East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-02-28
The Little Outcast.

"Maint l stay, ma'am? I'll do any.
thing you give me--cut wood, go after
water, and do all your errands."
The troubled eyes of the speaker filled,
with tears. 1t was lad that stood at
the outer door, pleading with kind look
ing woman, who still seemed to doubt
his good intentions.
The cottage sat by itself on bleak
moor, or what in Scotland would have
been called such. The time was near
the end of November, fierce wind rat
tied the boughs Of the only naked tree
near the house, and fled with shivering
sound into the narrow doorway, as if seek
ing for warmth at the blazing fire within.
Now and then snow flake touched,
with its soft chill, the cheek of tho lis
toner, or whitened the angry redness of
the poor boys benumbed hands.
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 deprsv-
ity far beyond his years.
But her mothers heart could not resist
the sorrow in those large, but not hand
some, gray eyes.
"Come in, at any rate, till the gudeman
comes home; there, sit down by the fire;
you look perished with cold" And she
drew rude chair to the warmest corner,
then suspiciously glancing at the child
from the corners of her eyes, she continu-
ed setting the table for supper.
Presently oamo the tramp of heavy
shoes, the door swung open with quick
jerk and the "gudeman" presented him
self, weary with labor.
A look of intelligence passed between
his wife and himself-he, too, scanned
the boys face with an expression not
evincing satisfaction, but nevertheless,
made him come to tho table, and then
enjoyed the zest with which he dispatch
ed his supper.
Day after day passed, and yet the boy
begged to be kept "only till tomorrow.
so the good couple, after due consider
alton, conclude that so long as he was
docilo. and worked so heartily, they would
retain him.
Ono day, in tho middle Of winter, a
peddler, long accustomed to trade at the
cottage, made his appearance, and dis
posed Of his goods readily, as he had been
waited for.
"You have boy 'out thcre splitting
wood, | soe," he said, pointing to the
yard.
"Ycs: do you know hin?"
81 have seen him." replied tho pcller,
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 tho court
myself, and heard his sentence--ten
months; he's hard one-you'd do we'll to
look keerful arter him."
Oh! there was something so horrible in
the word "jail,p that the poor woman
as she laid away her purchase,
nor could she be easy till sho had called
the boy and assured him that she knew
the dark part of his history.
Ashamed and distressed, tho child hung
down his head; his cheeks seemed burst
ing with his hot blood; bis lip quivered,
and anguish was painted wildly upon
his forehead, as if the words were brand
ed in his flesh.
"Well," he muttered, his whole frame
relaxing as if burden of guilt or Joy had
suddenly rolled off. III may as well go
to ruin at once.--there's no use in my
trying to be better-everybody hates and
lespises mc--nobody cares about mo, i
nay as well go to ruin at once"
"Tell me" said tho woman, who stood
,ff far enough for flight, if that should be
necessary; chow came you to go so young
% that dreadful place? Where was your
mother?
"Ohl" exclaimed the boy, with rush
,f grief that was terrible to behold "Ohl
| hain't got no mother--oh! hain't had
10 mother every since / was baby. IfI
pd only mother he continued, his an
guish GROWN vehement, aud the tears
gushing out Of his strange looking gray
eyes, al wouldn't beed bound out and
Kicked and cuffed, and laid on to with
Whips; wouldn't got knocked down, and
hen run away, and stole because | was
lungry. OH | hain't got no thcr since
way baby"
The strength was all gone from the
Door boy, and he sank on his knees Sob
ping great checking sobs, and rubbing
lot tears with his knucklcs. And did
hat woman stand there unmoved? Did
he boldly bid him pack up and be Off
he Jail bird?
No, no--she had been mother, and,
although all her children slept under the
'old sod in the churchyard, was mother
till.
Sho went up to that poor boy, not to
,asten him away, but to lay her fingers
sindly, softly, on his head--to toll him to
ook up, and from henceforth find in hcr
, mother. Yes, she even put her arm
around the neck Of that forsakcn deserted
,hild-shc poured from her mothers heart
sweet, womanly words, words Of counsel
md tenderness.
Oil how sweet was hor sleep that night
how soft was her pillow! She had
linked poor suffering heart by the most