Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1856-10-02

ture-the dark night in the background,
and the little ragged boy, andthe brilliant
lights, and the great store with all sorts
ofrare CONNECTIONS, in front. No won
der it touched my heart. The boy start
ed as | laid my hand gently on his shout
der and looked up with his wild, eager,
bright eyes into my face.
oh, sir.' after moments earnest pc
rusal ofmy features, i was thinking if |
only could carry one of those cakes home
to Ellen; she is very sick, and-and (the
little fellows lips quiyered,) we haven't
had anything to eat for two days
4 did not speak another word; but !
caught hold Of the child and pulled him
after me into the store
Hand me down plate ofthose cakes,
| cried to the astonished clerk, who turn
ed with more than ordinary alacrity to
fulfil my request. | drew the boy into a
small sitting-room atone end Of the es-
Establishment. Now eat these as fast as
you can, and then tell me who Ellen is
His hungry look, the strange avidit
with which he grasped the food, almost
wrung tears from my eyes.
ELLEN Is my sister-my only sistersince
the baby died. We are alone now. Last
month, just after they buried mother, she
grew sick. 'spose it was because she
cried SO much; and she's been growing
worse all the time
And there is nobody to take care of her
now but you, my little fellow?
Nobody but me--the money mother
left IS all gone, you see, sir, and though /
sometimes earn a sixpence by selling pa
pers OF cleaning sidewalks, | couldn't
leave Nelly for the last week, she grew
50 much worse. O, sir, how good these
taste! | can't thank you, but / want to-
Well, you needn't, my boy. | want
no other thanks than your enjoyment Of
them
But mayn't take the rest. home to
Nelly? She'll be frightened I'm gone
so long. o, sir, if you'd only go with
mep
'Pll come and see you and Nelly to-
morrow | said, If you'll tell me where
you live, and now while you are eating
the remainder Of your cakes, III getsome-
thing that Nelly will like better
4 procured a basket which saw well
stocked with variety Of fruits and CON
iections most likely to tempt the appe-
tite ofan invalid, and adding to these all
the money had with me, | returned to
the child.
Go home to Nelly with these as fast
as you can,' said, and tell her that l
will come to see her tomorrow morn
ing. Now be man, my little boy, and
take good care Of sister Ellen, till then.
And are all these for her?' said the
child, as his large, wondering brighteyes
roamed over the basket. and she has
been moaning in her sleep after am
orange for a whole week. O, sir, we
will pray God to bless you for all this;
and he viii, for mother used to say he
would hold those in everlasting remem-
brance who forgot not the widow and
the orphan and tears of gratitude and
delight were showering fast down the
little fellows face as we parted.
'Thc next morning, Hattie, i receiv-
ed that letter which summoned me to my
fathers dying bedside. had, of course
no time to fulfil my engagements with
the little orphans, in which / had be-
come SO greatly interested; indeed the
mourful circumstances which drew me
once more to the home of my childhood
banished them from my mind
If you viii look down to that time,
my little sister, you viii remember that
April was weaving her green carpets
over the meadows before we parted, and
| returned to the city to complete my
studies, and then to enter that service in
which, before my fathers dying bed, l
had solemnly pledged myself to spend
all the life that God should grant me-
4 had forgotten the name ofthe boys
residence, but / know that made sew
eral attempts to discover it after my re-
turn to the city, all Of which proved in
effectual.
1T was the sunset of a bright day in
the early May-time, and even the great
city looked fairer for the sunshine that
plated the house-tops with gold, and
swept in golden flakes and dimples along
the pavements up which was passing
with some fellow students to supper.
Now, Marshall, remember to call for
us in time, for the lecture commences at
seven, and it will certainly be crowded,
called out one OF my companions, as we
reached the corner, where our paths di-
verged.
4 bowed my assent and adieu, and
was hurrying forward, when my coat
was suddenly grasped, and an eager but
timid voice said, Please, sir, is your
name Marshall?'
i turned and looked at the speaker.
1t was little girl, apparently about ten
years of age; her long curls falling in a
bright, tangled mass about her small,
sorrowfuk looking face, while her large
blue eyes were fastened with a kind of
painting eagerness upon my own.
y es, that is my name. And what do
You want with me, my little girl? | que
ried, greatly surprised at this singular
encounter.
20, sir, do you remember little boy
whom you met one evening last winter,
who told you he had sister Nell, and
The mystery was at once cleared up.
Yes, yes, / remember it ALL | inter
rupted. And you are Nelly, / SUPPOSE
and l surveyed the child with enchant-
ed interest. Her ragged garments, her
pale, mournful face, bore very legible
history--a history of sharp poverty and
bitter suffering.
80, am so glad--so very glad, sir!
and the light that broke into the little
care-worn face was beautiful to behold.
| Il was almost sure it must be, when the
gentleman called your name, and you
looked just as Willy said you did. o,
sir, / have looked, and watched, and
waited for you so many days, that | had
almost given up hoping.
Poor childl have been out of town.