St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-01-24
3owmtit sksttb.
For the 81 Charles City Intelligencer.
THE PURSE.
TALE OF THE
GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE
CHAPTER

CHAPTER T.
1t was clear, cold, sun-shiny New
Years morning in the beautiful town
of -, in Vermont, when the streets
were throngcd with people, whose
faces beamed with happiness and
whose hearts leapcd with joy. All
classes and conditions seemed to have
thrown aside care, determined to en-
JOY the prOpitious day which ushercd
in the New Year
Perhaps it was being engrossed
so much with pleasure, more than
hard heartedncss, that caused the gay
groups who were going to and fro to
disregard the earnest appeals made to
their sympathics by young lad, ap-
parcntly about fifteen years of age,
who was vending his way through
the throng, entrcating them to bestow
upon him tritlc for his poor mother.
He was slender lad and seemed to
be quite delicate Notwithstanding
the poorncss Of his apparel, there was
no appearance of vulgarity about him,
on the contrary every action was full
of gcntlcness and grace. His features
were regularly and finely cut, his
brow broad and open his eyes jetty
black and his eyebrows delicately
arched, seemed like pencilings on his
clear, white skin. There was no bloom
upon his checks, as is usual i'm youth,
and shade of melancholy rested on
his face which told that, though young,
he knew sorrow.
Poor lad ! he wandered along, seek
ing in vain to arres: the attention Of
some one Of the busy crowd, but they
all passed by him unhccding. The
merry laugh, and the joyous tones fell
harshly upon his ear he could not
share in them. "All hearts are light
but mine,' murmurcd he, and the
tears started in his eyes He wiped
them away, and proceeded on little
farther, but with no better success.
Shivcring with cold, for his clothes
We're poor and scanty, he was about
to turn into a cross street in despair
Suddenly, however, he stopped, and
Poor mother :" said he to himself,
I" she will starvc. No; must not 20
home. ! will try again"
Al that moment he looked up, and
saw three young girls, one about his
own age, and the other two little
older, standing before a shop window,
admiring the articles exposed there
for sale A new thought seemed to
have struck him. Hitherto lie had ap-
piled to gentlemen and ladies' now
he bethOught him that perhaps those
of his own years would lend a more
willing ear. Accordingly he approach
cd them, and instinctivcly addressed
himself to the Youngest. Whether it
was the benevolent expression Of her
face, with its mild blue eyes, so diff
fercnt from the naughty appearance
Of the two dark-eyed girls who were
her companions, or whether it was
because she was nearer his own age
that he first accosted her, he scarce
knew.
"Will you please give me few
cents, Miss, to buy some food for my
poor sick mother said he with down
cast eyes.
mo, don't Gertrude, said the eldest
OF the other two, looking scornfully
upon him, and then addressing him
she added, we have not got any to
give away; we want all our money"
Do, pray do" said the lad implor-
ingly. " My father is dead :: my
mother is sick. and she has no fire to
keep her from freezing this cold wealth
er, nor has she anything to eat. Only
few cents
Il will give him some, Jane" said
Gertrude to the one who had spoken,
would you not, Louisa ?" she contin-
ued, turning to the other, as the tears
gIistened in her eyes.
You may if You choose, answered
Louise, l shall not"
Neither will l." said Jane.
But his sick mother" said Ger
trude.
Pooh ! hope you do not believe
that story. He just wants to get
some pennies that he may play pitch
penny with some of the other bad
boys about the streets"
As she spoke she turned short
around, aud begau to examine the ar
ticlcs in the shop window.
Indeed l do not tell you . lie,"
said the boy warmly, fearing she might
be influenced by the examples Of her
companions, indeed, | do not. Oh
do not refuse me. My poor, poor
mothcr-I fear she will die before !
get home. She has had nothing to
eat these two days"
The kind-hearted girl could not
withstand the appeals Of the shudder-
ing boy, made as they were in such
pitifnl tones, and taking her purse
from her bag she put it in his hands.
Take this said she, "my uncle
gave it to me this morning to spend
for New Year things, but | can do
very well without them. Run home
with it quick, and may it make you
comfortable, if not happy, on this
New Years day
The boy hestated.
May be your uncle will be angry,
Miss said he.
No, no." she answered, she gave
it to me to spend as chose, and
now choose to give it to you. Hasten
with it home"
God bless you God bless you "
he exclaimed, as the tears of graft.
tude coursed each other down his
cheeks, may you never want bread
as we have done"
He would have thanked her more,
but the thought of his starving moth
Ell came across his mind, and leaving
them he was soon out Of sight.
What Ounce you are, Gertrude" +"