Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-02-27
The LlssIs .Outcass.

<*%*{ - IVY tsss% *&et ~ ~ MY <st*tsN
you give me, cut wood, 60 after water.
and do all your errands.
The troubled eyes Of tho speaker wore
filed with tears. II was lad that stood
at tho outer door, pleading with kindly
looking woman, who still seemed TO doubt
the reality Of his good intentions.
The cottage sat by itself.on . black
moor, or what in Scotland would have
bccn called such. The time was near the
latter part Of November. and tho fierce
wind ratified through the boughs Of the
two naked trees near the house, and Asd
with shivering sound into tho narrow
doorway, as II seeking for warmth at the
blazing fire within.
Now and then snowflake touched,
with Its soft chill, the check Of the listen
OF, or whItened the angry rednsss Of the
poor boys bcnumbcd hands.
The womsn was evidently unwilling 70
grant the childs request, and the peculiar
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 grey eyes. or ap-
parently heartfelt distress his words sue-
gosted.
"Come in at any rate. till tho good man
comes homo; there, sit down by the FIRE,
you look pcrishod with the cold." and she
drew upa rude chair TO the warmsst corner,
then suspiciously glancing at tho child
every little while. she continued setting
the table for supper.
Day after day passed, and yet tho boy
begged to bo kept only til tomorrow; 20
the kind couple concluded. after duo con-
sdcration, that as long as he was docilo
and worked so heartily, they would take
caro- Of him.
One day, in the middle Of winter, q
Ipedlar. long accustomed 10 trade at the
cottage, made his appearance, and readily
disposed Of his goods as II he had been
waited for.
"You have boy out here splitting
wood, Isec" he said. pointing TO the yard
significantly.
"Yes--you know him?"
II have seen him." replied the pcdlar
evasivcly.
"And where-who Is hcf'
"A Jail bird,v and the pcdlar swung biz
pack over his shoulder; that boy, young
as he looks, I saw in court myself, and
heard his scntence-tcn months. He's q
hard one. You'd do we'll to look keerful.
ly after him.
! Oh! thorc was something so horrible Ia
tho word Jail. The poor woman trembled
as she laid away her purchase, nor could
she rest till she had called the boy In and
assured him that she know tho dark par
Of his history.
Ashamed and distressed the child hung
down his head his checks bursting with
tho hot blood; his lips quiversd, and an
guish was painted as vividly Oh his fore
head as II the word was branded into tn,
whole frame-rolaxing. as IL burden o.
concealed guilt had rolled OF: "I may al
we'll 60 to ruin at once-therc's no Us,
trying to do bcttcr-cvsrybody hstes and
dcspiscs mc-nobody cares about mo-
may as we'll 90 to ruin at once"
"Tell me-" said tho woman, who hat
boon lcssening the distance between tn en-
how came you to 50 30 young to such I
terrible place? Where was your mother
Where was"
"0hm exclaimed the boy with . burs
Of grief that was terrible to behold, oh!
ha'n't got any mother-oh! ! ha'n't hat
no mother ever since was baby. II ID
only mother" no continued, his anguisl
growing moro vehement, and the tear
gushing out from his strange eyes. -
wouldn't have been bound out and theI
kicked, and cu1cd, and laid on with whips
l wouldn't been saucy, and got knockes
down, and then run away, and stole be
cause was hungry. Oh? Ihan't got NJ
mother since I was baby"
With strength all exhausted the poo
boy sank upon his knees. sobbing grea
choking sobs and rubbing the hot tear
away with his Iknuckles. And did tha
, woman stand thcro unmovcd Did sh
coldly bid him pack up aud DO Off No
l mo- She had been mother, and thougl
all her children slept under tho cold so'
In the churchyard she was mother still
! She went up to the poor boy, not ;
: hasten him away, but 10 lay her finger
kindly, softly upon his head--tos tell hin
to look up, and from henceforth find 4
, her mother. Yes, she even put her arm
. about tho neck Of that neglected forsa
!, ken one; she poured from her mother
D heart, sweet. womanly words-words Q
good council aud tenderness.
Obi how calm was her sleep that nighl
! how soft her pillow Visions others
; filed up her dreams. Her angel childre
r came to her with smiles, and pressed he
D little palms within hers. She had linkc
Q poor suffering heart TO her own BY tn
: most silken, the strongest bands Of love
She had plucked somo thorns from th
path Of SHINING but repentant mortal
, Mono but angels could witness her hol,
: Joy without envy.
: Did the boy leave her I?
!, No--he Is with her still; vigorou
T manly youth. The low character Of hi
!, countcnance has given place1 70 an opsr
. pleasing expression with depth enough :
e make II an interesting study. His foster
4 father 10 dead his fcstsr-mother is age
.. 81 .;~tis t,,t shs kuov,s M ,vsnk Th