The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-08-24
The Little 0utcast,

Maynt stay nuam Ill do ANYTHING
you give me-cut wood, go after water, and
do all your crrands."
The troubled eyes of the speaker filled
with toars. Ii was u lud that stood ut the
outor door, pleading with kindly looking
woman, who still seemed to doubt his good
intentions.
The cottage sat by itself on bleak moor,
or what in Scotland would have bscn called
such. Tho time was near tho end Of No.
veinbor, iorco wind ratified tho bouybs of
tho only baked troo noar the house, aud fied
with shivcriug sound into tho narrow
doorway, as if seeking for warmth ut tho
blazing fre within.
Now aud then snow fake touched with
its soft chill tho check of tho listener, or
whitenod tho angry reduoss OF tho poor
boys bonumbod hands.
Tho woman was evidently 10th t. grant
tho boys request, and tho peculiar look
stamped upon his features would havo suy-
gehtcd to any mind an idea of dcpravity far
beyond his ycats
But her mothers hoart could not resist
tho sorrow in those large. but not handsome
grey eyes.
comos homo there, sit down BY the fi,e;
drow a ru)o chair up to the warmost cor.
nor; thon, susPicioueiy gianclns at tho child
from tho corDors of hor owes, shu continued
setting tho table for supper.
Presently came the tramp of heavy Shoes,
tho door swung open with quick jerk, and
the "gudemau' presented himsclt, weary
with labor.
look Of intelligence passed between his
vito and himself-ho. too, scanned tho boy's
face with an expression not evincing salts
faction, bat. nevertheless. made him como
to the tnble, and thcn onj,yed the goal with
which be dispatched his supper.
Day after day passed. and yot tho boy
begged to be kept "only till tomorrow =
so the good couple, after due consideration
concluded that so long as he was docie and
worked SO heartily, thoy would rotain him.
One day, in tho middle Of winter, n ped
dler long accustomed 10 trade ut the cottage,
made his appearance and disposed of his
goods readily, as hs had boon waited for.
"YOu have boy out thero splitting wood,
| sce," he said, pointing to tho yard.
"Yes, do you know him q
Il have soon him." replied tho pedilcr.
evasively.
"And whorO who is no what Is no e
"a jail-bird !" and tho peddlor swung his
pack ovor his shoulder; "that ooy, young
as he looks, saw in court myself, and heard
his sentence-ton months; hos hard one
you'd do well to look keorful arter him.
Oh! thero was something SO horrible ia
the word Jail" tho poor woman laid away
her purchases, nor could she be easy tiil she
called tho boy in and assured him that she
knew tho dark part of his history.
Ashamed and distressed, the child hung
down his head his cheeks seemed bursting
with his hot blood his lips quivcred. and
anguish was painted wildly upon his fore
head, as ii the words were branded in biz
lesb,
well" no muttercd. his whole franc re
laxing. as II burden Of guilt or joy had sud
denly rolled off; II may as we'll 60 to ruiz
at once--therr's no uso in my trying to d.
better--overybody hates and dcspses mo-
nobody cares about mo. may as we'll 60 4
ruin at onco !"
Tell me-" said the woman, who stood OF
far enough for fight If that should be neces
that dreadful place: Who're was you
mother Z"
"Oh I" exclaimed the boy, with burst q
grief that was torriblo to behold, "Oh !
haint got no mother-oh haint had n
mother ever since was baby. II Id onl
had a mother" be continued, his angus
growing vobemont, and tho tears gushin
out OF his s!raDgo-looking grey eyes, e
wouldn't been bound out, aud Kicked, an
cuffed, and laid onto with whips; wouldn
a been Saucy, and got knocked down. ant
then ruu away, and stole because l wa
hungry, oh l hain't got no mother
hain't had no mother since | was q baby
The strength was all gone from tho poo
boy, and he sank on his knees Sobbing grea
choking sobs, and rubbing tho hot tear
away with his knuckles. And did that Wo
; man stand there uumovod? Did sho coId
bid him pack up and bo off--the Jail bird
No, no--she had been o mothor. an,
though oil her children slept under the col,
sod in the ohurohysrd, was mother still.
She went up to that poor boy, not I,
hasten him away, but to lay ber huger
kindly, softly on his head-to tell him /,
: look up, and from honoeforth find in her
mother. Yes, sho even put hor arm Abou
: tho mock of that fOrsaken. deserted child
she poured from her mothers heart sweo
womanly words, words of counsel and ten
derness.
Oh, how sweet was her sleep that night
how soft was her pillow She had linked
poor suffering heart 10 bers by the mos
silken. the strongest bands Of love. sh
, had piucked som0 thorus from tho path o
little SHINING but striving mortal. Non
but sngeis could witness h0r holy Joy, ant
not envy.