Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-12-13
A Picture of Life.
" Charles come here. y

Charles come here"
Slowly the boy approaches his mother, when
the latter gives him smart box at his ears,
adding: There, take that and now 60 to
work"
Why, mother, what have l done ?"
Done, you have not done anything, only
set porting over that old paper for al hour"
But, mother the chores are done, and it
is storming"
g Go under the shed, then and saw wood"
And he went, the boy Of fourteen, dwarfed
alike in body and mind, the former by hard
labor on the farm, the latter by hard words
aud hard knocks" Poor boy and this was
the nephew that had so longed to see, for |
remembered him as sprightIy boy of three
years, all life aud animation and this was
the sister that had come so far to visit, and
this was my first observation day in the family
circle, for sickness had hitherto confined me
to my room, where all had been smiles and
kind attention. My sister was some wears
Older than myself, but being only sisters, we
were much together aud had few if any Sc
cretS THAT we concealed from each other, and
for awhile after we married, the one going to.
ward the rising, the other the setting sun. we
ha6 kept up regular correspondence, but the
soon checked the letters and at last they ceas
ed entirely. Once she had visited her "od
home" aud friends, and brought Charlie her
first born with her, bright lad of three
summers. Eleven years had passed when |
decided TO make her a visit aud see how she
prospered in the far west. Success had crown
ed their labors. and TO the casual observer,
nothing was wanting to make life agreeable.
Three lovely girls wandered from to room.
The eldest threw down her book, which instead
Of reaching the table as she had designed
fell to the floor. Instead of saving, Pick it
up my daughter" the mother gave her quick
slap on the head which sent her reeIing and
picked il up herself Quet was scarcely re-
stored ere another offender, for some light
cause, received box and an angry word, aud
thus the afternoon was speut. | was in hopes
that such scenes were not common, and wait
ed impateutly for the evening, but alas il
came all too soon, for as much as nv feelings
had been tried through the Gav, they were
worse tried in the evening The candle was
placed on the stand in the centre Of the room
the father tired with his days work in the
woods had leaned his chair against the wall
and was already snoring: the mother with
her Youngest in her lap, rocking bv the fire
| with my feet on the fender aud nobody hv
the light. Charlie hnhtcd up his paper (Which
had been tucked away) aud timidly drew uD
hi chair 70 the stand In hopes Of finishing
his story, bat hark Come boy, Just move
y0ur chair back, and not make Yourself quite
50 conspicuous" He moved back, and soon
slipped out Of the room aud was soon forgot
ten 10y all bnt myself but often in the course
OF the evening did | wonder where the boy
was. About nine he came n, AID | expected
a scene, but no question was asked, and he
passed on TO his room. | could not refrain
from asking my sister where Charles spent his
evenings. oh" she said, che generally
goes over to the other house they take a
paper, aud always read it aloud, evenings
This then was the mystery the boy could
not have the privilege of reading at home,
aud went to the neighbors.
fclt sick, heart-sick, aud hOmesick, and
longed for the quiet of my own home But
whole winter was before me, aud something
must be done At last all had sought their
pillow save my sister and myself; an unpleas-
ant silence prevaded tie room | was think
ing how TO begin knew that my sisters
heart WAS in the right place if | could reach
it ; she asked me what was thinking about
| told her ! was thinking Of our mother
asked her If she remembered how teuderly and
lovingly She reared her famiiy-how she sym
palhzed with all our little imaginary wrongs
and trouhie>-how She taught us to pray and
sing, as we'll as read and work how pleasant
Iy we spent our evenings, when mother would
tell Us some pleasant story, or brother Charlie
would read the newspapers?
1t was enough already she vas weeping on
my bosom 10 promise was asked or given,
but heard her go softly to her boys room,
and as she returned | heard her murmur,
God bless him," aud knew the good work
was begun. 1t was some time before all the
little outbreaks were dispensed with, but
look was sufficient to still the tempest, and ere
spring, the time for my departure had arrived,
IoveiIer and pleasanter family could not be
found. Charles accompanied ne home TO fn-
i>h his education and he promises still to full
FL the hope of early years
WHY, you rascal" said Radcliffe, the
great physician, to a paviour, who dunned him
" do yon pretend to be paid for such piece