Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-05-20


"I'll move along" said he, making mo-
tion to 60, but lingering as if he had the en-
crgy to rise
" | don't wish you to move along said ],
al really wished to know why you wanted
this money so much and what you would
have done with it,
I'D have bought bread for my mother
She's starving" he exclaimed, turning sud
denly towards me, with the great tears brlm-
ming out of his eyes again in spite of him
self
"Oh no, my child said y with a shudder.
81 hope not; she can hardly be starving with
plenty all about us.
what good does that do to us? We've
nothing to do with the plenty. She won't
let me steal, and l haven't had job these
three days
sis there no one but you to provide for
your mother? ?"
"No, ma am, not since she's been sick.
"If you are really destitute you should let
your wants be known. There are ways in
which you can be kept from starvation; be-
sides, il you were really obliged to chose be-
tween the two, don't you think it would be
better to beg than to steal -
"We won't chose between them. She says
she can starve. follow the coal carts all
the time, but the big boys g't all the jobs,
There's nothing for me to do"
"Do you see that trench yonder beyond
the currant bushes" asked pointing to the
garden. "There are caboages there, and
now that the frost is coming out of the
ground want them brought to the cellar.
There are two or three basketsful. | will
! give you fifteen cents to bring them In.
"Thank you, ma am. Got bAsket?'
$50 around to the kitchen door and ask
the girl for one. and come to me when you
are done.''
He hurried off to his work and returned
to my writing, which was soon finished and
the manuscripts folded for their destination.
| was locking up my writing materials when
Lewis came from the kitchen and told me
the coal was in.
"very WE'LL" said 1, "you may pay the
boys, and handed him the necessary am
cunt But now Katy followed him across the
dining room and looking over his shoulder
reported 'Cabbages IN, and waited for fur
ther orders"
"Let mo pay him, too, mamma" said
Lewis.
"No, 1 wish to see him. Katy, send him
into the dining room
"Now," said I, as gave him the money,
~ wish you to tell me where you live, and
if your mother is sick and in distress | will
60 and see her."
"Yesm," said he, with the gloom coming
back to his face, and he began in u listless
| way to tell me where she lived.
II believed what you told me-" said l.,
fixing my eye keenly upon him, for l had
been deceived too often to accept with full
credui,y all that heard; "Don't you wish
me to go and see your mother?'
Eyes M said he, after moments hesi-
tation; "but you won't come"
"Why do you think won't Gomez
"Many ladies tell me SO, but they never
come. | wanted somebody to come to her at
first, but it's no use."
81 know the place. said as his direc-
ton pointed me to tumble down tenant
house which l had often visited, land will
come this afternoon, or in the morning"
''Yes ma am" said he. bowling with a
graceful motion Of his ragged cap as he went
out of the room.
Prompted somewhat by the boys distrusi
of me, set out on my usual afternoon walk
soon after dinner, and not more than two OF
three hours had elapsed since he left me, be-
fore | was ascending the wietched stairs, up
up, up to his mothers room. A rackng
cough struck my ear as paused on the land
ing, When it ceased, knocked at the low
door, which was opened at once by the Goa
boy, who stood before me with the soo
washed away from his face, and his ragged
coat replaced by thoroughly clean, but wei
patched apron.
There is no chair said he, half timidly, "a
he ushered me into the room; "we sold thu
last one'
A few chips evidently gathered from tn
wood yard, and slips, were burning on tn
hearth, and on the bed on one corner la,
the sick mother with wretched looking lit
tie girl nestled asleep beside her. went u
, to the bedside, and looked into the larg
haggard eyes that were fixed upon me from
the moment of my entrance. She lay silen
under my scrutiny. which continued with
, growing recognition for two or three min
, utes.
"Sarah Harmon !" | exclaimed at length
"You know me then," she said turnin,
, her face to the pillow. 81 knew that yoI
would come. He told me what you said
and ielt sure that you would come"
, "Did you know who it was, Sarah ,-hav
you known that was living 50 near you !?
, "Yes, have seen you in your yard las
the shops: Charlie said it was the cottag
o with the roses-I knew tho place"
"And why have not known that you wei
suffering? You should have let me known.
II was better then," said she, feebly
"and you never liked me very we'll"
: This was true, We had grown u
in the same village. the roofs whel
we were born were within stone
throw of one another, but our natures wei
l. essentially different, and as our tastes led ,
n TO seek different ADJUSTMENTS, and differer
associates, We grew farther and farther apar
l. There had never been any enmity. but the
was little affection between us; and when
l. knew that she would marry the weak, u
!, principled Charlie Escott, simply because
,, had musical name, and graceful carriag
| liked her less than ever. She was Il
child of good Christian parents, but doub
q less they had erred much in the training
y this, their only child.
It Flom the time Of her marriage | ha
re known nothing of her. ! had removed to
30 distant city, and she had followed her hu
,r band s fortunes. OF rather misiortunes, fro
1t one wretched home to another, until he vi
1f laid in a drunkards grave, and she was le
in with her frail children, and her ruined heal
m to the poverty and contempt ofa drunkard
n family. 81 care nothing for myself" 81
rs said, ~ have done everything that humi
er nature could bear, only wish that some o.
40 may care for my poor children when a
I'd gone. Poor little Charlie has done ever
w thing for me, He is a good boy, and SOL