The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-30
SAINT PAUL, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 80, 1864


proved the wickedness of the times at the
same time that it conveyed gentle resig-
nation so long as the wicked times left
him his 800, 900 year. G.. az .
"They are about to introduce new va
grant act into the House of Commons"
continued the Judge. "I do not expect
much good from the Commons, it is get
ting 80 d-nA radical. I beg your lord
ships pardon" Qhe Bishop wiped his
mouth with his snow white napkin, and
smiled benign pardon; how could he do
otherwise with man who kept so excel
lent aeook, "but / trust when it goes to
the upper House, there will be some strin-
gent clauses added to it, which our friends
in the Commons will endeavor to get
through afterward."
sThe Bishop promised to attend to it.
| And now, as the desert is laid upon the
table, thing of light enters the room !;
tSH only thing on earth Judge Percival
loves: q beautiful boy about six. years of
age, his only child, the living link between
him and his dead wife. -.
,oOh, how the fathers eyes beam with
proud delight, as he gazes upon him, how
his ears drink in the music of his young
voice. Happy father! Beautiful child!
But, we must leave them to follow the
steps of the homeless, little pauper, whom
Judge Percival flung down his door steps.
As soon as the servant had gone in quest
of a policeman, the child arose; strange,
he left no print of his footsteps on the
snow. Strange, how swift and noiseless
was bis step. Now he has left the Square
and turned down narrow, in-lighted
street. The venders of holly and ivy have
avoided this street, suspecting its inhab-
itants to be too poor to buy such things
much as they might covet them; for you
must know, that in London, as elsewhere,
poverty and wealth are very near neigh
bors, though not exactly on visiting terms.
The child stopped at miserable house,
the door of which lay open-and nestled
down in the doorway, cold place enough,
for the snow.dakes had already taken up
their lodging there. In few moments
after, q man turned into the street and
approached the house with a weary nerve
less step. For q little time he stood before
the house, hesitating to enter, and then,
with deep sigh, passed in; as he did so
his foot struck against the child, who gave
low moan.
The man stopped quickly and raised
him in his arms.
"My God," he exclaimed, 81 thought
tLat there were none more wretched than
myself"
With quick step, and still holding the
child to his breast, assended the ricketty
stairs and entered room in which a wO-
man was sitting.
"Quick, Mary" he said, "stir up the
fire, here is poor child found lying at
the door. l believe he is almost dead, at
all events he must have been before morn
ing. Thank God, l can give him shelter
for this night at least
The woman fastened to obey he- hus-
band, and as the fire blazed up, she looked
pityingly into the face of the child, that
still lay in his arms, while she said: t
"Oh, my poor, poor child! How cold
it is! I have some milk, John. Shall I
warm it?"
"Do so, Mary"
And John commenced to chafe the little
limbs. And now they are rewarded, for
the child opens his eyes and smiles upon
them.
"Oh, what levely blue eyes!" said
Mary. "Why did you come out, my child,
such night as this?" ..-
But the childs eyes closed again, and he
seemed to fall into deep sleep:
call right" said John. "Thats what
he wants. Is Stephen asleep?"
eyes; I coaxed him to 60 to bed,
though he wanted badly to wait up for
you."
"Well, Mary, we will put this poor little
fellow to bed with him."
As John laid the stranger on the bed,
both children smiled in their sleep.
Now husband and wife sit down by the
fire. As they did so, shade fell upon
Johns face. His wife looked up at him,
as she hesitatingly said:
"Were you at Mr.. Sims, John?"
eyes, Mary. he refused to give me
any more credit"
" "Aad tie loan fund, John?"
"The moment spoke of further ad-
vance, they threatened to come down on
US for the money we already owe them.
Mary, T" continued John, 81 never thought
it would come to this. I never thought
would have to tell you to leave me; but it
must be so. You and the children must
60 to your fathers Hard as he has been
to me, he will not refuse to give you shell
ter for few months, until spring, when
work will get brisk" (John Lowly was a
bricklsyer by trade.) "And Mary
Mary" (here the poor fellow gulped down
big sob,) 81 must go for little while to
the poor-house."
"Oh, john" exclaimed his wife, sob
bing on his breast, what's this you say,
leave you, where you go, 60 too The
poor house, oh, John, it would break your
poor proud heart. But, this is a holy
night, my husband. Let us kneel down
and pray to Him, who was laid in the