Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-24
T E R M s.
Obutte Eittr E.
Tho Little Stocking Merchant.
BY MRS. FRANCIS GAGE.

lap Tap TAP u. came feeble knock al
my door, just at night-fall this fearfullv
cold evening, as stood lowering over the
cooking stove, which, being in the base.
ment, made the warmest room in the house
And sure, wasn't there a knock at the
door? said Lizzie, as she laid down her
knife and the loaf of bread she was cutting
Tap tap tap again full upon the ice
covered panel, this time little more dis
tinctly, and Lizzie sprangby, exclaiming,
who in the world can it be out this
freezing nightp She opened the door, and
in stepped little girl of some twelve years
though she was dwarfed and cramped in
size till she might have passed for ten.
Buy any stockings tonight, ma'am %
asked sweet, clear, childish voice.
No, | believe not was my response, 0
really did not need them,) and she turned
to go-that little one-out again into the
perilous cold:
But come in and warm, will you not I?
added.
ooh 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 wooen stockings,
and stretched out her little half-frozcn
hands to catch the warmth
ooh it nice and warm here p she said.
looking up with a cheerful smile, and her
great expressive eyes looked her happiness.
but won't you buy pair Of stockings ?
Here's pair that will just suit you, With
doaPls s5oR heels els and toes n r. Unersd
and found they were just what she recon-
mended them.
where do you get them {? | asked.
My father weaves them
And you 90 out to sell
Yes, ma'am, 90 two afternoons week
Have you no mother? ?
NV mother died three years ago.
And who takes care Of you nowP
oh! live with my father now-he, and
my brother and sister
is your sister older than youY
oh no ma'am, she is only half as old
She was only little thing when my moth
or died.
We buttered the bright-faced one larg
slice of bread, which she took thankfully
and then We went on with our question
ing
7And how dc you get along being house
keeperP
oh! first rate since sister is big enougl
to 90 to school. We all 60 to school now
What, YOU, and sister, and brother an
YOU leave father at home to weave stock
ings?
Yes, ma'am, that's it; get up befor
light in the morning, and then | get tn
breakfast, and wash up the dishes, an
sweep the floor clean, and wash and com
brother and sister, and then We all ru
away to school, and when we come out a
night, then l get supper, and do up tn
work; and study after that to keep up wit
my class.
'And don't you get behind sometimes
Never one-so sometimes Pm ahead, an
then | like that; it makes me study harder
And the great blue eyes dilated wit
pride while the pride of selfsatifaction fiji
ted over her face.
But how do you manage to sell yo,
stockings?
why, in the summer, you know, | ca
90 after school, and in the winter my teac
or excuses me Wednesday afternoons, al
I study harder. and make it up
And who does your washing? ask'
Lizzie.
sWhy, | do, to be sure; do all. | was
ed this morning before | come out to s.
my stockings; and to night must get su
per, and iron, and scrub my floor before
no to bed so to be clean for Sunday"
why, it's shame to your father, it
to be letting the likes of a wee thing Ii
YOU wash and iron, and scrub why do
he put it out 2
put it out exclaimed the child, while
soft sivery laugh went rippling throu
the kitchen; that would be great, when
has big girl like me to do it, and he
lame, and yarn cost SO much, and he mai
80 little. II he was to put it out, VIII
would the school books come from, {
the like Of that?
BY this time the bread and butter
consumed, and the lttIo hands and
warmed.
Il must CO. said Katrine; 1--WE had foV
olt her nancy it's most night, and
six pair left. You'd better take this ?
II will make Just enough to pay the re
bought the stockings, and as | drop
three shining quarters into that hand
promaturely worn, she dropped court
and with the most grateful tone said
'Oh, thank you, Pun so glad now
can iun right home and get my work d
and-ughr she added, shivering, 1T.
cold, and almost dark, too, for me IT.
running round to sell any more