Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-11-03
THE LITTLE OUTCASr,
. "Mayn't stay, ma a'am3 I'll do an,

thing you give me--cut wood, 90 after wa
ter, and DO all your errands." s.. ......
!he troubled eyes OF the speaker filled
with tears. IL was a kindly boxing wo
r man, who still seemed 10 doub, his GOOD
Intentions. .G.'. .'-..g.rq .. y,
80 The cottage sat by itself on bleak
moor, or what in Scotland would have
been called such. The time wasnear the
, end OF November, fierce wind attled the
ooughs OF the only naked tree near the
house, and fled with a shivering sound ntc
the, marrow doorway, as if seeking for
warmth at the blazing fire within. .''
Now and then snowflake touched,
with its soft chill, the cheek OF the listener
or wh'sened the angry redness OF the poor
boys beuumbed hands. ,.t
The woman was evidently 10th to grant
the boys request and the peculiar look
stamped upon his features, would have
suggested to any mind an idea OF deprav-
ity far beyond his years ...., .,...
But her mothers heart could not resist
the sorrow in those large, but not hand
some grew eyes '',0 7. rs
-" Come in, at any rate, till the gudeman
comes home; there, sit down by the fire.
you look perishing with cold And she
drew rude chair up to the warmest corn
er, then, suspiciously glaneins at the child
IRON the corners of her eyes, she contin-
ued setting the table for supper.
Presently came the tramp Of heavy
shoes, the door swung open with quick
jerk, and the "gudeman j. presented him
self weary with labor
A look Of intelligence passed between
bis wife and himself-he, too, scanned
the boys face with an expression not
evincing satisfaction, but nevertheless,
made him come to the table, and tber
enjoyed the zest with which he dispatc,,ed
his supper.
Day after day passed, and yet the boy
begged to stay " only til tomorrow :" so
the good couple after due consideration.
concluded that so long as he was dociie.
and worked SO heartily, they would retain
him.
One day, in the middle of winter a
peddier, long accustomed to trade at the
cottage, made bis appearance, and dis
posed OF his goods readily, as lie had been
waited for
you have boy out there splitting
wood. l see" he said, pointing to the yard.
Yes, do you know him?7
:! have seen him. replied the peddler,
evasively.
And where who is he what is
he ?" -
=" A jail-bird ~ and the peddler swung
his pack over his shoulder, THAT boy,
young as he looks, saw in the court nv.
self, and heard his sentence-ten months
he's Lard one-yeu'd do well to look
keertui arter him.
! Oh there was something so horrible in
the word jail, the poor woman trembied
as she laid away her purchases, nor could
she be easy Til she called the boy in and
assured hlm that she knew the dark par
OF his history.
Ashamed and distressed. the child hung
down his head his checks seemed burst.
ing with his hot blood his lips uuiverel,
and anguish was painted wildly upon his
forehead, as If the words were branded in
his flesh.
Well," he nuttered, his whole frame
relaxing as if burden Of guilt or JOY had
suddenly rolled Off - may as we'll 90 to
rum at once there $ no use in my irving
10 be better-every body hates and dis
pises me; nobody cares about me. lmay
as we'll 60 to ruin at once.'
let me, said the woman. who stood
OF lar enough tor iiJsht, If that should be
necessary now came You to 90 So youn-
to that dreadful place Where was YOUR
mother?'
~ "Oh!' exclaimed the boy, with a burst
OF srict that was terrible 10 behold, oh
haInt got no muther-on . | haiut had
no mother ever since | was baby. lfId
only "a mother, he continued, his anguish
growing vehement, and the tears gushing
1out OF has strange e'looking grey eyes, Il
wouldn't been bound Out and laid into
with whlps-l would not a got Knocked
down, and then run away, aud stole be-
cause | was hungry. Oh, haint 20. no
mother since was baby -
lhe strength was all gone from the poor
boy, and he sank on his knees, sobbing
great choking sobs, and rubbing the hot
tears away with his knuckies. And didlI
that woman stand there unmoyed? Did'I
she coldly bid him pack up aud be Off
the jail-bird "-~ Fl.
No, no, she had been mother, and al
though all her children slept under the
cold sod IN the church yard, was mother
still.
She went up to that poor boy, not to
hasten him away, but to lay her fingers
kindly, softly on his head--to tell hun to
look up, aud from hencelor.h, tind ia Ter
q mother, Yes, she even put her arm
about the neck Of that forsaken, deserted
chld-she poured from her mothers hear,
sweet womanly words, words Of counsel
and tenderness.
On how sweet was her sleep that nigh,
how soft was her pillow She had
linked poor suffering heart to hers by
the most siiken--the very strongest bands
OF love. She had plucked some thorns
from the path Of little SHINING but strv.
ing mertal. None but angels could wit.
ness her holy Joy and not envy.
Did the boy leave her?
Never--he is with her still vigorous,
maaiy promising youth. The low charac.
ter OF his countenance has given place to
an open, pleasing expression. with depth
enough to make it an interesting study
His foster father is dead, his good foster
mother, aged and siohly, but she knowsoao
want. The once poor outcast is her only
dependence, and nobly does he repay the
trust. +h8s8"#@ 1i=5' "a"sHa5 yt's' ~ |
:" He that saveth q soul from death, {
hideth multitude Of sim l Ee7-.. r-. I
t"What do you call this p said Jones :
..apping his breakfast lightly with his :
erk. k.sh8.i rar -. r'.4, 10.
. Call it,? snarled the landlord d-"what ,
10 you call it?' ..
well, really" said Jones, "I don't
in"w, it hasn't quite enough hair in for .
plaster, but there's a leetle too mu ch in it
or hash Jones got his walking naners