The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-01-10
A True Romance
The followinr extraordinarv

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lly, was deprived Of work by the depressed
state of his trade during the whole winter. I
was with great difficulty that he could get
morsel of food now and then for his famishee
wife and children. Things grew worse ant
worse with him, and at length, on attempting
to rise one morning, for the purpose of goins
out as usual in quest of employment, he fel
back in fainting condition beside his wife, VIII,
had already been confined to her bed byillnes
for two months. The poor man felt himself il
and his strength utterly gone He had two
i boys, yet IN mere childhood, and one girl
about twelve or thirteen years old. Fora Ions
I time the whole charge Of the household hac
fallen on this girl. She had tended the sicl
bed of her mother, and watched over her little
brothers with more than paternal care Now
when the father too was taken ill., there seemed
to be not vestige of hope for the family ex.
ceplng IN the exertion that might be made BY
her, young as she was.
The first thoughtof the little girl was to seek
tor work proportioned to her strength. But
thatthe family mlghtnot staEve, in the meantime,
she resolved got to one of the houses of charity
where food was given out, she had heard, to the
poor and needy. The person to whom she ad-
dressed herself accordingly inscribed her name
in the list of applicants, and told her to come
| back IN a day or two, when the case would have
been deberated upon. Alas! during this de-
liberation her parents would starve The oir]
stated this, but was informed that the formali-
ties mentioned were indispensable. She came
again to the street, and almost agonzed the
knowledge how anxiously she was expected
with bread at home, she resolved to ask charity
from the passengers in public ways.
No one needed the modest, unobtrusiye ap-
| peal OF her outstretched hand. Her heart was
too full to permit her to speak Could any one
nave seen the torturlng anxiety that filled her
breast, she must have been relieved. AS the
case stood, its tisnotperhaps surprising that some
rude being menaced her with the police. She
was frightened, Shivering with cold and CRYING
bitterly, she fled homewards When she noun
ted the stairs and opened the door the first words
that she heard were the cries of her brothers
for something to Thread bread!'' She saw
her father soothing her mother, and heard him
say, "bread-shc dies for the want of food!''
Il have no bread!" cried the poor girl with
anguish in her tones
The cry of appointment and despair which
came at these words from her father and broth
ers caused her to recall what she said and con-
ceal the truth. Il have not got it yet,' she
exclaimed, ''but | will have it Immediately. I
have given the baker the money, he was scry-
ING some rich people, and he told me to wait or
come back. l come to tell you that it would
soon beihere."
After these words, without waiting for re-
ply, she left the house again. A thought had
entered her head, and maddened by the dis
uesses of those she loved so dearly, she had
instaneously resolved to putitin execution She
ran from one street to another till she saw a
bakers shopin which there appeared to be no
person, and there, summoning all her determi
nation, she entered, lifted a loaf and fed! The
shopkeeper saw her from behind. He cried
very loudly, ran out after her, and pointed her
out to the people passing by. The girl ran on
She was pursued, and finally a man seized the
loaf which she carried. The object Of her de-
slres taken away she had no motive to proceed,
and was seized at once. They conveyed her
to the pollce-a crowd, as usual, having gath
cred III attendance. The poor girl threw des-
pairing glances around her, which seemed to
seek some favorable object from which to ask
mercy. At last when she had been brought to
the court OF the police Office, and was in wait
ing for the order to enter, she saw before hers
little girl of her own age, who appeared to look
on her with glance Of kindness and compass
sion. Under the impulse of the moment, still
thinking Of the condition of her family, she
whispered to the stranger the cause of her
theft
"Father and mother, my two brothers are
dying for want of bread!'' said She
"Where!' asked the strange girl anxiouslv.
"Rue -, No. TO-" She had only time to
and the name of her parents to this information,
when she was carried before the commissary of
police.
Meanwhile the poor family at home suffered
all the horrors of suspense. Fears for the
safety Of their child were added to their other
Affections At length they heard footsteps as
cendng the stairs. An eager cry of hope was
uttered by all the four unfortunates but a1as I
a stranger appeared in place Of their own little
one Yet the stranger seemed to them like an
angel! Her cheeks had a beautiful bloom, and
long flaxen hair feel in curls upon her shoulder.
She brought them bread and other provisions
"Your girl" she said, ''wil not come back,
perhaps to-day, but keep up your spirits! See
what she has sent youn' After these encour-
aging words, the young messenger of good put
no the hands of the father five francs, and
hen turning round to cast look of pity and
on the poor family, who were dumb
with emotion, she disappeared.
The history of these five francs is the most
'emarkable part of the affair. This little be-
1evolent fairy was, it is almost unnecessary to
say the same plying spectator who had been ad-
iressed by the abstractor of the loaf at the
police Office. As soon as she heard, what was
aid there, she had resolved to take some meat
o the poor family. But she remembered that
Ter mamma was from home for that day, and
vas at loss how to procure money ortood, until (
he bethough herselfof a resource of a strange ]
lind. She recollected that hair dresser who
lved near her mothers house, and who knew
Ter family, had often commended her beautiful
lair, and told her to come to him whenever she
Wished to have it cut, and he would give her
ouis it. This used tomake her proud and +
LEASED. and she now thought Of it in a differ (
Mt way. In order to procure money for the
ssistance Of the starving family, she went t
traight to tie hair dresser's, put him in mind {
his promise, and offered to let him cut off all
y | Il