Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-23
The LittIe shoes.

It is wonderful what triflings things produce
an influence on the heart and mind. A seed
born on the wings Of the wind, drops at last
into a suitable SOIL and by and by grows up
into a stately tree. A little spring leaps out Of
the side Of hill, aud the child, who stoops to
drink lof it, can span its breadth but It flows on
down to the valley, and winds along the plain,
aud gathers strength andyolume IN its course,
sill it rolls stately river, bearing the commerce
Of cities in the ships that navigate its waters
And so it is with human life. A look,
word, has changed the whole career Of many an
immortal being E4
The writer once lived opposite beershop
called the "Fox and Geese" and, with panied
attention, often watched the doings, and, alas
heard the sayings of the customers. One win
ter evening shoemaker's boy came with an
assortment Of children's shoes, aud the land
lady Of the "Fox and Geese, who had a most
marvellous shrill voice, began calling to lit
tie, dirty slave of nurse-giril to bring "Addle-
head"-as she pronounced Adelaide-to have
her new shoes tried on. / could see the little
creature, who was at once fine and filthy, sit
ting under the gaslight in the bar, and kicking
feet At last pair fitted, and the spoiled pet
was lifted up triumphantly in her mothers
arms.
Here, do look at her The darling has let
me get pair Of the very best ones on! Look,
Dad, dom sail the mother, calling TO her hus.
band, just then tall man, very thinlY clad,
came out Of the tap room, passed the bar, and
saw the child stretching out her feet for her fa-
thev to sec. Now, poor woman had beenhov-
ering about at the corner, peeping now and
then timidly into the bar-windoT, and then
creeping to the door; she had child in her
arms, and looked ready to drop dead with cold
and WEAKNESS.
| had seen that woman on many q Saturday
night waiting and watching for her husband tC
come out All there he is, riveted for moment
looking at the child showing her shoes with q
start be rouses himself and rushes out. "What
Bill, going so soon2' bawls the landlady. Bill
pulls his hat down over his eyes with one hand
clutches his Jacket tight over his chest, and an.
swers the words with sort of grant. He il
outsldei there is his wife and little one. For o
moment the woman looks at him timorously
and hall swerves aside, as If she feared d-what
will not write, lest tho manhood of my readers
should be wounded. Something in Bills look
re.assures her, and she goes goes up close tC
him, ieebly; but yet coaxiHgly. He took the
child from her tired arms-the little creature
gave short, quick cry of iright--and as he
lifted it, l saw that its little feet were bare il
drew them swiftly up under its poor irock, bu
not before the father saw them. / wish his ha
had been off that might have seen his face a,
those little blue, chilled feet met his eyes
noticed that he put them in his bosom, ant
buttoned his jacket over them and held the chill,
close, and went on his way with heavy stamp
as if he beat his feet down on the ground; hi
wife, slip-shod and tottering, had hard work L
keep up with him.
had a faint suspicion of what was passing
in the mans mind From that night wa
( glad that saw him no more among the frequen
ters of the "Fox and Geese" He and his wifi
and child for veal or woe, had dropped out o
my ken, and almost out of my mind
Some months after, there was a meeting a
the Temperance Hall of the district, and man,
working men were present. and gave their test
mony to the good effects Of perfect sobriety;-
now and then thev told little bits of their histc
5 ry, about the reasons that led them to give u
the public house. One tall, we'll dressed, res
pectable looking man listened earnestly, till on,
> who sat near him quite said. "Say a word, Wi
, liam Turner'S you've known as much about tn
/ mischief as one here or anywhere; come tellu
a for | never heard how il was you chsnGed rigl
about face, from the month of hell to TO the iie
of hope. Come, man out with il, it may-l
@ good"
u The young man thus urged, rose at the fir
word, and looked for a moment very confuse
2 all he could say was The little shoes they d
e IT." With thick voice as if his heart was
Y his throat, he kept repeating this. There vi
:, a stare of perpleXity every face, and at engt
8 some thoughtless young people began 60 titte
"a The man, in all his embarrassment heard tli
10 sound and rallied at once. The light came
a to his eyes with a flash, he drew himself up al
!, looked at the audience, tho choking wentfr
= his throat ayes, friends!" he said, in vol
/ that cut its way clear, as deep-toned be
= whatever you may think oft, I've told you 4
ID truth--the little shoes did it, was brute Al
a fool strong drink had made me both Al
starved me into the bargain. suffered, | d
p served TO suffer, but didn't suffer alone
"a man does who has wife and child, for the "
man gets the worst share But am no spoa
er to enlarge on that I'll stick 10 the little sho,
la ! saw one night, when / was all but done &
w the pnbIican's child, holding out her feet for i
IL father TO see her fine new shoes; it was a si
pie thing, but friends, no FIST ever struck !
W such a blow as those little shoes. They kick
eI reason into me. What reason have TO clot
ly others, and let mine 20 bare said |, and the
nd outside was my wife and chld-in a Bit
!. night. took hold ofmy little one with gr
~ and saw her chilled leet-men fathersl ii [
er shoes smote me, what did the feet dot II
US them as cold as ice to my breast; they pierC
be me through and through Yesl the little
n walked right into my heart, and turned out
Az sefshnesa, / had a triAe Of money left
ls, bought a loaf and pair Of little shoes. n
Ina er tasted anything but bit OF that bread all I
=. Sabbath day, and went to work like mad
Monday, and from that day have spent
10 more money at the public house That's al
iTo hayo got 10 say-"it was the little shoes Il
IL did il it."-British Workman.