Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-07-21
Mistellaneons.
The Little Shoes.

dace an influence on the heart and mind.
A seed born on the wings of the wind
drops at last into suitable soil, and by
and by, grows up into stately tree. A
little spring leaps out of the side of hill,
and the child, who stoops to drink of ii,
can span its breadth; butit flows on down
to the valley, aud winds along the plain,
and gathers strength and volume in its
course. till 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,
a word, has changed the whole career of
many an immortal being.
The writer once lived opposite beer
shop called the 'sFox and Geese" and, with
panied attention, often watched the doings,
sad, alas! heard the sayings of the custo-
mers. One winter evening a shoemaker S
boy came with an assortment of children's s
shoes, and the landlady of the "Fox and
Geese" who had most marvellous shrill
voice, began calling to little, dirty slave
Of nurse girl to bring "Addlehead"-as
she pronounced Adelaide-to have her new
shoes tried on. 1 could see the little crea-
ture, who was at once fine and filthy, sit
ting under the gasslight in the bar, and
kicking and screaming as the shoes were
coaxed on her feet. At last pair fitted,
and the spoiled pet was lifted up triumph
antly in her mothers arms.
"Here, do look at her! The darling has
let me get pair of the very best ones on
Look, Dad, dol" said the mother, calling
to her husband. Just then a tall man, very
tbinly clad, came out of the tap room,
passed the bar, and saw the child stretch
ing out her feet for her father TO see. Now,
poor woman had been hovering about al
the corner, peeping now and then timidly
into the bar-window, 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 Sat
urday night waiting ard watching for he1
husband to come out. All! there he is
riveted for a moment looking at the chilC
showing her shoes; with a start he rouse;
himself and rushes out. "What Bill, going
so soon?" bawls the landlady. Bill pull
his hat down over his eyes with one hand
clutches his jacket tight over his chest ant
answers the words with sort of grunt.-
He is outside; there is his wife and littl'
one. For moment tie woman looks a
him trimorousiy, and half swerves aside, a
if she feared-what I will not write, les
the manhood of my readers should b
wounded. Something in Bills look re
assures her, and she goes up close to him
feebly; but yet coaxipgly. He took tn
child from her tried arms-the little crea
ture gayea Short quick cry of Highland
cas- be lifted it, saw that its little feet wer
bare; it drew them swiftly up under it
poor frock, but not before the father sav
them. wish his hat had been off that
might have seen his face as those littl
blue, chilled feet met his eyes. / notices
that he put them in his bosom, and button
ed his jacket over them and held the chil'
close, and went on his way with a heav,
stamp, as'if he beat his feet down on th
ground; his wife, slip-shod and totteripo
had hard work to keep up with him.
I had faint suspicion Of what was pass
ing in the mans mind. From that nigh
I was glad that saw him no more anon,
the frequenters of the "Fox and Geese
He and his wife and child for veal or wot
had dropped out my ken, and almost out {
my mind.
Some months after, there was meetin
at the Temperance Hall of the district, IN
many working men were present, and CAV
their testimony to the good effects Of pei
feet sobriety; now and then they told lii
tie bits of their history, about the reason
that led them to give up the public house
One tall, well dressed, respectable lookin,
man listened earnestly, till one, who sa
near him quite said: "Say word, William
Turner: you've known as much about th