Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-02-24
The Little shoes.

produce an influence on the heart and
mind y seed borne on the wings OF
the wind. drops at last into suitable
soil, and by and by, grows mp in a
stately tree. \ little spring leaps out
Of the side of hill, and the child who
stoops to drink Of it, can span its
breadth; but it flows on down into the
valley, and 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 .'Fox and Geese" and
with panied attention often watched
the doings. and, alasl heard the say
ings of the customers. One winter
evening, a shoemaker's boy came with
an assortment of children'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 "Addlchcad"-
as she pronounced Adelaide--to have
her new shoes tried on. | could sec
the little creature who was at once fine
and filthy, sitting under the gas light
in the bar, and kicking and screaming,
rs the shoes were coaxed OH her feet.
At last pair fitted, and the spoiled
pet was lifted up triumphantly in her
mothers arms.
"IIcre, do look at her! The darl-
ing has let me get pair of the very
best ones on! Look, dad, dol" Just
then tall man, very thinly clad,
came out of the tap room, passed the
bar, and saw the child stretching out
her feet for her father to see. Now
poor woman had been lowering about
at the corner, pecping 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
with wcarincss. | had seen that
woman on many Saturday night,
waiting and watching for her husband
to come out. Ah, there he IS, his
eyes rivctcd for moment looking at
the child showing her shoes: with q
start, he rouscs himself and rushcs
out.
"Wh hat. Bill, going so soon?" bawls
ont the landlady. Bill pulls his hat
down over his eyes with one hand,
clutches his old jacket tight over his
chest, and answers the question with
u sort of grunt. lie is outsidc--thcrc
is his wife and little one. For mo
mcnt the woman looks at him timor-
ously, and half swcrvcS aside as If she
fcarcd-what | will not write, lest the
manhood of my readers should be
wounded Something in Bills look
treasures her, and she goes close to
him, fecbly but yet coaxingly. He
took the child from her tired aims
the little creature gave short, quick
cry of fright-and as he lifted it, |
saw that its little feet were bare; it
drew them quickly under its poor
frock; but not before the father saw
them. | wish his hat had been off, so
that might have seen his face as those
two little blue, chilled feet met his eyes.
| noticed that he pnt them in his bo-
som, and buttoncd his jacket over
them, and held the child close, and
went on his way with heavy stamp,
as il to beat his thoughts down on the
ground; his wife. slipshod and tottcr-
ing, had hard work to keep up with
them. had faint suspicion of what
was passing III the mans mind. From
that night / was glad that | saw him
no more among the frcqucnters of the
"Fox and Geese" He and his wife
and child, for veal or woe, had drop
ped out OF my ken, and most out of
my mind.
Some months after, there was a
meeting at the Temperance Hall of
the district, and many working men
were present, and gave their testimony
to the good effects of perfect sobricty;
now then they told little bits of their
history about the reasons that led them
to give up the public house. One tall,
well dressed, respectable looking man,
listened earnestly until one who sat
near him said:
"Say a word, VIM. Turner; you've
known as much about the mischief as
any one here, or any where. Come,
tell us. for | never heard how it was
that you changed right about face,
from the mouth of hell to the field of
hope. Come, man, out with it: it
will, may be, do you good"
The young man thus urged rose at