The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-02-14


show to him-he was trying to think,
with such dull pain at his heart. Pre-.
sently three or four coarse looking boys
gathered behind him, and winked and
laughed at each other. In another mo-
ment the youngest-a demon at heart, 1
fear, gave thrust, and over went that
poor little houseless child into the gutter.
One scream one sob of anguish, as he
Igathered himself up and looked after the
boys, now flying away with shouts of
mirth. O! how cruel it seemed in them
bow cruel! The little hungry boy
walked on, sobbing and shirering to him
SELF He didn't know what be was walk
ing for, or why he was living. he felt out
OF place-a poor little forlorn spirit that
had lost its way-a bruised reed that any
one might break--a little heart so tender
that look was anguish, how much more
la blow.
The little boy stood at last near the
corner of street. An apple. stand, at
which he gazed with longing eyes, not
far off, was tended by a cross looking old
man. There were cakes on the stand,
and the poor little mouth of the houseless
child watered as he saw one boy after
another deposit his penny and take his
cake. He had no penny, and though
there was hunger in his eyes, the cross
looking old man never offered him a m or
sci. Perhaps the man did not think
Contact with poverty had made his heart
grow hard, and hungry faces were no
}, new sight to him
The tempter came. The old man :
back was turned--a vile boy at his side
at the side of the houseless child
nudged his elbow. 6 ou take one," he
whispered, "I'll give you half"
The little child gazed at him steadily
He saw something in the hleared eyes
that made him understanding that
:, set his heart to beating.
81 tell you, hook one," whispered the
boy, Il won't tell, and we'll 60 away
and eat it.''
{" 1 don't want to steal," whispered
the houseless child.
90 you fool - muttered the bruta
tempter, and smote him in the eyes,
his heavy hand dealing blow that sent
the poor little child ag ,ins. the wall. his
whole frame quivering with anguish. The
terrible blow had almost blinded him fol
moment-a great sob came up in his
throat-oh! what had he done to be treat
ed SO? Why didn't. God take care of him
There never, meuer was God, or he
would not lei him suffer so-and that be.
cause he refused to be wicked I don't
believe th at ever man in his deadesi
bereavement suffered more than tha: sad
little child. His heart was literally swell
ling with grief, and though he could no,
reason about it., he felt as if there was
great and sore injustice somewhere.
He started to cross the street. A dark
binding pain still made his poor temples
ring.
"Back back! Good heavens the
child is under his feet et-back-back -
go! mamma, it is our horse run over
poor little boy oh! n mamma-mamma
els he hurt much, coachman?" The
woman's face is pale as sshes. eyes, he
: is hurt sadly-take him right in-don
wait-carry him right in and up stairs. I
was our carelessness-the child shall be
attended to-"
There is no anguish now. Perhaps
b God saw he had borne all he could, anG
Is so took the poor little broken heart uE
& there to heal. How very white and qui.
a ct! 80! sweet face-a sweet, sweet
IS face!' murmurs the won an, bending over
l. the boy, and tears fall upon his forehead
n -tears-but he does not feel them.
q 90! the roor little boy!'' sobs Nelly
e "the poor little boy. I wish he had KEEP
y on the side walk; wish he had staid a
. home with his mother"
1t Alasl in this world there was no moth
d er to keep him.
e The doctor came, said he was not dead
j. but would very likely die. There was
d hospital near; the poor thing had better
At be sent there. But the good woman
d would not hear to that. She would car,
D for him herself, she said; he had beer
lie injured by one Of her horses, and sh,
at felt that it was her duty to attend to him
y Besides, it was likely that the child hat
re no mother. Such a boy as he, with
It face SO sweet and girlsh, so pure an,
ly lovable, would never be sent on tn
el streets, like that, if he had mothe,
is Besides and here her tears fell There
/? was little mound, not yet green, owe
just such child. No. no, il was not il
'k her heart to put the poor wounded DO
t. away. Let him stay whether he live