Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-14
THE LITTLE HEROINE.
BY MRS. cARoLINE souLE.

Morning again 3" and the weary, waste
invalid lifted his head from the pillow and LOOKED
p.tfullv over the dim room. "Oh, that the nigh.
had been longer To the wretched sleep is dear
Nv poor. poor wife-my darling babies-mus'
they freeze and starve Oh, God it's toe
much ,' And with tears gushing from his eye,
The pale man buried bis head in the scanty GOV,
ering and Croaned aloud
Il was no wonder that be was out Of heart on
that cold, dark December day At best, he had
q hard struggle 10 81 food, and for the past SLY
months the struggle bad been almost desperate
Tor his wife had been unable 10 assist him in the
least, being confined 10 her bed with a slow
wasting disease. His little daughter, Marie, &
pretty child Of twelve, kept The room tidy, and
herself and two little brothers Ike wax. by
The aid Of her mothers whispered directions She
also managed 10 cook the scanty meals, and ais,
managed to DO up the weekly washing and iron
ing.
MY little sunbeam - the father fondly csllet
her, while the mother would say, in her low
sweet tone, ''our angel
One night the young housekeepeT waited unit
i was pitch dark for her father to come home &
his frugal supper, and then, with fearful forebod
iugs at her heart. uudressed the little boy.
aud put them to bed, and tied on her cloak to 9,
for him. A crowd met her at the very threshold
With wild cry, she rushed toward the imam
mate form they carried upon a board. 1t wa.
ler father, brought home to them with a broker
leg.
Aweek had passed since this misfortune. b.
the sale Of their few pieces OF furniture, the vol
had been kept from the door. But now nothing
remained save the coarse bed on which the dis
1resSed ones slept No coal for the little CRATE
no tea for the feyerish lips no crusts for the
famished children! What shall be done
1t was a question little Marie asked herself
again and again, as they lay there watching the
few pale sunbeams that struggled through The
window. And she asked it Ottener after she had
risen and dressed herself and brothers, and
smo0thed the two beds. Bread they must have
that day. They were al faint even now, and
the boys clamoring fOI their breakfast.
Suddenly bright thought came to the little
daughter. She remembered having seen il the
co6re-houses young girls, no taller than She
waiting upon the customers. Perhaps they
would Try her. IL they only would, she
mtuIuured softly. lam handy, quick, and
patient. I wouid Try so hard 10 oblige." ] an
pretty, too, she might truly have added, haa
there been a spark OF vanity in her heart i1i
SIZE was o sweet child, with . brow Ike a sunny
snow nit, and eyes Ike the spring violets tina.
nestle Ia the woodlands. q will try at leasi
aud see what ! can do and after watching d
moment the weary sleep Of her parents, sis
whispered 10 the Htse boys that she was going
er' 20 get some bread for them, and hurried
away.
did 90 to the bakers, but her pitiful story
lailed to touch BIS hard heart, and there wer,
tears on her colo cheek as she turned away
Even if she secured a place she could not hope
for wages ill Saturday, and there were toul
weary days between this and that. Bread would
be too late if she waited tIl then. What should
she do-beg She asked herself the question
with & euivering liz. Never before had then
poverty driven them 70 that strait, and il wa.
hard, even now, with the picture Of thai wretch.
Cd home fresh IN her vision to plead for charity
But she did L. Again and again she said ID
the psssers-by, Please, sir, please ma'am, give
me a penny 10 buy bread for my sick parents
But the gentlemen had their overeoats but
toned TO their chins, and the ladies We're envel-
oped IN furs, and il was too much trouble 10 find
their p~ocketb3oks OF purses just % supply G
beggaTs wants.
10 TO the soup-house said one Al last, more
churlish than the rest. The city provides lor
such rs you."
10 was @ new ides to her, and as fast as feet
could carry her she went. and entering in breath
Jess haste told her story tothe attendant matron.
VIII r. D0rt the ease 70 the committee, said
he woman, quietly, making a memorandum OF
The mama and number of the street. Come in
tomorrow morning, and VIII DO what I can
for you"
Tomorrow She would be too weak to walk
50 far by that time, and what would become OF
tbe restf
With a heavy heart. she went home, having no
courage 70 present herself as a waiter 20 any OF
tue coffee houses she passed on her way.
Did You get some ~ erred the boys, gath
elng about her, and pulling off her cloak to SOC
81 il were hidden in her cloak, or under her
arms.
mo. no, she answered plaintively. "Bu-
VIII try again. Keep up good hope.
There win be plenty ont Of the oven now.
Yes, plenty she said TO herself, as she but
toned her cloak on the threshold plenty, and
III have some, too. They shall not starvei
Men and women forsake me; God doesn't hear
ne any longert There IS nothing left for me
10 do but E r'
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 lRr from the little sitting
room door, and vas after her, crying Justify,
Stop, ttIef, stop, thieft'' A crowd followed
her, aud the poor child was soon run down.
clear case, said the police officer, who
her in hand, property found on Der. She
60 20 the courtroom.
In YAM she pleaded with them, and told her
story. They must do their duty, she might
have begged she might have gone to the soup
house there was no excuse for stealing, at any
No excuse, and her mother was diving for
ioodi
An important trial was just closing, and all
the avenues 70 the courthouse were throngod
They'll be through soon said the officer 20
the baker " well waithere 9 few minutes. No
Of her getting away While my grip Is on
her, and be tghgeAod his gTip on the shrinking
arm I'D the fssh quivered with pain.
Take me home first, she said sadly O they
wouv about me so. Ny poor mother viii
die ifshe thinks I'm lost
Oh dear oh, dear What wil become Of
hem 2 " and sbe sobbej aloud.
a little girl about brr age Wos passing by-a
mans child-you would know IL by the
dress and cloak, he rich velvet
hood, snd the costly fur tippet and mutt. But
here was no false pride hidden under the ex-
rsineut s warm heart was beating there,
md its sympsthies went ora far toward the poor
title prisoner. For s moment she paused, as if
T~Tesolute upon hsE plan OF action then laying
Ter mitteued AsRd gently on the officer she
politely
May 1 speak with her."
@, yes; she's not committed yet"
Putting her soft rosy check close 10 the pur-
le-cOld one, she whispered very earnestly.
IaTie told hey 3 touching story; and begged
he would, by toe love she bore her mother, to
nd ont her humble home. and comfort the dis
ones.
will. 1 vii" the stranger replied earnestly;
INC don't Won cry any more nay father knows
be Judge, and he'll get yoo away tomorrow.
iood-bye-keep up q good heart . and on she
40.
She knew her mctser 10 be Que Of the most
Of Hoasen, and hastensl BONE 10 tell
story Of Marie; but unfortunately she had
~ gore 70 ride, sud would not be back till near
=. What can do7" she cried, and wrung her
snds. sTLev want Goals, and bread, and tea,
IA so many things. and I have only ten cents
! my pocket
She sat down On The marble steps and pom
red. An at once her eyes frightened, and 8
asutiful color flushed Der face
+" IN do H." she said, resolutely; mamma
ID forgive me when she knows 81. Without
without food, nearly naked, quite starved
/. she viii be So glad, ] thought, SO far y aud
- bounded down the street aud rushed around
Q corner.
Pushing open The plate glass door Of be most
sbionahle lair dresser ~ the city, she went
nelly up to fbe attendant and asked 70 see
ousiecr d. lie usberel Der into the inner
on. saving that be would cal him.
Her beau duttered while She waited, but Der
did not fail Der.
"Ahi IL IS my little Theresa and Monsieur