St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-02-11
THE CLEANER,

$50, this is my return to my native vii
lage! This is my reception from relatives
who owe me so much!" Thus thought,
rather than said, poor looking old man,
as he stood leaning over the gate of new
ly cleared wheatfield, in the bright, bust.
ling, busy harvest time ''One," e1claim-
ed he, as his musings took tone of pas
sion which broke eunconsciously into words
"one-yonder portly landlady. forsooth,
sitting in her bar, as she is pleased to call
it-her bar, qustha She whom rescued
from drudgery and starvation, from living
half shop woman, half maid, with the stin-
gy termagant lear-starcher, in Delford
Marsh ! whom l set up in that very Red
Lion-perch;d upon her throne, in the
arm chair, in the bar purchased the
lease, the furn,ture. the, good will paid
nor 9rst years rent; stocked her cellars {;
clapped hundred pound bank note into
her hand : And now that am come home,
old and lame, sick and ragged, she reviles
me as vagabond and an impostcr, and
tells me TO be thankful to her compassion
and tenderheartednes that she does no..
send for the constable to carry me 10 Jill |!
'sThen her brotheer-taugh 1t maddens
me to think of their baseness-whom ed
ucated and apprenticed, finding him money
afterwards 10 put him into partnership
with old Jones, the thriving liaen, draper:
He, indeed, did not pretend to deny that'l
might be his uncle !; but grant that were,
what claim had upon his charity, more
than any other starving wretch?
''Thcre are none left now," thought old
Michael to himself as, exhaused by his We
hemence, he sank into milder mood F.;
"none left for me to apply to now, except
the three orphan children of my poor neph.
ew, William Leslie, the cousin Of these
hard-hearted Collinscs, and their mother
and they, I fear, are themselves in great
want, and great trouble. He, lately died,
after series of undeserved misfortunes,
and long and wasting illness; and she,
working as hard as ever woman did work
to keep herself and her family out of the
work-house-that Union to whose comforts
my precious cousin Anthony 80 tcnderly
consigns me. Poor things, they may well
deny any knowledge Of me, for they neve,
saw me; and have had good sample Of
| the sllght impression that benefits confer.
red leave behind them. William was only
eighteen when left England and returned
to. Jamaica, AFTER my last visit. A hne
frank-hearted lad he was. remembe,
wishing to take him with me. But my poo,
sister would not part with him. She had
married again after the death Of her frs
husband. williams father, and q wretched
match she made; for this second husband
proved to be habiinal drunkard, Away,
half mad when intoxicated, who broke ou
At fast into desperate frenzy, and, but 70,
my interposition, would have murdered
the poor boy. seem to see the strugel.
now," thought the old man, closing hi.
eyes ''ho sfinging himself upon William
with table knife, aud rushing hetwee1
then. just soon enough to receive the blade
in my arm. l bear the mark of it still
The madman was sent to an asylvm, and
there soon died. And my poor sister, vel
off for her station, could net part from thi.
only: aon. He was fine lad, was William
spirited and generous; and when she also
died he vaa, already attached to the gi1,
whom he, afterwards married. helped
them, too, for loved the boy helped
on that match, for it was one Of SINGER.
affection, and they we're in a way to earn .
handsome competence; there must hav,
been some imIrudence, or great i'll luck, te
have reduced them to such poverty Sc
ran the train Of the old cripple's reverie. 81
never suspected it he never wrote to me
and I, engaged in my own affairs and with
children then Of my own-well, will se<
them, however. They are in this field,
cleaning. So said their neighbor.~ Yes
this is the field there they are. a1'll see
them,," thought Michael Norris, .thougl
tits probable that they too will know moth.
ing Of me- And, opening the gate, til,
old man limped slexly across the furrows,
and began gathertng the scattered ears 81
corn in bis nithsred hand. ... 5.,.... #:.,. =, !:
We havsss said the field, although, ate,
| paasin0 the gate wh;ch admitted him IL.