Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-03-09

farmer uliEseIf, Win his great Drown NStS
Sc, the example, and the Others, willing o
unwilling, were obliged to follow his lead
lie Lad agreed TO take John Cole, as h
said, more 10 get rid Of his mother
opportunities, than for any benefit h
expected to derive from him and whel
demonstrated with by his wife for bis foil
in giving her the trouble Of another brat
he answered shortly, "Never fear, I'll se
the worth of his viciuals and clothes out 0
him. Johnny was 10 have his boarding
clothes, and dollar month, for two wears
This dollar month was the great item il
Mrs. Coles calculations twelve dollars ;
year, she argued, would almost pay be-
rent, and when the tears stood in johnny:
great brown eyes, (Ior he was a pretty
gentle-hcar;ed boy,) as he was bidding
tLem all goodbye, and kissing the baby
over and over again, she told him abou
the money lie would earn, and nerycd hi.
little heart with her glowing representa-
tions, until be was able to choke back the
tears, and leave home almost chcerfully.
Home, yes, it was home; for they had
much to redeem the miseries of want with
in those bare cabin walls, for gentle hearts
and kindly smiles were there;
'The mother sang at the twilight fall
t. the babe Eali s!umlcEiug her knee"
there his brother and sisters played; there
his associations, his hopes, his wishes, were
all centered. When he arrived at farmer
Watkins and was sent into the large car
petcl kitchen, everything was so unlike
this home, that his fortitudc almost gave
way, and it was as much as he could do,
as he told his mother afterwards, ''to keep
from bursting right out" Mrs. Watkins
looked very cross, nor did she notice him
except to order him to stand out Of the way
of the red-armcd girl who was preparing
supper ard placing it on table lu the
ample apartment. Johnny looked with
amazement Il, the great dishes Of meat,
aud plates of hot biscuit, but the odor Of
the s,eaming coffee, and the heat, were
almost too much for him, as he had eaten
nothing since morning, for he was too
sorry to leave home to care about dinner
The girl, noticing that his pale face grew
paler, laughingly drew her mistress
attention to masters new boy"
:'Go out and bring in some wood for the
stovc," said Mrs. Watkins, sharply, ,"the air
will do you good"
John went out, and IN a few minutes felt
revived. Looking about, he soon found
the wood-shed there was plenty Of wood,
but none cut of a suitable length it was
all iu cord sticks. Taking an axe, he
chopped an armfull, and Oh taking it into
the house found the family had flushed
their suppers; the biscuits and meat were
all eaten.
"Comc on here to your supper" :" said
the maid servant, angrily, "what have you
been doing?' and without waiting for an
answer, she filed tin basin with mush
and skinned milk and set it before him.
The little boy did not attempt to speak but
sat down and ate what was given him;
Immediately after, he was sent into loft
to bed, where he cried himself to sleep
Ah when we count the thousand pulsa-
tions that yield pain or pleasure to the
human mind, what power to do good or
evil, is possessed by every one and how
often would kind word, or one sympath-
iziug glance, gladden. the hearts of those
thus prematurely forced upon the anxieties
of the world-but how few there are who
care to bestow them
The next morning, long before dawn, the
farmers FAM Y, with the exception of the
younger children, wcra astir. The cattle
were to be fed and attended to, the horses
harnesscd, the oxen yoked, and great was
the hustle until all hands were fairly at
work. As for johnny, he was taken into
the field to assist in husking corn. The
wind was keen, and the stalk, from recent
rain, were wet, and filled with ice His
scan'y clothing scarcely afforded any pro-
lection from the cold, and his hands soon
became so numb that he could scarcely
use them; but, if he stopped one moment
to rap them, or breathe upon them, in the
hope Of imparting some warmth, the far
mer, who was close at hand, in warm
W oolen clothes, and thick husking gloves,
would call Hurry up, hurry up, my
boy; no idle bread must be eaten here"
And bravely did johnny struggle not to
mind the cold and pain, but it would not
DO he began to cry, when the masfer,who
never thought of exercising anything but
severity towards those who laborcd for him,
told him stcrnly that if he did not stop his
bawling in a moment, he would send him
home. This was enough for John; any
hing was better than to 60 back and be a
burden on his mother; he worked to the
7cst of his ability until noon. At noon,
le managed to get thoroughly warm, be-
lind the stove when eating his dinner
Still, the sufrerings of the child, with his
insufficient clothing, were very great; but
nobody seemed to think Of the hire'} bay
being an object of sympathy, and thus he f.
The rule seemed to be to get I.
all that was possible out of him, and his .
little frame was SO weary at night, that he .
lad hardly time to feel rested, until called .
with the dawn to renew his labor. a .
monthly Sunday, however, was the golden
period locked forward to in his ay-dreams,
Or it had been stipulated by his parent,
hat on Saturday evening every four weeks,
le was to come, and stay all the next day.
And when the time arrived how nimbly
lid he get over the ground that stretched
him aud the goal Of his wishes. /
How much he had to tell But as soon
,s bo haCon 70 connlaip his mother voulI .