Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-04-09

speak d light hearted word. Their prospect
was one OF dcsolatlon and dread. What
was thcre--,rho was there, TO keep chem
from Starvation for II seemed rapidly CON-
ing 20 that
Tho boy went out that morning with q
heavy, heart; with the debt he and his
mother owed to Mrs. Gray following him
like spectre. slowly he walked along tho
streets, looking with an almost desphiring
glance about him, In wha, seemed truly the
vain hope Of seeing some place where he
should bc likely to End employment.
With his attention wandering from the
path before him. sudden stumble over
some obstacle in the way warned him to
heed hi. steps. Recovering himself, hn he.
held huge pile Of wood lying on tho side
walk, and the stick which had caused him
10 stumble rolling or into the street. Az
the umc time the shrill voice Of q bus,llnc
maid servant was heard In the doorway Of
the house hc was passing, scolding smartl,
because I" that stupid teamster" had left
the load Of wool lying there, and brough'
no one to saw IL and thcro was nothing :,
make Ere 10 &c, dinner. Her mis,rcs
came along. and in her turn viewed the load
Of wood upon the sidewalk.
" Something must be done. Ellen" she
sad. 81 II must not h. left lying there at
any rate. Who can we get to saw it3"
I, was no wonder that shc WIS little
astonlshed. to behold a.handsome. bright.
eyed lad Of some sixteen years, neatly clad +.
though with garments little thread.hare,
step forward, nying, half eagerly. and yet
with eyidcn, hesItancy, "Madam, II you
wish, | will do IT,"
Ills voice tremblcd as he uttered these
words. lie seemed to grow pale as he await.
ed her answer.
She regarded him with curiosity and sur
prise. "You3" she sad, inyoluntarily
aloud, aud with an accent Of pcrpleIei as-
tonishment.
4 burning blush covered the boys brow
for moment, then faded away.
"Ycs. madam" he answered.
She looked at him still, unable TO recon.
eile the biy's appearance with his strange
request. H. was nothing less than a gen.
tlcman's son. and he offered to saw her
wood In, he was waiting; and suppress.
ins her a-ionishment, she answered
81 should be very glad to have 1t done.
II you are willng-anL able. You will find
i, hard work, I am afraid. Ellen. bring
the saw and the res, Of the thing, from the
cellar"
1, was done. She told the boy ho might
throw the wood through the cellar window.
which the maid had opened, then went in
and shut the door
Harry Scllcn's face burned again, as be
took the saw In his hand, and that hanl
ircmblcl like leaf Bata moment, and
ho resolutely shook oG the strange sensation
his novel position led him 10 experience.
Nonsense 80 he said to himself. "what u
coward? No indeed am going to carry
Mrs. Gray portion OF her rent money this
afternoon"
He set out bravely to perform his task
II was strange one. but he had watched
men doing this work, hundreds Of times.
I, was hard work. as he had been told, but
hc vas not afraid Of hard work, he was
young and strong. I, would take him
long time, but he would be willing to work
twice as Ion: FOR the reward he should gain.
lie was only too glad to be permitted to do 1t
az all. 4 stout, well.dr,ssed elderly gem
tlcman who wns passing while this little
scene was progressing, regarded Harry
with curious aud attentive looks. In
tho boys gen,lcmanly, ye. impoverished
appearance, his cagerness to obtain this en-
ploymcnt, humble as I, was, and in the hot,
eyanescent blush. manifes,ins brief feel
ing OF shame, overcome by strong win, and
a truly sensible mind. he read Harry .story.
There's lad who'll make his way IN
the worldr no mutterd to himself as he
passed along.
Meanwhile, Harry had commenced his
task, and though he handled it somewhat
avkvardly, so that l, gave him the greater
trouble, he Pcrseyercd AMI made tolerablc
progress. After while the saw no longer
caught in the wood, and jerked, and stood
still, but ran smoothly along. and began to
give some satisfaction. Stick after stick
was severed, and added to the now rapidly
growing pile down in the cellar. The labor
was iatiguing, and llarry's arms ached :
but he worked on.
Three hours passed away, and he piled
his task with an unwearied determination.
there came along again the old gentleman
Of the morning. Ho halted. and looked
steadily a, the boy.
"You are working hard there, my lad"
he observed.
Rather-ys, sir" Harry answered,
speaking quietly, bu, slightly colorins.
"NOt doing it for amusement, ell ?" he
said.
=" Hardly, sir" answered Harry, gently
and respectfully; "no, not for amusement,
certainly, bu, from necessity"
"That same necessity is something OF a
iyrant I have found i, so myself. But
your father might have hired man to do
his work." said the old man, pretending to
be iynorant of the true state Of affairs.