Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-05
THE YOUNG CARRIER.
A NEW YEARS STORY.

pavements covered with the snow and still (s the nurse
~ legend runs the Old woman on the chimney tops kept
on most peTseveringly picking her white chickens, until
all the earth was wrapped in one undstinguisha5le CO or.
There were little feet abroad that night; YOU could not
hear their patter, but you could have seen the print Of
their little bare toes, a. they pressed the chilly carpet, on
their hOmeward track. Let Us follow them, the little boys
dor they were the owners Of the little toes) stopped in
front Of a house, through whose windows bright streams
Of light shot out into the cherries night
"Ahl willy said the eldest don't Il make you feel
warm Just 10 look at those windows When I'm rich I'll
have a big light all over my house, every night, just to
make poor folks feel CAD when they 50 by. Ali Willy
do you know that / think God lights mp The sky more for
US poor people than the rchf Why, thar can't see the
stars when they are in bed; the taiek curtains keep EN-
out; but you know that ehink in the wall close to our
heads at honeywell, every night there's the most besuti-
ful bright star shining right straight through H. and some
times when we haven't earned anything ell dsy, and
mother hasn't any supper for US, | go to bed with some
thing choking in my throat, and if / can only see that
star I feel happy, for It seems 10 say Brighter days are
coming, Charley; God viii take care Of YOU"
Their conversation was brought to q close by the lively
strains Of a piano, which was al that moment heard
in the house, while merry tongues and feet kept time to
the music. On" said Willy, Il do believe they are
dancing: climb up and see." Charley was about obeying
the command, by dexterously swinging himself upon the
railing, when, with u sudden cry, he reiinquished his
hold, "Oh! WILL VIII, I've dropped my quarter in rhe
snow"
Wen might they be pardoned for CRYING, when. after
cropping about for some minutes, the search proved I'M
successful, Tor it was a hardearned pittance they had
shoveled three loads Of coal into q mean mau s cellar,
and he thought they were such HtLe boys a quarter was
paw enough, and so. as he had saved FIVE cents. he treated
nfEI4aL 70 an extra cigar lfter dinner. The lamentations
OF the boys soon attracted to the windows the merry
occupants Of the parlor, and there, haftened against the
window-panes, were three Ettle noses, while six eyes,
shaded by SIX little hands, were peenng ont into the
darkness 10 discover the cau-a Of such wsoefll sounds At
the same moment Mr.. Carlton lthe owner Of the mansion
and Of he aforesaid hands, eyes and noses) approached
the steps, aud, after a few moments conversation with
the boys, sent them into tie kitchen; and, upon opening
the front door, was overwhelmed with such exeiamations
a. e. Oh, papa 7 IN te snow I. Lost their money !
" such a cold night
Whew = he cried, what a tempest in a teapot. I
suppose it is no greater hardship 70 lose money on a cold
night than on a wagIa one, but get out Of the way until
I shake my coat, or you viii al Dc powdered. And
now said M. Carlton, when in 2 few minutes he was
seated ID hiseaxy cissir beside the fre, who II expected
&c replace this immense sum which has been lost on nay
pavement Christmas coming, and really don't :hiak
I can aaord Il, you had better open your meney-boxes,
little girls how much can goa spare for charity 2 why,
really papa replied Mary, the eldest, +" I should ike 70,
but You know ! want 70 MAKE 80 aaHg presents" "Wel,
MY little Alice, and what do You say r said MI. C., lay
ing his hand with a caressing movement upon the curly
locks Of one who bad nestled closest 20 him; " lot as 90
mo the kitchen and see them" and she whispered in his
ear, / viii give II 80 them, papa
The boys under the care Of kind cid Betty had made a
comfortable supper, and were about leaving as the chill
dren and their father entered the apartment Wei,
for your loss, has concluded 10 replace il out Of her
Christmas box, aud as Alice laid the money in Charles
hand, he added gaily, you ae sure you won't regret il
Ally" oh, no, papa was the ready response, " for
you know God iOveth a cheerful giyer."
The boy looked into those clear blue eyes, felt the
touch Of that son hand, heard the musical cadence OF the
ELll4hl NGalcf aBA EnItANltA aAkotudi rhAi III ny
Ky Of mis- heart, as bright, and yet as untenable as that
In the dome above him
A day or two after this occurrence, Betty hustled into
Mrs Cartoons shnngroOm in a state Of unusual excite
ment for her, for the good woman had turned the hill Of
life and her speech aud movements were not usually Of
the energetic sort. but on the present occasion she hada
story 70 tell. and 80 without any preface she began with
I've been about TO see the boys, maam. that were
here tother night J knowed that one Miss Alice gave
the money to, with his splendid black eyes, was no poor
white folks child. There's a regular story about him,
ma'an. Hes a regular gentlsuans SON. and his nurse
stole him away when he was little"
" Oh Betty said Mrs Carlton. laughing, "the day
has 10 z gone by since babies used TO be stolen away. ]
suspect the wonan was imposing upon YOU"
" indie d, maam, answered Betty, with as much in
dignation in her tone as she could feel / ward her gentle
mistress, " believe its all true. and / hope I may live TO
SEE the day when TIE 10y gets bis rights; but won't you
20, mai6m, and see the woman yourself
Perhaps I may, said Mr.. Carlton, but home cares
and home dates soon enaeed all reeollecfions Of o ther the
BOYS or Betty's wonderful story.
We must beg our readers in thought, &c glide gently
down the stream Of time and stand on e more with u in
Mrs. Cartons pador. A change has passed over alt
The free and easy ssttee Of earlier days has given place 20
chairs and lounges of elaborate aud costly Workmanship,
and the little girls We left tbere, one winters night, are
lovely maidens uOsY, Just biushing into WOmanbood Il
was New Years day, that da7 Of all the year When wo-
men are supposed 20 pay NEST attention 10 the becoming
in their toiletts but no mysteries Of dress were needed 70
adOrn sweet Alice Carlton. ShestO0d beside her mothers
chair, clothed with the beauty Of her own spirit, al3 turn
ing ever aad anon from the group Of idle tatterers who
hlied the room and VINO hli'eIed around the queehHAe
sister, to gaze into The street below where, over tree ana
railing. the %frostking had thrown many a beau ifd gar
land ia honor Of the day.
Suddenly she exclaimed, 10 a low tone, a Mammal
here is the same young carrier who came last year you
know his sad, dark eyes have haunted rs ever since, as
something more than half familiar. DO look ct him, Col
Mowbray,7 addressing an elderly gentleman who stood
AZ that moment the car Ter ran up the steps, and Alice,
throwing zap the window, exclaimed, Il viii take your
paper, pardon her, elderly ladies, she vas only sIxteen)
al the same time placing a piece Of gold in his hand,
The young man gazed for an instant, and then with a
/ graceful inclination Of the head replied, Thanks, fair
I fadU Won KNOW that GGd AOreN n cheerful pIrgr"
With a blgsh Of pleasure aud surprise Alice closed the
window, and turning to her mother said on mamma
| ! know him now he IL the same boy who lost his money
On our pavement years ago, when l was 3 little girl, and
Betty used 70 say
turning to the gentleman before alluded to, who had
turned deadly pale. and was leaning on the bSeK Of a
chair fo~ support.
been somewhat shaken Of late, and the peculiar expires
son 0; that young mans face ret my bu y fancy 20
work
Ny dear sir said Mira Carlton, If not too painful
10 yoerself do tell us this singular history Of yours my
LRsband intimated that it was one Of deep Interest
The psdor being at this time free from visitors, the
colonel seated himself and began his Recital:
some twenty years OF more ago, we bad living with
us. IN our southern home, a muiatto woman named Gym
this and her son Alfred The woman was my wiie'i
maid and Of courss enioyed al The privileges and mmu.
miles Of that favored class Of servants. When our Ute
boy was born, Cynthia attached herself TO him with thai
excess OF devotion which ! think Is rarely found save
among the c0lored nurses Of the south. Her lie and
/ We seemed bound up in our SON aud her Own, who wa
the gerieEt imp OF MISCHIEF tnhi ever iufinohpeu y Ahuly
ALI was always Ina trouble, and always did Cynthia
tears and my wifes p~leadings prevailto prevent bis being
pauished. She loves our child 20 well, was an Slan
swerabie a'eamenf. Atlast, when cur Charlie was be
tween three and four ysass old. forbearanee ceased to be
4 virtue. Ans pranks and his constant escape from pun
isblneut. were exerting a most pernicious Influence uPOl
Tue other servants, and IN spite OF bis mothers entreatle
4 banished hha 10 ny brothers plantation u few mile
removed from u. Bnf no rxpiagation would convince
Cynthia that be was not sold, and that aIteg . icy Tear
: III Kind and firm discipline he should return TO us Sd
/ dreaded over her loss, and though Outwardiy the sam
devoted servant, she was nouTishing IN her heart a deel
plan Of revenge, which has east its bhghiing sorrow owe
sur whole liver.
About tins time a dear friend OF my wifs's berg res
s death, she went 10 spend a few days with her. aeeon
5 panied her, leaving cur dear sOn in Cynthias care by
! little did we think that the sweet face which lighted y
with JOY al the promise Of a speedy ieturn' would nePf
d more be seen within our darkened dwelling.
"When we returned, Cynthia and our boy were gon'