The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-01-27

living out oil ii, and so she DIED.
What, then became OF your sisters?'
They was taken into the workhouse and
they told me that they died too
why did you not go to the workhousc with
your sistersp
We'll, sir, didn't much like il; thought
I'd rather be independent. said the little
fellow, with resolutc air.
Independent = repeated Mr.. Maudsley,
looking incredulously at the child. 'What
on earth could you do?
Oh please, sir, could do lots o. things.
First went into the noos line, and delivered
papers for nooswender to his customrrs
but he paid Inc muffin to speak OF, and was
nearly starved afore left him; then took
to eoster-mongcr, and sold apples, oranges,
and radishes, and radshes, and wedgables OF
all sorts but my master was a bad lot, and
knocked me about shockin' when | couldn't
sci his stuff, 40 was forced to try wrinkles
oil my own hook
Wrinkles what are winkles?' inquired
his puzzled!interrogator.
'0h. Sir don't you know wrinkles !-peni-
wrinkles some people calls en-.
'0h | understand-perwinkles"
'Peniwiukles and scrimps Sir, and some
times am sandwiches at the doors of the
theayaters only the boobies hunt us as il
we was thieves, which never was. Now
and again, when there's good thick fog, |
makes tidy days work by carrying link
afore old gentlemen who's afraid of loosng
their ways or gecting run over. Then there s
money to be picked up by street crossing (;
hnt tho ,ynndnn- lof,yoH cnpaS and them In
gen blacks in white bedgowns, have got hold
of all the good ones, and they won't give
them up without a tidy bit % money
And you have not been able to purchase
oneY
No, Sir; but | work VERY hard, and
when there's fall o. snow have plenty o.
work scaping afore the doors, and git well
paid for it, too"
Since you have told me SO much of your
self and your life, Joe, tell Inc what were you
thinkingo of when | saw you just now watch.
ing with such serious face the making of
that SNOWFALL in the street: for you were
thinking OF something more than the mere
collection of a quantity Of snow?'
Joe turned his keen eye moment upon
his questioner, and appeared to hesitate he
had freely related everything respecting his
way of life-ior misery and his struggles hc
did not seek to conceal; but when for the
first time, an attempt was made to penetrate
his mind, to unlock the mystery of his
thoughts he felt embarrassed and surprised.
His hesitation, was, however, brief, and he
replied, with something like knowing
twinkle of the eye
Il was tlinkiu' that chap who wants to
get on in the world, ought to be like q snow
ball-always gathering as he gocsn
True, quite truc,' said Mr.. Maudsley,
smiling, but it is>not to worldly wealth
alone that maxim applies the mind should
be equally diligent in the acquisition of
knowledge and of virtue, without which the
possession of riches adds nothing tJ-a mans
happiness. If he would be truly happy, he
must be truly good. Patience, industry, and
perseverance, are his ndmaids-truth, JUS
tice and humanity lie in his path the wise
man makes these his own, and gathers
peace and happiness as he goes
There was something in the manner in
which these few words were spoken which
sunk into the child's heart. Ho uttered not
a word, but Mr.. Maudsley preceived that he
felt what had been said, and he secretely
determined TO make an attempt to rescue the
poor outcast from his degraded position.
The little fellow was, by his direction, in-
mediatcly placed in the hands Of the coach
mans wife in the adjoining news, who, by
the application of soap and water, combs
and brushes and entire change of his costume
for suit of her eldest sons clothes, was
shortly transformed intoa respectable look
ing boy. Being thus rendered presentable,
he was introduced to the kitchen, where he
quickly ingratiated himself with themembers
of the .lower house by his obiging manners
and a certain whimsical drollery, which even
the serious footman, who had a 'call' and
regularly attended Mr.. Valleys chapel,
could not resist.
His stories of life amongst the wandering
tribes of London were immensely relished,
and his limitations ofsOmc of the street-show-
men and ballad-singcrs were declared by the
cook and housemaid to be equal to play.
The Christmas dinner at Mr.. Maudsley's
was great affair for large party Of the
relations on both sides of the house had
assembled to do honor to the festival. There
were the three unmarried sisters of Mrs.
Maudslcy, two rich maternal uncles-who,
being bachelors, were looked up to with
great respect by the family--a married
brother of Mr.. Maudslcy, with his wife and
FIVE children, Mrs. Maudsley's mother,
and Mr.. Maudsley's aunt. to say nothing of
three or four cousins who had standing en-
gagcmcnt for Christmas-day and Easter Sun
day. will briefly pass over the details of
the dinner and dessert: but if any Of my
readers imagine that the roast turkey was
not OF the largest and fattest that Leadenhill-
market could supply, that the sirloin of beef
was not the juciest and primest that ever
obtained u iirst-class prize at the Smithfeld
Cattle Show, and the plun.puddng was not
the richest and rarst, that the holly sprigs
with which il was stuck over were not of
the greenest, and the berries thereon the
reddest, that the toasts were not the most
cordially proposedand the most cloquently res
ponded to that.in word, the feast was not
tho most glorious and the company not the
happicst that ever had been known, then |
must take the,libcrty Of saying that entirely
differ in opinion with them.
Later in the evening, there was general
demand for dance amongst the young peo-
pie, and one of Mr.. Maudsley's sisters, who
didn't dance undertook tosupply the music
on the piano. Little Joe, who heard in the
kitchen the beating of the merry feet over
head, expressed q strong desire to witness
the dance, and by the contrivance OF
one of the servants was smuggled behind
large Indian screen that had been placed in
front Of a glass door at the upper end ofthc
room communicating with the conservatory.
Mounted on fower-stand, and hidden from
observation by the screen, Joe Climber Peepcd
through the evergrecns with which 1t was
dncnratnd anl hahald N accnc TINT cnmnlete-