Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-04-09
NJ | S c Il l. l. A N Y.
THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS.
ny EDGAR l.. HAMMOND

pOoI-loohlhS ~ " Nas, Nlis iVom r'I'Ni ~
parlor. stting.room and kitchen, all in one,
10 those who. until few months since, had
never dreamed Of the ills Of poverty. IL
had single occupant, a pale, sad, anxious
looking, but s,ill beautiful woman, Of some
thirty.fvo years, clad in black garments,
the robes OF widowhood. She was fair, aud
slender, and delicate her white, well.kept
hands showed Ter unused 10 toll but, In
the light Of the sunset, she was stitching
patiently and earnestly away upon some
coarse, heavy work, ill.Giicd for those sligh,
fingers; work such as is found in plenty in
closc.piled warerooms, by starving Scans.
trcsses, but for which is received pit,ance
that is bat the mockery Of remuneration.
that scarce serves to keep soul and body To-
gether. Work, over which arr shed bitter,
bitter tears OF despair and hsari.ansuish,
by strained aud toil.wearicd eyes, tina, mus,
not close above their labor. even though
midnight ovor,akes them. aud the dawn
stall find them plying their task. lest the
norrow's bread bc wanting, aud a more
terrible fate shall come.
But Emily Seldcn, though her tired heart
nigh, well gi'e way. dared no, weep thosc
to'r' that many another weep, pursuing
task, like this. They must bO kept back
they were a dangerous luxury, AMI sho had
struggle before hcr that they would not
help.
SIX months since, in tho capital ofa DIS.
tant State, her husband had been rich
and prosperous merchant, but the tide Of
fortune has It's turns for all. and the man
who called himself wealthy, wealthy though
he nigh, BE- that day. was a bcgslr lhc
next. Then the poyerty.sirickon family,
the father. mother. and their one boy came
here in the hope Of change. There caIue
q change. There came change indeed, 10
the guisc of death. that took away the main
stay Of that lttle band, aud Iclt the mother
and her son alone 10 battle with thcir fate.
stranger, as they were. in strange land.
They had lived. and that was all, since then,
and now their slender m.lns, the little sun
that Mrs Sclden had lcl, after her husbands .
funeral. was entirely exhausted.
For many days hack young Harry Scldsn,
a boy OF fourtscn. had been seeking employ.
mcnt. His mother was glad In obtain even
the wrctched occupluon tha, engaged her
now bat every anH'ous ciIlr, bad becn un-
auiluus, and upon the miserable sun she
earned - painfully, it was impossible to
subsist. What we're they to dol
Tonight, Harry scldcn, after a day OF
weary, heart.brcakips. fruitless search for
work, came home tired and dc.pairing, hi.
frank, ingenious young face bctr,yins his
sad feelings. Ills mothers anxious counte-
nance questioned him concerning his sue.
cess, as she pat aside her work to welcome
the weary lad butsho saw only diappoint.
mcnt in hi- dark eyes. and her heart sank.
"No better fortune to day than ycster-
day. mother" hc said, with halt sigh.
" No ono wants n clerk, no one a salesman.
No one wants even an orrand.boy." He
smiled half bitter smile as he said IL.
Z" Did you ask to be that, Harry"
Was the mother to be blamed that &C.
crct pain filled her heart as she asked the
question? Her handsome, high.brsd, deli
cate boy-Eiward Scllen's son, Of whom he
had been ~ proud, an errand.boyl She
hoped Tor something hn'e higher. But
Harry himself checked the rising feeling Of
humiliation that, for an instant. possessed
the breast of each. lie was very young,
and had both pride and ambition bat he
had liberal share OF strong. good sense. a.
well; and hs siw that pride and poverty.
In his case, must not interfere with each
other.
:" Yes, asked for that, mother :" he
said, quietly and seriously; his voice had
longer the sarcastic tone Of the previous mo-
men,. 'for could &c, no other situation,
and thought that would be better than
nothing: but no, even that was to be had" "
lilo sighed again, unconsciously, as he
concluded. The sigh echoed fhintly from
his mothers lips as she turned hopelessly
away. Even more than usual trouble sat
upon her brow tonight. The boys atten-
ton was drawn sorrowfully to her unquiet
cOuntenance.
What has happened since ! went away
anything, mo,her7" heasked. "Snrely
nothing new in the way Of misfortune has
belallen us
Mrs. Gray came up this morning, and
asked for the rent !" his mothers voice
trenbled as she said II "it is due two
weeks now. She must have 1, to morrow,
or at least part OF 1t. IL is four dollars,
and we have no, a half dollar In the world,
Harry"
She turned away again, with the tear
that WouH rise now, choking her utterance !;
and Harry covered his face with his hands,
in utter despair. Bu, !, was only for mo-
ment, he would not give way long.
Never mind, mother" he said. I" we
shall not gain the means to pay 1t by la
mentins over the necessity. Let US hope,
at least. Mrs. Gray. you say. must have
at lcas, part Of the rent. tomorrow!
Then must get IL, that is all. Courage,
mother. Tomorrow. I will try sgain. Who
knows wha, good fortune Imay meet WITH"
Even through her tears, Emily Selden