Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-11
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bcs3 az her own door IN drunken It, and
died in the presence Of her frightened
little ones.
Death touches the springs Of our COM
nan humanity. This woman had been de-
Spised. scofed at, and angrily denounced
By nearly every man, woman and child in
the village; but now as the fact Of her
death was passed from lip to lip, in sub
dued tones, pity took the place Of anger
and sorrow Of dununeiation. Neighbors
went hastily to the old tumble-down hut
in which she had secured little more than
4 place Of shelter from summer heats and
winter colds; some with grave clothes Tor
q decent interment Of the body and some
with food for the half starving children,
three in number. One OF these John, the
eldest a boy Of twelve, was stout lad,
able 70 earn his living with any farmer.
Kate, between ten and eleven, was bright,
active girl out Of whom something clever
might be made, il in good hands; but poor
little Maggy, the youngest, was hopelessly
diseased Two years before, fall from the
window had injured her spine, and she
hsd not been able TO leave her bed since,
except when lifted in the arms Of her
mother. ----.-..-..
iiWhat vas to be done with the children
That was the question now. The dead
mother would 20 under ground and be
forever from all care or concern of the vie
layers. But the children must not be left
70 starve. Afier considering the matter,
and talking itover with his wife, farmer
Jones said that he would take John and
DO we'll BY him, now that his mother was
cut Of the way; and Mrs. Ellis, who had
been looking out for-a bound girl, conelud-
ed thai 3 world be 5ohariable in her to
make choice Of Katy, even though she was
toe Young 10 be of much saee fof several
q eould-do much better I know, said
Nn Ellis ibut us no. enc seems inelined
Is take her, must act from seuse Of
duty. ] expect to have trouble with The
child; for she's an undisieipliued ihing--
lsad t0having her 5Wn. way,
But no. one said, II u take Maggie. r
Fitying glanoes were cast on hsr7Ean and
wasted form, and thoughts'Here troubled
onher ecc0unE Mothers brought cast off
garments, and rsmoSing her soiled and
ragged clothes, dressed her ID clean attire.
TIE sad eyes snd patient faseo Of the little
one touched many hearts, and even knock
EUWE NAloL4 ANA NMtENuNcs D4A AAVAA0 pen
ed to take her in. Who wanted bed rid
den child2 g3T-3
''Take her to the poor house, said a
rough man Of whom the question "What's
to be done with Maggie?' was asked
$50 body's going to be bothered with
her.
s'The poor house is sad place for a
sick, helpless child, answered one
oFor your child or mine said the 9TH
CT lightly speaking "but for this brat it
viii prove blessed change. She will be
kept clean, have healthy food, and be doct-
ored. which is more than can be said Of
her past condition.
There was reason in that, but still it
didn't satisfy. The day following the day
Of death was made the day Of burial. A
few neighbors were at the miserable hovel,
bat none followed the dead cart as it bore
the uahonored remains to its pauper
grave. Farmer Jones, after the coffin was
taken out placed John in his wagon and
drove away, satisfied that he had done his
part. Mrs. Ellis spoke to Kate with a
hurried air-"Bi your sister goodbye,
and drew the fearful children apart ere
scarcely their lips had touched in o sob
bihg farewell. Hastily others went ont,
some glancing at Maggie, and some Feso-
lutely refraining from look, until all had
gone. She was alone Just over the
threshold, Joe Thompson, the wheelWright,
paused, and said 10 the blaeksmith's wife
who was Fastening of with the rest;
ats q cruel thing to leave her so.'
HThen take her to the poor house she'll
have to 20 there answered the black
smith wife, springing away and leaving
Zoe behind.
Fora little while the man stood with a
puzzled air; then he turned back and went
into the hovel again. Maggie with pain
fal effort had raised herself to an upright
position, and was sitting on the bed,
straining her eyes upon the door out Of
which al had just departed. A vague
terror had como into her thin white face.
"Oh, Mr.. thompson" she cried out,
catching her suspended breath, "don't
leave me here all aloneW
Though rough in exterior, Joe Thomp-
son, the WheelWright, had q heart, and it
was very tender in some places. He liked
children, and was pleased to have them
come into his shop, where many a sled
and wagon was made or mended for the
village lads without draft on their hoard
ed sizpenees.
aNo dear he answered in a kind voice,
going 10 the bed and STOPPING down over
The child, aYou shan't be left here alone"
Then he wrapped her, with the gentleness
almost Of woman, in the clean bedclothes
which some neighbOr had brought; and,
lifting her in his strong arms, bore her
ont into the air and across the field that
iav between the hovel and his home.
Now Joe ThOmpson's wife, who happened
to be childless, was nota woman Of sanity
temper, not much given to self-deniai for
others good, and Joe had well-grounded
doubts touching the manner of greeting
he should receive on his arrival. Mrs.
Thompson saw him approaching from the
window, and met him with rufned features.
He bore a precious burden, and he felt it
to be 50. A bond had already corded it.
self around them both, and love was
springing into life.
aWhat have you there n harshly ques-
toned Mrs. Thompson.
Jos felt the child start and shrink against
him. BE did not reply except by look
that vas pleading and cautionary, that
said. gWait a moment for explanations,
and be gentle" and passing in, carried
Maggie to o small chamber on the first
foor, and laid her on a bed. Then step
ping back, he shut the door, and stood face
to faee with his vinegar-tempered wife in
the passage-way outside. -l..
gFou haven't brought home that sick
brat7" Anger and establishment were in
the tones Of Mrs. Joe Thompson; her face
Wasin fame.
Il think women's hearts are sometimes
very hard, said Joe. Usually Joe Thomp-
son got out Of his wife's way or kept silent
and non-eombatiye when she fired up on
any subject; il was with some surprise
therefore, that she now encountered a firm
IL set eountenance and resolute pair o.