Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-02-29

er, whose choice il was to call their
boy Cyrus. 1t was great day to
them both. great day to all the
neighborhood, when the baby was
sent to the log school-house and chris.
tened. What a world of little fine
stitches there were in the white dress
that was made out Of the mothers old
one, and how carefully and proudly
the father held the old green parasol
between the sunshine and the soft
cheeks and winking eyes of the dar-
ling whom he was sure nobody could
see and not love. In the shadow Of
every tree they paused as they went
along, to ask the young mother IL she
thoaght there was ever so bright and
promising boy as theirs.
"If be does as well as he looks"
she would say. IL shall be. o. so
thankfull"
And then for little way Thomas
Battershall would walk very fast
perhaps resolving within himself that
his pretty boy should have good ex-
ample. He knew not his own weak
ness--poor Thomas Buttershall.
Much they wondered. as they went
along, whether or not their offended
parents would be at the meeting. and
yet they were sure they would be
there; how coutd they stay away when
their sweet little baby was to be chris
tened. They would be there. father
and mother both: and they would
come and kiss the child, and bless
them by saying they forgave them,
as they never had said; and then. tho't
Sally, we will need nothing more to
perfect our JOY,
And the sermon was preached, and
the hymn sung by as many as could
get into the house: and little Cyrus
was baptized with water. and after
ward by the kisses Of nearly all the
congregation. But John Fisher and
his wife were not there; they refused
even to look upon the fsce of their
unwelcome grandchild.
But the baby grew none the less
for dirth Of their kisses, mistaken and
hard old folks that they were: and his
mother was almost perfectly happy as
she sat with him on her knee, and in
his wide open. wondering eyes read
the promise of great things to be.
When a year old he could toddle
about the room and say "papa," o.
so plainly. But often and often there
were tears in the mothers eggs when
he called thus con6dingly, for often
and often it happened that no father
was there. The lost jug had beer
found and filed many and many Q
time. and m any and many a time there
had been no teaspoon full of tea in
the house since the nurse empress wen1
away And Sally would tell her boy
that father would come directly
knowing all the time that he would
not; and il he grew impatient she
would softly smooth his curls. as he
pillowed his head on her bosom, and
smiling in his baby beauty, faI
asleep.
Sometimes on the grass at the door
and sometimes in the hearth-light. The
old dog would play with little Cyrus
for an hour. and this was all the play
nate the little fellow had. Plenty o
little children there were in the neigh
borhood, but their parents would no
allow them to play with a drunkard'l
child. When he was old enough te
90 to school, his beauty and quick
parts made him friends, and for Z
while he had playfellows enough
But by-and-by came envy and jeal
ousy-for there is no Lighthouse so low
that these bad spirits will not 60 int
It; and so It came about that little
Cyrus often sat alone in the shade. ant
tho't Of bis ragged coat. when all thu
other children were at play. The
games were easily made up withou
Cyrus; there was no place for him
poor boy.
One day bluff, bad boy told hin
outright that they did not want hin
in the play
"why don't you want mc?" asked
the child, piteously; II haven't don'
anything. have I?'
"You have got drunken father
and your grandpap won't own you
answered the boy in his coarse vul'
garity; $50 you may play with whom
you can,"
Cyrus hung down his head ant
went away. and never afterward asket
the boys why he could not play.
Poor Sally cried moro bitterly fol
her boy than she ever had for hers ell
when he told her what had been sait
to him, and asked what a drunkart
was. and why his grandfather voult
not own him.
On the whole, this selfish conduc
on the part Of his mates was q help Il
Cyrus; and the less he played tn
more he studied, and thought, SO tha
when he was twelve years old his mas
ter said he was the best scholar il
school.
About this time the hope that Sail,
always cherished, that her parent
would yet be reconciled to her mar
riage. and perhaps help poor Thoma
to a few acres Of ground, died, ant
was buried in despair with the rest o
her hopes.
They not only refused all theil
daughters overtures but cut of
all prospective peace, BY adopting, q
their own. pretty orphan girl abou
the age of her ownCyrus.
Jenette Miller was the name of tn
black-eyed beauty and heiress; for
was no secret in the neighborhoo
that her foster-parents designed :
settle upon her the bulk of their prop
erty, cutting Sally off without far
thing, and giving very little to tn
sons, whose wheels had worked we
in the world. and made fortunes fc
their owners. Sally tried to hop
that Thomas would strive more eal
nestly for himself, there W as no hops
Twas not to be expected, howevel
and, if anything. Thomas did wors