The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-21
THE LITTLE HEROINE.
BY MRS. CAROLINE soULR.

"Morning again - and the weary, wasted
invalid lifted his head from the pillow and
looked pitifuiiy over the dim room. "Oh, tn u
the night had been longer To the wretched,
steep is dear. My poor, poor w,ie-.ny darl-
ing babies--Inusi they freeze and stlrye On,
God il is too much And with tears gush-
ing from his eyes, the pale I'll N buried his
head in the scHnty covering ana groiilIed
aloud
1t was no wonder that he was ont of heart
on that cold, q ,yk Decrm Der day. AT best, he
had hard struggle 10 get food, and for the
past six months The struggle had been almost
desperate for his wife had been unable 10
sist him ia the least, being confined 10 hsI
bed with slow, " sting disease His htt."
daughter Mart pretty child OF twelve,
kept tho one room tidy, and herself and two
httie brothers like wax. BY The aid OF her
mothers whispered directions she also man
aged 10 cook the Sc my me Is. and also IN ;,it-
aged 10 do up the weekly washing and iron
ing.
My little sunbeam" the father fundly
called her, while the mother would say, III
her low, sweet tones ''onr angel"
Oue night the young housekeeper waited
until Ii was pitch ark Tor her father 10 come
home 10 his frugal supper, and then, Wlth
fearful forebodIngs at her heart, addressed
the little boys and put them 10 bed, and tied
on h-r mood and cloak to go tor him. Il crowd
nat her at the very threshold With valid
cry, she rushed to ward the inanimate form
they carried upon board. IL was her father,
brought home TO them with a 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 en-
which the distressed ones slept. No coal
for the little grute no tea for the leverish lips;
no crust3 for the famished children, What
should be dones
Ii was question little Marie asked herself
again and again as they lay there watching
the few pale sunbeams that struggled through
the windo ". And she asked it oftener after
she had risen and dressed herself and bro
Tiers, and smoothed the two beds Bread
they must have that day. They were all faint
even now, and the boys clanpring for their
breakfast.
Suddenly bright thought came to the little
daughter. She remembered having seen in
the coffee houses young girls, no taller than
she, waiting upon the customers. Perhaps
they would try her. "If they only would"
she murmered softly. Il am handy, quick
oblige.' l am pretty, too, she might truly
have added, had there been q spark Of vanity
in her heart for she was a sweet child, with
brow like sunny snowdrft, and eyes like
the spring yiolets that nestle in the wood
lands. ~ will try at least, and see what
can DO - and after watching a moment the
weary sleep of her parents, she whispered 10
the little Boys that she was going out to get
some bread for them, and hurried away
She did go to the bakers, but her pitiful
story failed to touch his hard heart ami there
were tears on her cold cheek as she turned
away. Even if she secured place, she could
hope for no wages till Saturday and there
we're four Very days between this and that
Bread would be too late if she waited till
then. What should she do-beg? She asked
herself the question with quiverine lin
Never before had their poverty driven them
10 that straight, and il WIS hard, even now
with the picture of that wretched home fresh
in her vision, to plead for charity. But che
did il. Again and again she said to the pass-
ers-by "Please, sir please, ma am, give me
penny TO buy bread for my sick parents
But the gentlemen had their overcoats but
toned TO their chins, and the ladies were en-
yeloped in furs, and il was too much like
trouble to find their pocket books or purses
just to supply a beggar's wants.
$50 10 the soup house." said one, at last,
more churiish than the rest. ssThe CITY pro.
Sides tor such as YOU
1t was a new idea to her, and as fast as feet
could carry her she went, and entering in
breathless haste told her story 10 the attend
ant matron.
II will report the case to the committee"
said the woman quietly, making a memorau-
dunn of the name and number OF the street
come In tomorrow morning, and / viii! do
what can for you"
Tomorrow She would be TOO weak to
walk so far by that time, and what would be-
come Of the rest2
With heavy heart, she went home, having
no courage to present herself as It wsiter to
any OF the coffee houses she passed on her
way.
did You get some,' cried the bows gather
ing about her and pulling off her cloak 10 see
II IT were hidden Ia her cloak or under her
arms.
"Did you get some, ," said two faint voices
IRON the bed IN the corner aud the coverlet
was thrown off, and two pairs Of thin, white
hands put forth.
"No, no." she answered plainttvely. "But
will try again. Keep up good hope"
There will be plenty out of the oven now.
Yes, plenty" she said 10 herself, she but
toned her cloJk on the threshold; plenty, and
II have some, too. They shall not starve.-
Men ard women forsake me; God doesn't hear
me any longer There is nothing left for me
to do but sreel''
Her face paled as she spoke 1t, and for a few
moments there was wild wrestle in her
heart. Then she went on quietly, ia using an
Instant before each bakers door. and looking
anxiously within. By and by she found one
A whole pile of steaming loaves lay upon
tho counter.
sine ra.hed in and seized one, and hiding IL
under her cloak, fed madly up the street.
But the baker had seen her from the tile sit
ting room door, and was after her, CRYING
Justify, ''Stop thief, stop thief" crowd
followed her and the poor child was soon run
down.
"A clear case said the police officer, who
took her IN hand-s'property found on her
She must go 10 the courtroom"
In vain she pleaded with them, and told
her story. "They must do their duty, she
might have begged; she might have gone to
the soup housr; there was no excuse for steal
Ing, AT any rate"
No excuse, and her mother was dying for
food!
An important trial was just closing, and all
the avenues 10 the coert- house were thronged.
They'll be through soon," said the officer
20 the baker; 1--WE ii wait here few moments
No danger Of her getting away while nay grip
Is on her. and he iightened his grip on the
shrinking arm, till the flesh qniyered with
pain.
"Take me home first" she said sadlv;
'they will worry about me SO. My poor
mother will die il she thinks I'm lost y
They II soon find cut where you are" said
ne, gruMy. bad news is like lightning, it
oh. dear. oh, dear What will become of
them ~ and she sobbed aloud
little girl shout her age was passing by.-
Ar rieh mans ehild--yon would know it by'
the embroidered dress and cloak, the rich VEL
Vet hood, and the costly fur tippet and muff.
But there was no false pride hidden under
the expensive raiment; a warm heart was
beating there, and its sympathies went out
far towards the poor little prisoner. For a
NONE INT she paused, as if irresclute upon her
plan Of action; then laying her mittensd
nand gently on the officers. she said polite
". -
May speak with herr
~, Yrs; shes not committed yet"
Putting her soft rosy cheek close 10 the pur-
pie cold one, che whispered very earnestly
she wonld, by the love she bore her mother
TO find out her hulable home. and comfort the
distressed ones.
u viii. | will the stranger replied ear.
uesfIy: s'aHd don't you cry any more my
father knows the Judge, and he il get You way
tomorrow. Good bye-keep up a good b. art;n
ana % she ran. L
She knew her motAer to pc one Of the most
charitable Of won sn. and hAstsnsd hons 70
she had just gone 70 ride. and would not b
back VII nssv dinner tine.