while could ouly say,
God be with yoa my childr
lie never came again, though | looked fol
him every day. At length, about New Year.
] went te the place he called home. Mrs
Brown was there, but the little pilgrim hi.
weary feet were at rest. aad never more woulc
his gentle knock be heard at the doors of those
who, like myself, forgot the necessity and sterr
want that often sent about these wanderer.
from house TO house, and their employment
might be far more unseomly to them than an
moving to Us.
Father Sbehane. an old Univsrsalis, preach
c, in Alabama, is called BY. The people the
walking Bible n county court it was dis