Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-12-27


path, where saw, by The dim moonlight,
new-made grave-another tenement TO the
final the universal resting place. I hat il
was poor person who had been buried
there, l judged by its situation. Yes, in
deed, wealth and poverty follow to the tomb,
retaining their outward mark of distinction
even there.
Perhaps | would not have noticed it.
But was it fancy-was it reality? / saw
something move upon.it. ] cautiously rose
and approached. What caught my eyes
a bundle of rags, and two little bare feet,
stretched across the mound. A child sob
bing-mournfully sobbiug. advanced and
touched the little specimen Of humanity on
the shoulder.
With shiver and start he jumped TO
his feet and turned his fearful, sorrowing
face toward me. Frightened and angry at
this interruption, he attempted to escape.
Stop, my little fellow" said /, in as gen
tie tone as the occasion would permit, and
catching him by the arm. Come, tell me
what you are crying for. Don't be afraid !;
what is your name 2"
Lambert White" he suffered, through
bis tears.
And for what are you crying so?"
Poor boy, he broke from my grasp, threw
himself down over the grave with such a
scream as ! thought would have broken his
heart, and sobbing piteously, " 0 mother
mother dear mother
Alas! well knew for what he was weep
ing. His best friend and parent, taken
from him at SO early an age. 1t was a sad
loss, indeed | deeply sympathized with
him. And such affection too At the hour
of midnight, mourning in solitude over her
silent tomb. | managed TO quiet him
questioned, and learned more OF his history.
His mother had been buried that afternoon
His father was yet living. No brothers
nor sisters. Poor lonely child
1t was with difficulty that coaxed him
to leave the spot, and allow me to accom-.
pany him home. | was now deeply inter
ested, and resolved TO follow my conductor
S.range-or was it strange ?-I thought
not of my own home-I thought not of tn,
time My mind was engrossed in the fat
of the poor, helpless little fellow beside me
On lie led me, on through dreary street:
by cross lanes, through blind, narrow al
leys. / followed the cold, small hand where
ever ii led. He stopped at last, in front c
crooked, rotten-looking building, dirty an
ancient, as far rs | could ascertain in til
dark He spoke not word, but up
pitch-dark, broken pair of stairs, ], stun
bling almost al every step, and scarcel
knowing if it was discretion, whether it W;
policy or not, to proceed any farther, thou2
dearly loved adventure, and now | ce
tainly knew not what was before me. ]
last my guide put his hand to latch,
could only tell it was such by the sound
and opened door.
4 low, garret-looking room, with but tv
small windows, half of the lights stuff
: with rags. The ceiling broken, crocke
and dirty. A small table and light, {
Poverty D one bit of tallow candle--fic
ering and wasting by the wind from Il
window-stuck between three nails on
block of wood, threw dim glare over IL
greater part of the apartment.
In one corner there lay a heap of rag
meant, suppose, for bed, and in anothe
a lot of old kettles and stove. This,
far as | could see, constituted the posse
sions therein. Everything betokened wal
and wretchedness.
, And this is where you live, my boy !?
: asked.
Yes, sir"
And where is your father?"
/ had scarcely spoken--even before a
answer could be given, heavy, clams
step could be heard outside on tie stair
: and a hoarse gruff voice singing some pre-
l fame song.
: "Its father" whispered little Lambert.
, Good heavens could fellow-creatur
be SO degraded? Even on the night Of hi
wife's burial
; 4 coarse, drunken bloat, in the wors
state of intoxication, | saw as he tumble'
into the room and cast his wild. blearet
eyes upon me. His poor boy so young
and to experience such misery, such degre
dation in his only parent That tyrann,
: ruled there | saw in a moment, as the chill
crouched from his sight And what th
dead wife must have suffered The yer.
thought bid me thank God that he hac
taken her to himself
With an oath, the man demanded my
business. / informed him of the circum
stances in which i had found his son, ant
politely requested that he would deal mer'
cifully with him.
" That's my business, and none of yonrn,
be grunted, savagely.
And, in defiance of me, or to glut hun