Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-01
EVENING STAR.
THE LITTLE PEDLER.

tumn, L heard a low knock at my back door
and upon going to open it, L found a pedler
Now pedlers are great vexation to me-they
leave the gates open, never have any thing L
want, and don't like the faces which belong
to most Of them, especially those of the strong
men, who go about with little packages of
coarse goods, and I always close the door upon
them, saying to myself-laxy.
Ihls was little boy, and he was pale and
wet, and looked so cold that forgot that he
was pedler, and asked him 10 come in by the
hre. thought he appeared as though he ex-
pected me to buy something, for he commenced
opening his tin box, but 1 had no such inten
ton. He looked up in my face very earn
estly and sadly when told him that only
wanted him to warm himself by the fire, and
did not wish to purchase any thing. He rose
slowly from his seat, and there was something.
In his air which reproaehed me, and detained
him to inquire why he was out in the rain
he replied. " am out every day, and can't
stay In for little rain besides most pedlers
stay at home then, and can sell more on
rainy days" --
How much do you earn in a day?''
" Sometimes two shilings, and sometimes
one, ard once in a while get nothing all day,
and then, ma am, am very tired.
Here he gave a quick, dry cough, which
startled me. ..-.
How long have you had that cough?''
v.
"Don't it hurt YOU ?''
Yes, ma am"
" Where does your mother live 20
In heaven, ma am, he said, unmoved.
Have you father ?''
Yes, ma am, he is with mother" he re-
piled IN the same tone.
"Have you auy brothers or sisters ?n
:" had a little sister, but she went to mo-
ther about a month since''
" What allied her l''
'sShe wanted to see mother, and so do 1,
and guess that's why cough 500
"Where do you live ?'
"With Mrs. Brown, on N street."
Docs she give You any medicine for your
mot Doctors medicine, she is too poor. but
she makes something for me to take
to you 20
No, ma am, thank you mother tot modi-
cine, and 1t didn't keep her, though she wanted
to stay, and want to 60, SO it wouldn't stop
my cough. Good day, ma'am.n
" w ait a moment / said, GO I wait to see
what you carry" He opened his box, and for
once found what L wanted Indeed, don't
think it would have mattered what he had L
should have wanted it, for the little peder ad
changed in my eyes-he had a father and
mother in heaven, and SO had I. How strange
that pedlers had never seemed like people
human, soul-flled beings, to me before How
thankful he was, ard how his great sunken
blue eyes looked into mine, when 1 paid
him.
" You don't ask me to take a cent less, !"
said he, after hesitating q minute; % I think
you must be rich.''
sob, no. replied, I'VE are very far from
that; and these things are worth more to me
now, than gave for them. Will you come
again %
Yes, if don't 60 to mother SOON"
Are you hungry ?"
"No, a'am, Pm never hungry now; |
sometimes think mother feeds me when am
asleep; only know that don't wish to eat
now, since sister died"
Did you feel sad them
:" felt very big in my throat and thought
was choked, but didn't cry bit, though |
felt very lonely at night for while; but am |
glad she's up there now"
die? ?''
."Nobody, but know am Perhaps I'll
go before Christmas" |
could not endure that he should go out In |
the storm that day, and tried to make him |
stay, but he said he would run and tell Mrs
Brown what good luck he had met with. He |
bid good day again cheerfully, and went into |
the cold rain, while l could only say, "God |
be with thee, child' |
He never came again, though I looked for |
him every day, and at length, about New /
Years, went to the place he called home. |
Mrs. Brown was there, but the little pedler /
had gone before Christmas. Poor little pill L
grim his weary feet were at rest, and never
more would his gentle knock be heard at the /
door of those who, like myself, forgot that ne
cesslty and stern want often sent about these
wanderers from house TO house, and that their /
employment might be far more unendurable /
to them than annoying to Us. 1 have learned
a lesson, and never see q pedler bending /
with his load, but my heart softens to them,
and wonder if they, too, do not wish to lay
aside their burden and be at rest