Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-02
By W. d. WALLACE.
YOUNG PEDDLER.

"
autumn, / heard a low knock at my back door,
and on opening IL, found q peddler Now,
peddlers are q great vexauOn to me; they leave
the gates open; they never have anything
want, and | don't like the faces that belong TO
the most of them, especially those of the strong
men who go about with little packages of coarse
goods, aud l always close the door upon them,
saying to myself "laxy"
This was little boy, and be was pale and wet
and looked so cold, forgot he was q peddler,
and asked him to cOue in by the fire.
thought be looked as though he expected I
was going to buy something; for he commenced
opening his tin box; but had no such inten-
ton. He very earnestly looked up in my face,
and also sadly when / told him to warm him
self by the FIRE, and that / did not wish to pur-
chase anything. lie rose slowly to his feet, and
there was something in his air that reproached
me; snd!i detained him to inquire why he was
out in the rain. He replied:
9 L am out every day, and can't stay in for a
little rain; besides most peddlers stay at home
then, and can sell more on rainy days" "
How much do you earn in day?h
Sometimes two shillings, sometimes one;
and once in while get nothing all day; and
then, ma'am, am very tired "
startled me
How long have you had that cough"
don know, ma'am.''
"D0es it hurt your"
Yes, ma am
Who're does your mother Iive?r
In Heaven, ma'am, said he, unmoyed.
Have you father"
"les, ma am, he is with mother, 4" he replied.
In the same tone
Have you any brothers and sistersor
had little sister, but she went to mother
about month ago"
What allied herr
"shs wanted to see mother; so do 1, and
guess that is why cough So
Where do you live?''
With Mrs. Brown, on N street"
cough!'
Not doctors medicine, she is too poor; but
she makes something for me to takeh
VIII you take something if give il to you!"
No, ma'am, / thank you; mother took
medicine; it didn't help her, though she wanted
to stay; and, you see, want to 90; it wouldn't
stop my cough. Good day, ma'sm."
Wait minute; l want to see what you
carry"
He opened his box and for once found
what 1 wanted. Indeed, l did Mt think it
would have mattered what he had 1 should
have wanted it; for the little peddIer had
changed In my eye-he had a father and mo-
ther in heaven, and so had l. How strange
that peddlers had never seemed like people
human, souls filed being-before. How thank
ful he was, and how his great sunken blue
eyes looked into mine when / paid him.
lou don I ask me to take cent less, -" said
be, after hesitating minute. II think you
must be very rich. y
Oh, no, l replied, 81 am far from IT. and
these things ars worth more to me now than l
gave for them. Will you come again?
les, ma am, If don't 20 to mother soon.'
Are you hungry
No, ma am, L never feel hungry now. |
sometimes think mother feeds me when sleep,
though don { remember il when am awake
only know don't wish to eat now, since nv
sister died.
Did you feel very sad !''
FELT very big in my throat; and thought
| was choked, but didn't cry bit, thoug 1
felt very lonely at nights for awhile; but / am
glad she's up there now"
Who told you that you were going to die ?"
Nobody; but / know am. Perhaps III
% before Christmas
could not endure that, and tried to make
him stay; but he would run and tell Mrs Brown
what luck he had met with. He bade me good
day again, eheerfully, and went out into the
cold rain, while Icould only say, ''God be with
you, my child
lie never came again, though / looked for
him every day. At length, about New Years
day, went 70 the place he called his home
Mrs Brown was there; but the little pilgrims
weary feet were at rest, and never more would
his gentle knock be heard ut the door Of those
who, like myself, forgot the necessity and stern
want that often sent about these wanderers
from house TO house, and their employment
might be far more unseemly to them than an
nOying to US.