The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-06-18
Grandpapa's Beggar Boy.
By MRS. CAROLINE A. sOuLE.

"Do but hear me, papa--do but have pa.
tience with me few short moments, while
I tellyou exactly how found them. In
cellar, psps, dark, gloomy. musty cellar
In nsTsw lane. where the sunshine never
beams, where the birds never sing, where
aowers never grow, where all 10 flth and
fOttenhess; and he Icy, yes, .our darling
Charlie lay upon few bundles Of damp
straw, with only thin sheet to cover him,
and SO pale, wan and emaciated--".
"Mary,,I commend you to cease" aud the
old mans voice fairly trembled with anger
HE made his own bed--let him lie in itr'
"But, papa, the veriest sinner in the world
would gain your pity did he suffer as now
does your only son. And then his wife, so
careworn, yet go sanity, and his two sweet
babes--"
"Henrken to me, Mary" exclaimed Mr.
Somers, in a vehement tone; "f you stop
not ihis instant, further pleading for" in
spite ofhis anger his voice grew husky here,
"that infatuated boy, that unflial son, TINT
rebel to home; il you ever speak again Of
him to me or rny other friend, I'll cut you
off with but one shilling. Twill, ay, by all
the saints in the calender, I will. 90 10 your
room, before" curse you, too, he was 60.
| isg to say, but then she glided softly to his
knee, nestled upon It as In olden time, wound
her fair arms around his nRck, and hushed
his voice with Kisses. o ........
"Go to, sis, you are but foolish girl after
oil, and mean well enough" said he gently,
as one and another sweet caress melted up
on his lips and cheeks, "but as you love me,
and as you value your inheritance, never
again allude to this subject, interdict 1t
henceforth and forever" And the old man,
gently touching her pale forehead with his
lips, and gazing moment in her dark, blue
eyes, brimfai OF tears, turned abruptly from
her, put on his overcoat, gloves and hat,
took up his golden headed cane and walked
away. .... .
It was a bright, beautiful winters morn.
ing. A light snow had fallen the night be-
fore, and now every dingy roof sparkled Ike
a marble terrace, while the streets and by.
ways seemed lined with swans down, 50
'eathery were the pure drifting fakes that
had whitened their dark pathways 1t was
yet early, and but few were abroad. Mr..
Somer's footstep was the first that imprint.
ed itself on the yielding snow, and childlike,
he pleased himself with marking howstraight
was the path he made. and how regular the
fall of his foot. But the long avenue was
paced at length, aud then he came to crowd
ed ,horoughfare, and was jostled about as
all the rest. He went TO the market, the
grocery, the coal yard, for the wants of his
household reached to all three tina! morning,
and then turned his steps orce more to.
words home. The walks were not yet swept,
and as he again traversed the noble street, at
whose farther end stood his princely home,
he saw with pleasure his own footprints yet
fresh in the snow, and carefully followed
the track. He had walked half the distance,
when a slight, hoarse cough arrested his at.
tention. The sound came from behind him,
and looking back he saw little fellow but
four or FIVE years old, only a few yards dis.
tant, and was amused to see the efforts he
made to follow in his own broad steps,
"Now I go up, and now I go down." would
he say to himself, as he raised and let fall
his tiny feet, and then, when they dropped
in the right place, he would clap his little
red hands and shogt loud hurra. But in
the midst of his glee, his foot slipped and
down he went But he lay only moment,
and then was gently raised by Mr.. Somers,
who exclaimed as he held him in his arms,
\ "now you are up" = .zs- arr.t ..e.- .-as =
eyes, sir, and now am down." and he
slid from the arms and stood proudly alone.
1T didn't hurt me, SIR" .-.-....
"You are brave boy not to cry over a
fall like that. Who are you, and where DO
| you live!" 'n g..re @d' r"
i 80, am little beggar now, and l live
in little cellar, too. Please. sir, did you
ever B g., and win you tell me how, csuse
mother sent me out to beg some breakfast
, for US all, land don't know what to say,
], only I'm very hungry and SO is little sis and
poor mother, and sick father. too. Are peo
[ple good 10 little beggars, sir!' ,'' a4N
. There was a Daiyete about the little one
i. so earnest and SO true, that it melted the oil
mans heart entirely, and too full Of tears t.
speak, he only took the child's hand in hi
own and led him to bic own warm breakfas
room. Softly did Harrie, for such he toll
them was his name, softly did he nestle il
the velvet chair that was drawn closely t
the glowing CRATE, and with wondering eye
did he look about him. while Mr.. Somer
and the maid rubbed his red palms and feel
,""And now that you are warmed, .youn
. Harie, what would you Ike to sat?" z q
g "Buckwheat cakes and honey sir. use
to love them dearly and we used 10 hav
them fore papa grew sick and poor" An
: it did the old mans heart good to see th
{ little beggar'eat. g. ~, f.Tal M
! "Why. you Were half starved" said be.
y 10. yes, sir, we've .heeH starving for
. week, but mother couldn't bear to own "