Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-02-26
INIVHI Iuc . .. DeIIIVVI AT
L M so COL D i.
BY MR.. oUIGG.


2 . above zero. We all know what that
means, and shiver to think of it. But
the wind is high too-a bitter, gusty pit
tiless wind. 1t takes up the dust from
our filthy New York streets, and hurls
it at you ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS if you
had committed crime against it, and
it were pursuing you with special ha-
tired. Every grain of dirt which strikes
your face, comes like particle of ice,
spitefully shot at you from gun, and
cuts the skin with sharp pain.
1t is necessary to face it. Between
Fthe Office and home are three miles of
frost and wind, and prosecuting dust
The omnibusses are all full. They al
ways are when You want them. If you
wish to cross Broadway, on a fine day,
the miserable things, empty as politi-
clans promises, fill the whole street and
put your life in peril. If it be raining
or showing, or hot or cold enough to
make walking torture, you see only
one here and there, and that full twice
over. Decidedly, omlibusses are nui-
sance.
"Ugh, ugh" said |, shivhring for all
my wadded Raglan, and careful cas-
ings of head, body, and limbs-"Ugh
what weather. What city, be-dev,
lied by small potatoe politicians
Everything dirty, despicable and SC
miserably cold-the worst governed
city, and the worst climate in the
world"
But the three miles were to be walk.
ed, and muttering was no use. So, halt
shutting my eyes, by way of preserving
enough ofthem for future use, | breast
ed the north wind, and faced the NOV.
ing sands, on a Thursday evening in
December, 1856. Whoever happened
to be out of doors that night, will re
member it. The thermometer marked
two degrees above zero, and the wind
acted like wind that had gone clear
crazy, and was resolved to cut up as
had never been cut up before. / bore
it, and bore up against it as long as
could; but by the time / had come t.
Bleecker street, my patience and forti
tude had completely given out, and
turned the corner. BY taking a stree
narrower, and less exposed than Broad
way, / hoped to get home without being
either frozen to death, or "buried quick
by the momentary increasing whirlwint
Of dust. -.. -s
As hurried on, with muffied face
and head depressed, selfshly intent up
on my own disagreeable feelings, anC
prevented from uttering some yer.
strong expressions of disgust and annoy
ance, by nothing except the vision OF
bright fire and good dinner which
knew were waiting for mel heard
something patter, patter along behinC
me. | did not notice it much at first
directly ,however,it struck me the SOUND
was like that of bare feet. Bare feet OF
frozen ground on such a night! Ant
mine were pinched and aching with thu
cold, which got at them thro' my thicl
shoes and heavy CATERS. No, it coul'
mot be bare feet. Bare feet could neve
endure it a minute. They would grow
numb and useless. They would freez
and drop off. 1t could not be human
being: it must be little dog trottin!
along behind me.
''Well," thought I, Il pity even Gu
without home, on such n night as this.
SO looked around, meaning to whistl
to the poor dumb brute, and if he woul'
follow me home, the few squares l ha
Ivet left to walk, to give him house roor
until the morning, ut any rate. 1t wa
Ian odd idea; but the time was odd, an
the cold made one think kindly even Q
another mans dog.
But when | looked, there was no do
to be seem No, there was no dog, bu
there was little boy trotting along bt
hind me-trotting along on two httl
feet, two little bare feet, black with din
and cold.
caught his profile: it was hant
t some face. y tattered cap hung upo
! rather than covered the back of his heaa
and the hair escaped from beneath
! thick and brown. 1t was hair which
wealthy mothers pridewould have turr
+ ed into Hyperion curls; but he was
child of the poor, and it was matted il
to elf locks about his forehead ard eyes
But the forehead was smooth and oper
and the eyes so sorrowfully sweet, tn:
YOU wondered how two such rarely Luz
Ltrous gems; such an incredible pair {
9 amcthvsts. could he in such possession
; I walked slower and let him come up
me. | noticed that he had q little ba
ket on his arm, and that in it there WEI
three or four boxes of matches. But h
was not crying them; he was cryin
with the cold. | knew the reason
.e his tears, but asked him what W.
the matter. He never looked up; b,
answered mechanically: ''I'm :
coldr'
"What do you stay in the street 70
then, why don't you go home?"
There's no fire there, and I'm
cold-and mothers so cold-oh, I'm
cold"
Icaught him by the hand, and erie
''come along, You poor little wretch, al
get warm.
He thought, probably, that I meal
70 take lin TO tAe station house, or {