The Kanzas news., 1859-05-21
Little Shoes

1ssF nT- Little Shoes. =
lis wonderful what trifing things pro-
dnee sn influence on the heart and mind.
4 seed borne on the wings of the wind
drops at last into suitable soil, and by
aud BY grows up into stately tree. A lit
tie spring leaps out of tbs side of hill, and
the child who stoops to drink of il can span
its breadth; but it flows on down to the val
lsy, and winds along the plain. and gathers
strength and volume in its course. till II
rolls stately river, bearing the commerce
of the cities in the ships that navigate its
waters.
And 90 it is with human life. A look. 3
word, has changed the whole career oil
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, alssi heard the sayings, of the custo-
mers. sat n
One winter evening. shoemaker's boy
came With an assortment ef children's 3 shoes,
and the iandlady of ''Fox and Geese" who
had q most remarkably shrill voice, began
calling to little dirty slave of a nurse gir,
70 bring "Addlehead"-as she pronounced
AdeIaide-to have her new shoes tried on.
] could see the little creature. who was at
once fine and filthy, sitting under the gas
light in the bar, and kicking and screaming
% the shoes were coaxed on her feet. At
last pair fitted, and the spoiled pet was
lifted up triumphantly in her ;other's arms.
"Here, do look at her! The darling has
let me get pair of the very best ones on!
Look, Dad, = do % said the motner, calling
10 her husbsnd. ee
Just then. tall man, very shinly 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 the corner, peeping now and then tim
idly into the bar window. and then creeping
to the door; shs had achild in her arms.
and looked ready to drop with cold and wea-
riness. ] had seen that woman. on many q
Saturday night, waiting and watching for
het husband to come out. Ah, there heis,
riveted for a moment looking at the child
showing her shoes; with start be rouses
himself and rushed out. 1
What, Bill, going SO soon?" bawls the
landlady.
Bill pulls his hat down over his eye:
With one hand, clutches his old jacket tigh
over his chest, and answers the words with
ssost OF grunt.
He is outside. There are his wife and
little one. a moment the woman looked al
him timorously, and half swerves aside, as
If she feaFed-what, will not write, iesi
the manhood of my readers should be
wounded. Something in Bill's look reas-
sures her. and she goes up to him, feeblv
but coaxingly. He took the child from
her tired arms; the little creature gave Z
short. quick cry of fright, aud as he lifted
il, saw that Its little feet were bare; it drew
them swiftly up under its poor frock. bu
not before the father saw them. wish
that his hat had been off, that might have
seen his face as those two little blue, chill
led feet met his eyes. / noticed that b.
put them in his bosom, and buttoned hi
jacket over them, and held the child close
and went on his way with heavy stamp
ss II he beat his feet down on the ground
his wife, slipshod and tottering, had hard
work TO keep up with him.
I had a faint suspicion of what was pass
ing in the mans mind. From that night
WAS glad that saw him no more amongth,
frequenters of the "Fox and Geese" HI
and his wife and child, for veal or woe, hat
dropped out of my ken, and almost ont o
my mind.
eSo1AS A-Oueto SitcE, tlerc Was q meeting
at the Temperance Hall of the district, anC
many working men sere present, and gave
their testimony To the good effects of per
feet sobriety; now and then they told iittl.
bits of their history. about the reasons tha
led them TO give up the public house. On,
taif. well dressed. respectable looking man
listened earnestly, till one who sat nea
him said: q s7ala
"Say word, William Turner; you'v,
known as much shout the mischief as an,
one here or anywhere; come. tell US. &
never heard how it was that you changes
right about, face, from the mouth OF he'll t
The feid of hope. Come, man, out with il
Il may do good. -
The young man. thus urged, rose at th
frst word, and looked for moment YER
confused. All he could say was.
ssThe little shoes. they did it.''
With thick and faitering voice, as IL hi
heart was in his throat, he kept repeatin.
this. There was q stare of perplexity OF
every face, and at length some thoughtles
young people begaa TO litter. The man, il
ali enbarrassnnent. heard thi, sound. an
rallied al once. The Iigh came into hi
eyee with fash: be drew himself up. an
looked atthe asdiencs; ths ehnhing ven
A:a fk->ak