The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-11-14
J 3. :s RAyENNA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER H. 1850 {.

"FII taKe you slopg with me this after.
noon ;rfor I'm going down to the river fish.
ing" 10y
l clspPed my hsnds for joy, but here my
mother interposed.
30, Sam'wel, how can you say that ,"-
She is such a harunn-scarum thing she'll be
sure to fdll into the water"
"Don't be afraid, Rachel, III! keep q good
eye on hcr.'' !" p |a.
can't tell what answer mother would
have made 70 all this, but just at that mo.
ment there was a rap at the kitchen door,
and / opensdlt snd q little boy was standing
there. ! car see him now, said my grand.
mother, closing her eyes and speaking soft
ly. He wore On old STRAW hat and blue
home-spun suit. and he looked sad and worn
out, but he had "a bright, intelligent face,
with clear, hazel eyes. ee .r-.'--
"Can you tell me, little girl, if there's
anybody here wants to hire a hand 7" he
asked.
"You esn come in and sce." Somehow
lfelt sorry for the boy. .-.
r5 | stood on one side, deeply interested
auditor, while nyfo,her surveyed and ques
toned him in bis malter.of.fOct way, and
mother stopped icarding her wool to listen.
He told plain, straight.forward story
He said that his home was in Woodford, a
town about ten miles from our village that
his father was drowned at sea when he was
a babe /; and that afterward his mother had
supported herself and son by plain sewing,
till suddenly she, too, sickened and died.
The boy-and he was only twelve-was
lett homeless and friendless in tho world,
and the. neighbors were about TO bind him
out to the owner of his mothers cottage,
whom she had often called a "hord and
grasping man." and he knew she would ra.
ther her son should be lying by her side
covered by the same grasses which were
growing green over her head, than be in the
power OF one who had 80 often taken sd.
vantage OF her widowhood and honesty. So,
two days before. he had run away, and ap.
piled for work at the houses along the turn.
pike for more than six miles, Tut nobody
wanted him. e
- sand what caniyousdo my lad :" asked
my father.
81 can do all the chores round farm, sir,
only I'm not strong enough to plow and cut
hey. ."assss w.,
IL seem to have hands enough just now"
My mother interposed here.
10. Sam'web you know it's pretty near
harvest time, and you'll want more help
then. You'd better take the boy and try
him," for his stary had touched her mother
heart.
That's like you, R chel, for all the
world, "eaid my father !. but it was just like
him. too. for when pulled his sleeve and
whi-pered. 'Do, please take him, father" he
answered, "Ye', Pussy, I'll try hin, and see
il he's good, honest, industrious boy"
'You look tired and hungry" said my
mother to the young stranger.
"I've walked seven miles, ma'am, and
haven't had anythiRg to eat but some apples
| found on the way
i "Deer me!" aud my mother hustled off to
the pantry.
After this Richard Sears was like one Of
our own family. He was bright, lively,
active boy, and we all grew much attached
to him. siyy e asas .Grz.-t.
He and were the best Of friends, for he
was only two years my senior, and we went
off into the woods berrying together, and over
to the meadows for fresh mint. He caught
and tanned grey squirrel for me ; be put up
a swing in the old barn and at last my fa,
ther said
Il think | shall send Richard to school
this winter with Rosanna. He can take her
over the hills en- his sled when it SHOWS. and
he's such lively boy it is a pity he can't
have q good education"
"That's jest what I've. been thinking,
Sam'wel,"' answered my mother and so it
was settled that Richard Sears should re.
main in our family.
h ""jSomeboay'ssbeen at that bell pear tree.
Rachel. said my father, coming into the
.house onssAaierpoon where my, mother sat
s,ringing qusEssfa ol aeplea, which aks was'
preparing to dry for tie winter.
"Why, father, ycu don't mean 50 l'' ].
eyes, ! dS; twoon 'em' . gone. thought
ia stop and see i they was doin' we'll as |
came up with the last load Of corn" r
| knew nv father was very angry, and
because he was generally 50 kind and cheer
,ful-like, hisspgeFvas terrible. Eve heard
my mother LAY she never saw him thorough
y, "riled's ssbht once IL her lie, and that was
when SONG of the British troops passed
through ou9viIIaee, u the old war, and
broke into Ighbor PArson 4 house, and in.
suited Tie Hla lady wboswas bedridden,
splittia Up shsE arm chair and brsakin' the
crockery, bpt though thst was long afore my
dap, Isvesesn his face settle downgsoms.i
times Into d white rigidness. and his voice
take on ! low deep tone That fairly made me
cstch my sbrsath. - Sci hsdst.
4 lied now asShs said, !, F'sI wish / could
catch lie rascal that siole shosespsars. ! I'd
MAKE BIN bel the weight OF this about bis
Y pnd he snaPpsd the great OK
whip hs carried. taa .ss'alas l, !.
N At fast he started 70 20 out Of the kitchen,