The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-10-10
THE LITTLE HEROINE.

ptifuly over the dim room. 'Oh that the night
had been longer To the wretched, sleep is
dear. Ny poor, poor wife-my darling babes-
must they freeze and starve Oh God it is too
muchn And with tears gushing from his eyes
the pale man buried his head in the scanty Gov
erlng and groaned aloud.
| 1t was no wonder that he was out of heart on
| that cold, dark December day. At best, he had
hard struggle to get food, and for the past SIX
months the struggle had been almost desperate
for his wife had been unable to assist him in the
| least, being confined to her bed with slow
wasting disease. His little daughter Marie, a
pretty child of twelve, kept the one room tidy,
and herself and two little brothers like wax
| BY the aid of her mothers whispered directions
| she also managed to cook the scanty meals, and
also managed to do up the weekly washing and
ironing.
My little sunbeam, the father fondly called
her. while her mother would say, i'll her low
sweet tones, our angel
One night the young housekeeper waited till
il was pitch dark for her father to come home to
his frugal supper, and then, with fearful fore
bodiDg at her heart, undressed the little boys
| and put them to bed, and tied on her hood and
cloak to go for him. A crowd met her at the
very threshold. With wild cry, she rushed
toward the inanimate form they carried upon a
board. 1t was her father brought home to them
with broken leg. ".#
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 little
CRATE; no tea for the feverish lips; no crusts
for the famished children! What should be
done
1t WAS question little Marie asked herself
again and again as they lay there watching the
few pale sunbeams that struggled through the
windows. And she asked it oftener after she
had risen and dressed herself and brothers, and
smoothed the two beds. Bread they must have
tina. day. | hey were all faint even now, and
the boys clamor,ng for their breakfast.
Suddenly bright thought come to the little
daughter She remembered having seen in the
coffee house, young girls, no taller than she,
waiting upon HE customers. Perhaps they
would try her 81 they only would she muir
INJURED softly i a'n hardy, quick ahd patient.
aud would Try so hard 10 obhge | am pref
ty. too, she meat truiy have added, had there
been spark OF vanity Ia her heart; for she was
a sweet child, with brow like sunny snow
drift, and eyes like The spfing voets that nestle
in he woodlands. i will NY at least, and see
what l can do; and alter watching few mo-
ments the weary sleep Of hen parents, she whis-
pered to tie little boys that she was gong ont
to get some bread Tor them, and hurried away.
She did go to the baker ., 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 place, she could hope for
no wages till Saturday, and there were four
weary days between this and that. Brad would
be too late if she waited till then. What should
she do-beg7 She asked herseli the question
with a qulvering lip. Never before had their
poverty driven them to that strait. and it WINS
hard, even now, with the picture of that wretch
ed home fresh in her vision, to plead tor charity
But she did it. Again and again she said to the
passers-by, Please, sir, please, ma atn give rne
penny to buy bread for my siek. pa.te-ts.'v
But the gentlemen had their overcoats but
toned to their chins, and the ladies' were enveL.
ops d i'll furs, and it was too much like trouble
to find their pocket books or purses just to sup
ply a beggar's wants. sH
Go 10 the soup house., said one, at last more
churlish than the rest. The city provides for
such as YOU .s'1- .,.. ....-..
1t was a new idea to her, and as fast as feet
could carry her she went land entering in breath
.ess haste told her story to the attendant ma
iron. .H#t
Il will report the case to the committee said
the woman quietly, making a memorandum of
the name and number OF the street. Come In
tomorrow morning, and l will do what l can
for YOU
Tomorrow She would be too weak to walk
so far by that time, and what would become OF
the rest? ...t..
With heavy heart she went home, having
no courage to represent herself as a waiter to
any of the coffee houses she passed on her way.
Did you get some 2 cried the boys, gathering
about her, and pulling off her Cloak to see if it
were hidden i'll her apron or under her arms
Did you get some?' cried two faint voices
had Z ho 4 Il.
thl own off, and two pairs of thin, white hands
Put forth. ..-. -
No, no. she answered plaintiyely. But
will try again. Keek up good hope
There Will be plenty out of the oven now
Yes, plenty she said to herself,as she buttoned
her COAX on the threshold plenty, and / will
have some too. They shall not etarve Men
and women torsake me God don't hear me any
longer There is nothing left for me to do but
steal
Her face paled as she spoke it, aud for few
moments there was wild wrestle in her heart
Then she went on quietly, pausing an instant
before each bakers window, and looking anx-
iousy within. BY and by she found one that
seemed empty.
A whole pile of steaming loaves lay upon the
counter
She rushed in and seized one, and hiding it
under her cloak, fed madly up the street. But
the baker had seen her from the little sitting
door, and was after her, crying Justify, stop
thief, STOP thief ! A crowd followed her and the
poor child was soon run down.
"A clear case, said the police officer, who
took her i'll han',-'property found Oh her. She
must go to the court room.
In vain she pleaded with HEM and told her
story They must do Their duty; she might
have begged: she might have gone to the soup
house, there was ma excuse tor stealing, at any
rate
No excuse, ard her mother was dying for
food
An important trial WAS just closing, and all
the avenues 10 The court house were thronged.
They'll be there soon, said the officer to The
baker, wen wait he e few moments. NO
danger OF her getting away while my grip IS on
her, and he frightened his hold on her shrinking
arm, till the flesh quivered with pam.
Take me home first, said she sadly; they
will worry about me SO. My poor mother will
die if she thinks I'm lost f...s
They'll soon find Out where you are, said he,
grutfy. Bad news is like lightning, it travels
30 fast
oh dear, Oh dearr What will become of
them !? and she sobbed aloud
A little girl about her age was passing by-a
rich mans child-you would know it by the
embi oidered dress and cloak, the rich velvet
noou, ana the costly fur tlppet and mum. Dus
there was no false pride hidden under the e1-
pensiye raiment; a warm healt was beating
there, and It's sympathies Went out largely to-
ward the poor little prisoner For moment
she paused, as if irrcsolute upon her plan of ac-
lion; then laying her mittened hand gently on
| the officer S, she said politely:
May l speak with herr
", yes; she's not committed yet
| Putting her soft rosy cheek close to the purple
cold one, she whispered very earnestly. Marie
told ne1 touching story and beggedshe would
| by the love she bore her mother, find out her
humble home, and comfort the distressed ones.
4 will, l will, the stranger replied earnestly
and don't you cry any more; my father knows
the judge, and he'll get you away tomorrow
Good-bye-keep up good heart : and off she
! ran.
She knew her mother to be one CT the mosi
charitable women, ard fastened home to tel
her the story of Marie but unfortunately, she
had Just gone TO ride, and would not be back til