, 1859-09-10

him. For with moderate abilities only to re-
coumcnd him to the world, how eau he make
bis standing good if he be not prepared to sup
port incessant buffeting. His wants must I've
10 humble that he may be able TO aaye-ay,
part Of crust 4 mountain plant, sir, he
must flourish upon the dry rock. ], sir land
Mr.. MaEbcll glanced through llis glass at the
dancing bceswingl nm the nrcl,itect Of my own
fortune. once swept tho oflice Of which l
nm now the principal. 1met men on their own
ground sct my shoulder firmly to my work,
aud found thai had need Of nj! ny strength
to conquer. Ny boy shall have tougher skin
Il tir1ncr muscle than lind. lie shall learn to
rough it"
Mr.. Marbell crnpted Ills glass, and with two
delicate fingers dropped his first cool olive into
his mouth The oracle Lad spoken
An east wind was curling the autumn leaves,
aud compelling cabmcn to draw their horse
cloths tightly about their legs, on the evening |
when the oracle held forth from his cosy tenn
pie, with beecllwood fire happily mingled |
with zen coal upon its altar.
Master Gussy was up staira Hc was IN
led. Six o'clock wns his bedtime. In cor
ucr Of All empty room was hard straw palli-
asse upon tho naked ground; two rugs Gov
cred 1t-suflicient, in the opinion OF MaToell
(below, now, eating his olives ior the covering
Of boy destined to rough It. There tue little
Spartan lies sleeping with all the grace Of ten
years; his arms under hss checks, his mouth
parted, and lis white teeth glnncing through.
There are two red patches upon hls cheeks;
around, tue hesh ls mllk White: We glance
about There arc his coarse blue clothes;
there is his little canvas shirt buttonless at the
throat. But we look in vain for socks or shoes
Dear me, sir, chimes Rachel, Master G"ssy
doesn't wear none, please Sir
'On these bitter days-through this tf'gid
mre oi our London roads-under these Wafery
skies-srontlLE s this sharp sleet Of ours, to 30
barefoot
Master SAYS he's TO he sparlns; but rs
my beilei they4 XII Aina-so taefc. I've sa'o
Kacfel assumed daring atttnde, as thooeh
shc - had chanted the Aasselialse' nnder INC
iulieraes wlndo"s-and more haa in1ly lh-
1enoea II ior me car Oh Inc master "ltmh
Ihen tho enla has breakfasts as no dos
what respected h1sseh would 80 mach as look
at anu ior dlnneEs-"hy. lucy make my hear1
break to sec his poor little teeth Il tussilas
Win EN-;
hachel Looked tendefiy upon inc sleeping
noy, ofcW 1he coarse rugs tsayng, defe
things TO cover cllld!'} about LIS Ambs, ana
k1ssco nm:
Surely Gussys mother is looking down up
on you, gentle, uucoutl Rachel. Looking
| down and hoping that you see her; and that
you will still, again md again, kiss Gussy for
her. Slave Mt ten pounds per annum, we be-
lere tt.at, as you say, you would not stop an
other hour under Mr. Marbeus roof II it were
not for Gussy. But then--we trust you know
and ieel 1t--ilow sweet it is Of an evening to
come into this empty room, and know that as
yon watch this little sleeper, and covered his
bruised md hardened tect somebody tar above
this garrett IS watching you and thanking you.
Not that this goodness oI yours seeks reward;
but there must be comfort in the falth that you
are doing double good here in your humble
way-to Gussy, and to Gussy's mother. We
were By, good Rachel, though you saw us not
us under the chin from the burning earth. Wo
felt that we could not bear the situation many
ninutes Lazily, lcat-oprressed. we were about
when those big, red hands Of yours drew with
a tenderness Of heart that made them light rs
any lady's, the thorns from poor Gussy's feet.
But there will be tho1ns IN them again TO-
morrow, and again the day after, ill the flesh
has hardened, and can resist them. As Gus
sy's soul is to harden, as Gussy's muscles arc
to harden.
Ne call Gussy to mind years after We
glanced into lis drcaIy bedroom; after Rachel
lad been discharged for giving slice Of bread
and sugar to her little master; after the neigh
bor],ood in which Mr. Marbel lived runc
with shouts Of indignation against Gussy's
father
Mr. Marbelt Ind retired from business at
length in order to devote all his energies to
til hardening Of Gussy. That he might s,-
periutend the icy coldncss Of lis uursery. the
pIainness Of his food: his Isolation from other
Toys. Day after day, Gussy barelootcd With
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