Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-03-27
The Little Outcast.

4Nc Lulu OuICdSt,
May | stay with you, ma'sm? I'll
do anything you want-cut your wood, 60
for water, and DO all your errands."
The eyes of the speaker were filled with
tears He was lad who stood at the outer
door, pleading with kindly looking wo-
man, who still seemed to doubt the SINGER.
ity of his promises.
The cottage stood by itself, on what is
commonly called black moor. The time
was the latter part of September, and
fierce wind ratified through the boushs Of
the only two naked trees near the house,
and fed with shiverins sound into the
narrow doorway, as if seeking for warmth
at the blazing fire within. Now and then
snow flake touched With its soft chill the
cheek of the listener, or else whitened the
angry redness of the poor boys benumbed
h.-do. TL~ "~-------- evidently 10th 20
grant the bows request h". e~-'''
heart could not resist the sorrowful express
sion which marked his coun,euanee.
"Come in, at any rate, said she, Gun
til the good man comes home. There, sit
down by the fire. You look perishing
with cold" And she drew rude chair
up to the warmest corner; then, suspicious
ly glancing at the child from tbs corner of
her eyes, she continued setting the table
for supper.
Presently came the tramp Of heavy
shoes The door was swung open with
quick jerk, and the good man presented
himself, wearied with labor. A look of
intelligence was exchanged between hus-
band and wife, and he, too, scanned the
boys face with an expression not evincing
satisfaction, Though he made him come to
the table, and enjoyed the zest with which
he despatched his supper.
Day after day passed, yet the boy
begged to be kept "ouly till tomorrow "
so the good couple after due consideration
concluded that so long as he was docile
and worked so heartily they would retain
him.
One day in the middle Of winter, ped
lar, long accustomed to trade at the cottage,
made his appearance and disposed of his
wares readily, as if he had been waited for.
"You have little boy out there split
ting wood, see," he remarked, at the same
time pointing towards the yard.
"Yes; dc you know him?"
81 have seen him before" said the ped.
lar, evasively.
"Where who is he, and what do you
know of him ?"
"He's a Jail bird" said the pedlar,
swinging his pack over his shoulder.
"That boy, young as he looks, | saw in
court myself, and heard him sentenced to
ten months imprisonment. He's hard
one, and requires 10 be we'll watched"
Oh ! there was something horrible in
the word "jaily The poor woman trem
bled as she laid away her purchases nor
could she rest satisfied until she called the
boy 10, and assured him she knew that
hard part Of his history.
Ashamed and distressed, the child hung
down his head. His lips quivered, and
anguish was painted as vividly on his fore
head as if the words were branded into the
boys flesh.
"Wel," he muttercd, his frame relax
ing as if hope had entirely forsaken him,
81 may as we'll go to ruin at once!"
"Tell me-" said the woman, who stood
far enough off for fight, if she thought it
necessary, show came you, SO young, to be
sent to jail, that dreadful placer Where
was your mo.ber7"
"Oh !" exclaimed the boy with burst
of grief that was terrible to behold-"lve
had no mother ever since | was baby
If Id only had mother" he continued,
the tears streaming from his eyes, al
wouldn't have been bound out, and kicked
and cuffed, and laid on to with Whips, and
I wouldn's have had to run away and be
forced to steal cause was hungry! Oh
l haven't had mother since can rseol
leete