The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-12-16
The Little Stocking Merchant.
BY MISS FRANCES GAGE.

And shure, wasn't there a knock n
the door y said Lizzie, as she laid dowr
her knife and the ;oaf of bread she wa
cutting, 81. ..s.-... p. ...'.'.....' :
Tap tap! tap! again fell uron the ice
covered panel, this time little more dis
tinctly and Lizzie sprang up exclaiming
| Who in the world can be out thi,
frazing night!' She opened the door
and in 'tep bed a little girl of some twelve
years-though she was dwarfed and
cramped in size till she might have pas
sed for ten.
Buy any stockings tonight, ma'am
asked sweet, clear childish voice.
No, | believe not was my reply, II
really did not need them, and she turn.
ed to go-that little one-out again into
the perilous cold:
But come in and warm, will you not ?
| added.
oh! yes, ma'am, for it's very cold ;
and she approached the glowing stove
now red hot-and sat down her willow
basket, in which lay few pair of woolen
stockings, and stretched out her little
half-frozen hands to catch the warmth.
'Oh ! its nice and warm here!' she
said, looking up with cheerful smile,
and her great expressive eyes looked her
happiness. .
But wont you buy pair of stockings I?
Here's a pair that will just suit you, with
double heels and toes?
l took the articles so coaxingly offered
and found they were just what she recon-
mcnded them.
Where do you get them?' l asked
My father weaves them.
And you 20 out to sell p
Yes, ma'am, | 60 two afternoons a
week.
Have you no mothers?
My mother died three years ago.
And who takes care of you now?'
%! l live with my father now-he,
and my brother and sister.
Is your sister older than you?
b 'Oh! no, ma'am, she is only half as
old. She was only little thing when
my mother died.
We buttered the bright-faced one a
large slice of bread, which she took
thankfully and then went on with our
questioning.
And how doyou get along being house
keeper?'
'Oh first rate sine sister is big enough
to go to school. We all go to school
now
What, you, and sister, and brother:
and leave fatherat home to weave stock
ings?'
Yes, ma'am, that's it / get up before
light in tho morning, and then / get the
breakfast, and wash up the dishes, and
sweep the floor clean, and wash and
comb brother and sister, and then we all
run away to school, and when we come
out at night, then get supper, and do
up the work and | study after that to
keep up with my class.
And don't you get behind sometimes p
Never Once-sometimes I'm ahead,
and then like that it makes me study
harder?'
And the great blue eyes dilated with
pride while the smile OF self-satsiaction
fitted over her face.
But how do you manage to sell your
stockings?'
Why in the summer, you know, can
go alter'school and in the winter my
teacher excuses me Wednesday after
moons, and | study harder, and make
it up.
And who does your washing?' asked
Lizzie.
why. do. to be sure; do all.
washed this morning before / come out
to sell my stockings; and to night must
get supper, and iron, and scrub my floor
before go to bed so to be clean for Sun
day?'
why, it's a shame to your father, it is,
to be letting the likes of wee thing like
you wash and iron, and scrub; why don't
he put it out?'
Put it out exclaimed the child, while,
n ,;l,,ap la,uh nj, q -,
the kitchen; that would be great, when
he has big girl like me to do it, and he
SO lame, and yarn costs so much, and he
where would the school books come from,
and the like of that?'
By this time the bread and butter was
consumed, and the little hardy hands
and feet warmed.
Il must co., said Katrine; 1--WE had
found out her name) its most night, and
I've six pair left. You'd better take this
pair. 1t will make just enough to pay
the rent.
/ bought the stockings, and as drop
ped three shining quarters into that hand,
SO prematurely worn, she dropped cour-
tesy, and with the most grateful tone
said:
oh, thank you, Pm so glad now. l
can run right home and get my work
done and-ugh she added, shivering,
its so cold, and almost dark, too, for me
to be running round to sell any more"
Away she darted, and as her bright
cheerful face disappeared, we felt that
light had gone out of the twilight shad-
owing of the room.
What a reproach was that child's sim
pie tale to the complainers all around
scarce out of her infancy, yet bearing on
her young heart and hands the duties
and cares of mother and housekeeper,
merchant and schoolgirl, and as bright
and gleeiul as the summer sunshine-as
full of warbling as the spring bird.
Oh! none need be poor-none need to-
suffer for the good gifts of God-if all
We're as industrious, cheerful, selfdeny-
ing, and selfsacrificing as little Katrine.
| am glad | bought her stockings, and
as oft / see them shall think of her-of
the struggles and the conquest of her
unselfish love.
Who can prophesy of her future? l
have seldom seen finer eye or more
speaking face. She will outstrip her COM
panions in luxury, she will know, through
exercise and effort, the value of
herself. How proud were her words, as
she told lis of all she could do, not boast
ingly. but as il it was natural and right,
and the easiest thing in the world to do.
Heaven bless and prosper thee, little one.
and give thee strength for all thy labor
and love.
ge1~ The Eufala Spirit of the South in
the course of leader ON "the duty of the
Southern Democracy" in the Charleston
says:
Profitine by tho experience of the past,
let us for once have clean victory. or
clean defeat. Ifthe Northern Democra-
cy are not loyal to the principles of the