The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-09-21
GRACE MAITLAND.

The morning light broke coldly: down
upon the earth, for a great fall Of dun
clouds had been blown into the sea by the
night winds, and the genial sun covered,
terror stricken, behind the black screen.
In little hovel in the outskirts of great
city, there were seated:two persons, moth
er ard her son. There was no fire on the
hearth to illuminate their haegard faces,
no rich lamp.lght 10 brighten with its GRIM
son glow the paleness which sat upon their
countenanc-s.
The boy arose from the rude seat where
he had reclined, and coming up TO the side
of The woman, he laid his hand affection
ately upon her shoulder.
Mother, il is nseless-<o grieve about it!
Why, not give it all into Gods hande W
But, my son, you are the sufferer rather
than I have you no complaint 10 make -
None OF What avail would it be /?
Mr.. Hardwick acts as he thinks right: is he
not justified 2"
Perhaps so, Frederick but he is un-
reasonable The loss of the package was
not your fault ~
True, mother; but the circumstances
were strong against me /; the package was
lost after il had been placed in my posses.
sion though Heaven knows am innocent
Of the theft with which he accuses me I"
"Oh, my son, it is very hard !"
"Yes but by and by shall get place
somewhere. Everybody will not be dis
trustful of me know there will be way
provided"
"God grant it !" SsESeatly calculated
Mrs. Neale, as she laid her hand upon the
broad white brow, which the boy lifted up
TO her gaze.
A few brief words will explain all that
the reader will care 10 know about the
Neales. Lett widow ten years previously,
Mrs Neale had supported herself and her
son for several years with the proceeds of
The sale Of her embroidery, but her failing
eyesishi had obliged her TO renounce even
this frail support and for three years she
had depended wholly upon the scanty sal
ary of her son, as errand BOY in the large
wholesale store of John Hardwick g. Co.
Twelve days before we introduce Fred
erick Neale to the notice of the reader, the
sum of fifteen dollars had been lost, and
the carelessness of the loss lay between the
porter and the errand boy, and as the latter
was poor and friendless, it had resulted in
his discharge.
Out of employment-suspen from his
place on suspicion-cast off by his former
patrons without recommendations, Fred
erick found it impossible 10 procure ano.
ther situation; and hopeless, almost despair
ing he had wandered the streets of the met.
ropolis, entering store after store, and re-.
ceiving at each successive application, the
invariable reply " all vacancies filled"
Now he went forth again, ior work must
be had, or his mother would starve. Ho-
poing against hope-something must be
done, and 80 he pushed on. All up and
down Broadway he went again and again,
and at last he entered the princely estab-
lishment of Maitland, Roorback s, Co, i'm
portors. Hitherto he had rather avoided
the fashionable warehouse, thinking their
proprietors would be less likely to engage
him without reference.
Now, however, he went boldly in, up to
the vast arcade and up TO the gided door
,,b;ob shut oH tho connt;no roop, Iy;tb
a trembling hand he pulled the silver.knob.
bed bell pleasant voice bade him enter,
and swinging open the door, he stood in the
presence of benevolent looking man oil
middle age. Just behind the chair of the
gentleman, her hand resting on his shout.
der, was a young girl not more than four.
teen, evidently his daughter.
The gentleman looked up from the ledger
he had been examining, and addressed the
visitor in friendly tone of voice:
swell, my lad ?'
The boy drew himself up proudly, with
an air of manly dignity, which contrasted
strangely with the coarse garments in which
he was clothed.
ri want a situation as errand boy ol
clerk, sir"
/" # seems to me that it will not be diff.
cult for you 10 attain your wish. A smart
likely boy of your age, with good recon-.
mendations, ought TO command liberal
salary"
Well, sir, have no recommendations d
His countenance fell, and the old look Of
WEAKNESS came over il. "I was discharged
from my place under the charge of careless
ness and swindiing-ay, theft, sir; yes, thai
was the word which Mr.. Hendricks used p
he added, with heightened color.
MIR. Maitland took another scrutinizine
look at his visitor.
"Sit down, my boys" he motioned him
to chair; i" sit down and tell me all abou
it,"
There was an air about MIR. Maitland
which invited confidence, and before Fred
erick was aware of it, he found himself rslat
ing the whole story of his own and his mo
theirs msIorlunes.
"And So" unused the merchant, wher
the lad concluded the simple narrative
you tell me, on your honor, that you die
hot appropriate this money"
Frederck's eve flashed, he rose up in hi
seat, and his voice took sterner tone.
n, bo,~o, nfy m ne tiug God in poaro