Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-01-16

| ers, replled the mistress OF The Crown and
Magpie," snappisbly.
Perhaps you will oblige me by ascertain
ing"
"Too busy raam Hot water Sally
Three and eight pence, sir. lIalfand.half
directly
you can't go in there !" shouted the land.
lady, as Rachel was making her way towards
the paror. "AIine is respectable house
allow no females beyond the bar"
"But am Mr.. Hoiimans wife"
$50 they all SAY" answered the woman
! with u sncer.
There was course mocking laugh from
the crowd of half drunken wretches standing
near The eyes of Richard flashed angrily /;
but the voice, and still more, the imploripg
look Of his mother restrained him.
Let us return bome," she said in Ges
pairing tone. IL feel faint and sick at
heart"
And leaning upon the arm Of her son, the
unhappy wife tottered rather than walked
from the place.
The keen, frosty air partially restored her
strength and Rachel proceeded with her chill.
dren till she reached the thoroughnre leading
through st. Margarets church-yard towards
the Almonary, when a faint moan from Mary
whcm she still carried in her arms, arrested
her steps. She placed her hand under the
thin faded shawl which covered her; the child
| was cold as ice, and shlveriug as though sci.
| zed by an ague fit.
,'She is dying y gronned the terrorist rick
en- parent-"dying for the want of food |"
The heart OF her boy could endure no more
it was breaking. The cup Of misery aud
endurance had been flied TO overHowing.-
His brain was on fre--tearS could not eueuch
it.
Take her home mother" lie cred--"take
her home never fear but will bring you
food. Mary shnnt die! I'll eg-bcg," he
added anything to save her
Richard Richard do not leave me !
| shrieked his agonized parent Let me not
lose both my children! il you love your moth
er return-for PHYS sake return l'
The appeal came too late. Her son, stuug,
maddencd beyond endurance by the suiferings
of those so dear to him, had broken from her
feeble grasp, darted down the thoroughfare,
| and was already beyond the reach of her
voice.
Rachel clnng TO the ratings Of the church.
yard FOR support, till second moan, still
| iuInter than the first, sent pang through her
maternal breast
"She must not die in the street |" murmur-
ed Rachel. Home-home. if ! have strength
to reach it,"
"Ob, God ~ she cried with q sudden burst
of anguish, protect my boy! Shield him
| from crime; guard him against vices and the
! hdeous snares which in thousand forms as
sail unfriended youth; or take him." she sol
emnIy, take him in Thy mercy
1t was Christians prayer wrung from Q
mothers heart, uttered in faith, in agony, anC
tears; and angels bore it 10 the mercy seat
on high.
Clasping her perishing child yet closer tC
her aching bosom, the drunkards wife has
tened to her home.
! As Richard Holman rushed along the
street, scarce knowing whittier he went, anC
only intent on the one idea of getting, by SOM
means, food for his famished mother and sister
| he was hailed by Jack NaEders, an impisl
acquaintance who lived near Richards home
anu to whom he told the de9pCrate state il
which he had left those SO dear to him. Jaet
listened with much interest, and at once pro
{ posed to Richard 20 help him to pick the
pocket of an old gentleman, who was staring
into window on the opposite side OF The
street, Richard refused with horror, although
Jack urged the necessity Of at once getting
something to save the life of his mother ant
little Mary. Jack then undertook the busi
ness alone, aud Just as be had relieved the ole
gentle of kis pocket book, policeman spranl
from doorway to arrest him; but Jaci
made good his escape. Not SO Richard, whC
was at once seized by the policeman as an ac
complice of the escaped pckpocket.
Il Cm no thief, SIR" cried Richard break
ing from the strong grasp that held him, an'
throwing himself at the feet OF the old gentle
man, who had just come to she spot, 'ihougl
poverty and hunger tempted to me become
one. My mother and sister are starving"
The further history aud trials OF this poo
boy viii! be given in the New York Ledge
Of January l6, which is for sale at all thu
bookstores and news Offices,