The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-26
Billy, the NeWs-boY.

Billy, the NeWs-b0y
The Lord regardeth, not persons nor takeh re-
ward. He doth execute the judgment of the talerless and
the widow loveth the stranger in giving him food and
raiment. '-DEUT.X X, II, IL.
One dark night in the city, as gentleman
was walking towards his home, he caught a
glimpse Of boy cured up behind one Of the
pillars Of a church portico. Stopping to take
closer view, he discovered that the poor lad
was crying, and held a couple OF newspapers
tightly under his arm he saw, besides, that
he was ragged and barefoot, though it was
late in the autumn.
What is the matter, little fellow ? inquir-
ed the gentleman.
co. sobbed the child, $ | can sell my pa
persn
But you have sold almost all your papers.
How much money do you want to raise g
Six cents !!
And durstn't you 20 home without it 2
No.
well, If III buy your papers will you
run right home and not cry
Yes
The gentleman then handed him coin,
but the boy took it hcsitatingly, and replied,
inuocsntIy and sadly enough, L haimt got
any CHANGE
Poor lutte newspaper. Greater
ones than thou have experienced the perplex-
ing disappointment, the annoying impotency
Of being forced to miss pound for the lack
of a penny; have olmost starved Tor far
fetched present, whose trelg ht-cnarge they
could not pay; have been reduced to such
straits in IA foreign land that they had not
even money enough to pay out OF the post
Office the letter which brought thcm Keller.
1t was the truth he told, that ragged boy,
holding between his fingers thu coin, too big
for him to change. His whole stock in trade
was two papers. All his lutte capital was
invested in them, but larger boys had run
down the tborough.are before him, and shout
ed their wares louder than he, and from tour
o'clock to sun dowu--and then TIL dark-he
cried the names OF his papers before the no.
tells and on the corners, but nobody would
buy; or the din which h!, older, but equally
ragged rivals made, drowned his voice So that
nobody heard him, and he grew tired and
hungry, and his bare feet cured with cold as
he trudged along the paw, meut, hardly know
Ing where he WENT and his plalntlve E--v.
ening Post = grew seldom and tremulous like
the thin minor of a chilled night.crcAet, and
then stopped altogether. On the cold steps
Of great stone church he sat and cried with
the two papers under his arm. His heart
sore, his stomach empty, and his pockets
sure enough he hadn't got any change
WELL, said the gentleman, never mind
that, scamper home with the money as soon
as you can and he turned to 20 as he saw
the shlverlng newsboy get down from the
steps and trot timidly away on cross.stree,.
TIE last words the little fellow had said how
ever, SO struck the mind OF the kind stranger
that he turned back alter passing on a few
steps and followed down the street where the
boy had just disappeared. He caught sight
OF him ~ he passed under street lamp, two
squares beyond, and walking cautiously at
distance, he succeeded IN tracing him to his
lodging-place.
a little girl came out and asked, In half
frightened tone,
What you got, Billy?
The boy revealed his treasure, and the two
started of together at quick pace, and they
were soon out OF sig ht around the next cor
ner. Saspectlog something wrong because
they did not go into the place which appeared
to be their home, the gentleman followed
them, but he had barely turned the corner
when he saw the children run up out of u
small oyster.cear with LOAF of bread, and
sitting down in dark place, SIDE by side up
on the curb.stone, fall to eating it as ii they
were furnished
He now walked up to them and inquired
mildly, who they were.
William and Margaret Miller answered
the boy, with his mouth full, not appearing
to recognize his qucstioner as the one who
had given him the money to buy his bread.
Where's your father?'
Dead, said Billy, still munching his crust.
Where's your mother!'
The boy hesilated and glanced towards his