Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-10-31
nlistrIlanrons Arttflfs.
THE LITTLE OUTCAST.


The cottage sat by itself on a bleak
moor. or what in Scotland would have
been called such. The time was near
the latter part of November, and fierce
wind ratified the boughs of the two naked
trees near the house, and fed with a
shivering sound into the narrow doorway,
as if seeking for warmth at the blazing
fire within.
Now and then snow fake touched,
with its soft chill, the cheek of the listener,
or whitened the angry redness of the
poor boys benumbed hands.
The woman was evidently unwilling
to grant the child's request; and the pc
culiar look stamped upon his features
would have suggested to any mind an
idea of depravity far beyond his years.
But her woman's heart could not resist
the sorrow in those large gray eyes, or
apparently heartfelt distress his words
suggested.
"Come in at any rate, till the good
man comes home there, sit down by the
fire; you look persisted with the cold,
and she drew up a rude chair to the
warmest corner; then suspiciously CLAN
cling at the child every little while, she
continued setting the table for supper.
Day after day passed, and yet the boy
begged to be kept "only till tomorrow :
so the kind couple concluded, after due
consideration, that as long as he. was do
Gle and worked so heartily, they would
take care of him.
One day, in the middle of winter, {
peddler, long accustomed to trade at the
cottage, made his appearance, and read
lily disposed of his goods, as if he hac
been waited for.
"You have boy out here splitting
wood, l see" he said, pointing to the var
significantly.
Yes-you know him ?"
81 have seen him." replied the peddle
evasively.
Z" And where-who is hep"
GA Jail bird = and the peddler swun
his pack over his shoulder that DO,
young as he looks, l saw in court mysel
and heard his sentence-ten months
He's hard one. You'd do well to loo
keerfully after him."
Oh! there was something so horrib
in the word jail. The poor woman tren
bled as she laid away her purchase; n,
could she rest till she had called the be
in and assured him that she knew tn
dark part of his history,
Ashamed and distressed the child bur
down his head, his cheeks bursting vii
the hot blood; his lip quivered, and al
guish was painted as wildly upon h
forehead as if the word was branded in
the whole frame-relaxing, as if a bu
den of concealed guilt had rolled off:
g. may as we'll go to ruin at ono
there's no use trying to do better-eJ
rybody hates and despises me; nobo
cares about mel may as well go to II
at once"
"Tell me-" said the woman, who Il
been gradually lessening the distance
tween them, how came you to 90
young to such terrible place? VIII,
was your mother? Where was"
"Oh!" exclaimed the boy with a-bu
of grief that was terrible to behold. " c
L han't had no mother ever since l wa
baby. If I'd only mother" he cont
ued, his anguish growing more veheme
A and the tears gushing out from his strar
,bo eyes, Il wouldn't have been bound c
nm and then kicked, and cufed, and laid
of with whips. wouldn't a been sau
.ous and got knocked down, and then !
rib away, and then stole because 1 was h
the cry. OH l han't got no mother sine
ting was baby"
zinc With strength all exhausted the D
the boy sank upon his knees, sobbing or
1t is choking sobs and rubbing the hot tie
nds away with his knuckles. And did t
5ulf woman stand there unmoyed? Did
S of coldly bid him to pack up and be off
lean No, no She lad been a mother, ,
,ost- though all her children slept under
TT of cold sod in the church-yard she wal
ice mother still.
nder She went up to the poor boy, but
h in to hasten him away, but to lay her fine
med kindly, softly upon his head-to tell !
18TH to look up, and from henceforth to
h by in her a mother. Yes, she even put
Gulf arms about the neck of that neglec
the torsaken one; she poured from her m,
pass er's heart sweet, womanly words-wc
be- of good counsel and tenderness.
ritter Oh! how calm was her sleep
La night F! how soft her pillow Wis
nu- ethereal filed up her dreams. Her