Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-04-30
LITTLE SHOES.


influence on the heart and mind. A seed borne
on the wings of the wind drops at last into suit
able soil, and by and-by grows up into a stately
tree. little spring leaps out of the side of a
hill, and the child who stoops to drink of it, can
span its breadth; but it flows on down to the val
ley, and winds along the plain, and gathers
strength and volume in its course, till it rolls
stately river, bearing the commerce of the cities
in the ships that navigate its waters.
And so it is with human life. A look, word.
mas changed the whole career of many an immor-
tai being.
The writer once lived opposite beer shop call
ed the Fox and Geese, and with panied atten-
ton often watched the dongs. and alas heard
the sayings, of the customers
| One winter evening, shocmaker's boy came
with an assortment of children's shoes, and the
landlady of the "Fox and Geese" who had a
most remarkably shrill voice, began calling to a
little dirty slave of nurse girl to bring "Addle-
head"-as she pronounced Adelaide 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
as the shoes were coaxed on her feet. At last a
pair iitted and the spoiled pet was lifted up tr-
umphantly in her mothers arms.
Here, do look at her! The darling has let
me get pair of the very best ones on! Look,
hlNN' NO' ooiu llit luOtuGIy calling 10 ner nus
band.
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, peeping now and then timidy into
the bar-window, and then creeping to the door;
sne had child in her arms, and looked ready to
drop with cold and WEAKNESS. had seen that
woman, on many Saturday night, waiting and
watching for her husband to come out All there
he is, riveted for moment looking at tho child
showing her shoes; with start he rouses himself
and rushed out.
hat, Bill, going so soon?" bawls the land
lady.
Bill pulls his hat down over his eyes with one
hand, clutches his old jacket tight over his chest,
and answers the words with sort of grunt
lie outside-there are his wife and little one.
A moment the woman looked at him timorously.
and half swerves aside, as if she feared-what, |
will not write, lest the manhood of my readers
should be wounded. Something in Bills look re-
assures her and she goes up to him, feebly, but
coaNlngly. He took the child from her tired arms
the little creature gave short, quick cry of
fright, and as be lifted it, saw thar its little feet
were bare; it drew them swiftly up under its poor
trock, butnot before the father saw them wish
his hat had been of, that might have seen his
face as those two little blue, chilled feet met his
eyes. noticed that he put them in his bosom.
and buttoned his jacket over them and held the
child close, and went on his way with heavy
stamp, as if he beat his feat down on the ground;
his wife, slipshod and totering, had hard work
to keep up with him.
had faint suspicion of what was passing in
the mans mind From that night was glad that
saw him no more among the frequenters of the |
"FoN and Geese He and his wife and child I
for veal or wo, had dropped out of my ken, and !
almost out ofmy mind.
-, S-- -.,'s amer there was a meeting at the
enperance Hall OF the district, and many work
ING men were present, and gave there estimonv to
the good effects of perfect sobriety; now and 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, till one who sat near him,
said
Say word, William Turner; you've known
as much about the mischief as any one here or
inywherci come, tell us. 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 may do good"
The young man thus urged, rose at the first
word and looked, for a moment, very confused
All he could say was
AHC littlS shOCS, tneN ulu IL.
With thick and faltering voice. as if his heart
was in his throat, he kept repeating this. There
VAS stare of perplexity on every face, and at
ength, some thoughtless young people began to
litter. The man, in all embarrassment. heard
his sound, and rallied at once. The light came
nto his eyes with flash, he drew himself up and
ooked at the audience; the checking went from
MS throat.
"fes, friends" he said in voice that cut its
way as deep toned bell, "whatever YOU NAV
hi.k of it I've told you the truth-the little
hoes did it. was brute and a fool; strong
rink had made me both, and starved me into the
bargain. suffered, deserved TO suffer- but |
hdn't suffer aone-no man does who has wife
md child, for the woman gets the worst share.
}ut am no speaker to enlarge on that III stick
o the little shoes. | saw one night when was
III but done for, the pubcan's child holding out
Ter feet for her father to see her fine new shoes it
vas simple thing, but, friends, no fist ever
truck me such blow as those little shoes. They
licked reason into me. What business have to
10th Others and let my own go bare? said |;
nd there outside was my wife and child--in
litter night. took hold of my little one with
rip, and saw her chilled feet-men fathers
the shoes smote me, what did the feet do? but
hem, cold as ice, to my breast they pierced me
through and through. Yes the little feet walk
d right into my heart, and turned out my selfish
ess. had trihe of money left l bought
oaf and pair of little shoes. l never tasted
nything but bit of that bread all the Sabbath
ay, and | went to work like man on Monday.
nd from that day | have spent no more money
t the public houscs-That's all / have got to
ay; it was the little shoes that did it"-British
Workman.
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