Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-28
THE LITTLE HEROINE.
By mrs. CAROLINE SOUL.

Wife-my darling babes must they freeze
and starve? Oh, God, & Is too much T.
and with tears gushing from his eyes, the
male man buried his head In the scsuty
covering and groanod aloud.
Il W6s no wonder he was oRt Of heart on
that cold, dark December day. Atbest he
had hard struggle 10 get food, and for
the psat SIX months the struggle had been
slmost desperate for his wife had bean un-
able 10 assist him in ihe least, being oon.
fned % her bed with c slow wasting dis.
ease. His liltle daughter Marie, pretty
child of twelve, kept the room tidy, and
herself and two little brothers like wax.
By he aid Of hermotheF's whispered direo-
tiona she also managed 10 cook the scanty
msall. and to DO up The weekly washing
and ironing.
'My little sunbeam" the father fondiy
called her, while the mother would say IN
her loW sweet tones, ''or sngeL"
Oas Night the young housekeePer waited
tiH q vas pitch dark for her father 70 come
home to his frugal supper, and then with
fearful forehoding at her heart, undressed
the little boys and put them 70 bed, and
Tied On her hood and cloak 70 20 for him.
A crowd met her at the very threshold.
With g wild orp she rushed toward the in
snimate form they carried upon board.
Il vas her father brought home 10 them
with q broken leg,
A week had passed since this misfortune.
By the sale Of their few pieces Of furniture,
the wolf had been kept from the door. But
now nothing remained save the coarse bed
on which the distressed ones slept No
Goals for the littlo grate; no tea for the
feverish lips no orusts for the fsmished
children VAST should be done?
Il vas q question little Marie asked her
self again aad again a5 che lay there
watching the few pale sunbeams that slrug-
gled through the windows. And she seked
il ofteper after she had risen and dressed
herself and brothers, and smOsthed the two
beds. Bread they must bave that dsy.
They were all faint even now, and the boys
olsmoring for their breakfast
Suddenly bright thought came TO the
htlle dsughter. She remembered having
seen in the coffee houses young girls, nc
taller thsn she, waiting upon the custom
eTs. PeThsps they would try her "If they
only would" she Ynurmured softly, 81 sm
handy, Quick and patient, and / would try
60 hard to ohlige" / am pretty, too, she
might truly have added, had there been a
spark Of vanity in her heart; for abe was
6 sweet child, with brow like sunny
snow drift, and eyes like the spring ViOiets
that nestle in the woodlands.
I will try at least and see what | can
do, and after watching few moments the
weary sleep Of her parents, she whispered
to the little boys that she vas going out tC
get some bread for them, and hurried
away.
She did 60 TO the bakers, but her pitiful
story failed to touch his hard heart and
there were tears on her cold cheeks as she
turned away. Even if she secured pla e
she could hope for no wages till Saturday
and there were four weary days between
this and that Bread would be too late i
she waited till then. Whist would she do
beg2 She asked herself the question with
q quiTeriue lip. Never before had their
poverty driven them to that strait. and il
was hard, even now, with the picture oi
that Wrelched home fresh in her vision, tC
plead for charity. But she did il. Again
aud sgsin she said to the passer by
"Pleass sir, please ma'am, give me penny
to bay bread for my siek parents"
But the gentlemen had their oYercOata
buttoned to their ehins, and the ladies we're
enveloped in furs, and it was too much like
trouble to find their pocket books or purses
Just 10 supply q beggars wants.
go to the soup house, said one, ct last,
more ehUrlish than the rest. 1.-THE city
provides for such as you fl.--z-
twas Q new idea to her, and as fast IS
her feet could carry her she went, and en-
he 81
to the attendant matron.
81 viii report the case TO the commit
tee" said the woman quietly, making q
msmorsudum Of the name snd number Of
the street. Come in to O-morroW morning,
and will DO what can for you"
To-morroF She would be too weak 90
walk so far by that time, aud what would
become Of the rest2
With o heavy heart, she vent home, hRv-
ing no courage to present herself as q
WSiteF to any OF the cOffse-houses she pass
cd en- the EEy.
"Did you get some p cried the boys,
gathering about her, and putting of her
cloak to SEE il il we're hidden in her apron
Or under her arms.
"Did you get soms2' said tRo faint
voices from the bed in tho corner, aud the
coveTlet was thrown of, and two pairs OF
thin, white hands put forth
"No, no" she answered plainively.
"But l win try again. Keep up good
hope"
There viii be plenty out Of the oven
now Yes, plenty she said TO herself as
she buttoned her cloak on the threshold {
plenty, and I'll haTs soms too. They shRlI
not starFe. deR and women f0rssks ne,
God doesn't hear me any longer There is
nothing now left for me to do bat to steal. y
Her face palsd as she spoke it, and for q
few moments there was a wild Wrestle in
her heart Then she went on quickly,
psusing before each bakers window, and
looking anxiously within. By and BY she
found one that seemed empty.
A whole pile Ofstesming leaves lay upon
tie table.
She rushed in and seizsd one, and hid
ing il under her cloak, He'd madly up the
street. But the baker he'd seen her from
the little sitting-roOm door, and was after
her, crying Justify, "Stop thisfl STOP
thiefF A crowd followed her, and the
POOR child was soon run down. r
" A clear case, said the police offeer,
who took her in hand" property found on
her. She must 60 to tho oourt-room.'f
Ia vain she pleaded with them, and told
her story. They must dotheir duty; che
might hare begged she might have gone
70 the sOuP-houss There was no excuse
for steslings at any rate rs q r
No excuse, and her mother Rss dying for
food
An imPoTteat trial vas jast closing, and
Gil the avenues to tao court-house were
thronged. Z
They'll be through soon, said the of !.
Ger to the baker; we'll wait here a feE
moments. No danger other gottiag away
while my grip is on her, and he tithtened
his hold on her shrinking arm, TIL the
flesh quiysred with pain.
"Tske me home hrst, said she, sadly
they viii worry about ms 60. My poor,
mother viii die If she thinks I'm LOST. > =