Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-09
The MiseF's Story.
By MRS. NJ. A. DENISON.

by the grace of God | am what |
am FL was born in England. Iremem-
Der nothing bu poverty-stalkiag
crime aud absolute want. The houses
whore | lived were all in various
stages Of filth and decay. Whether
the Old bIear-eycd man who command
cd me was my father, | never knew.
Whether the old woman who some
times fed and oftener beat me, was my
mother, | cannot say. All know is
that | had a miserable drag-about life
OF 1t, going round after cold victuals-
knocking smaller boys down to get
the contents Of their broken baskets
and hunting for rags in the gutter.
/ suppose | was rather Il good look.
inc boy; they call me good looking
now, for ar old man. know | was
smart, comparing myself with chill
dren as | see them. OF course | was
like the rest of my class. Icould FIGHT
little, aud cheat little, and eat q
good dcal-that is, when | got the
chance, which was seldom.
| was gnorant-didn't know one
letter from another, and didn't want
to. What did care about education
!, who never saw a book from one
years end to another And love-
gratitude-hope-I could of course
understand neither. Nobody had ever
made me grateful-had never held Out
hope to me.
Some strange impulse was given mt
one day. | walked up, sprang from
my bundle Of straw, and involuntariI,
the words came from my Eps-"I'm
going to do something to-day" What
that something was, / had not the re-
hottest idea, but | put on my apologies
for clothes, and sailed out in nv vac.
abond way, whistling, caring for no
body.
1t was about noon, and | had not
yet tasted mouthful Of food. | was
hungry, | skulked about grocery shops
hoping could get an opportunity to
take an apple or something that would
stay my stomach. till | felt in the bu.
NOR for begging. Passing round the
corner Of a public street, | saw a gen
teel looking man, standing t his
horses head, gazing about somewhat
perplcxed.
"Boy, b e cried out, "won't YOU
take care ofmy horse for a half an
hour p
Eyes, sir" said |.
think it was the first time I had
ever put on the "sir.'
"There's manw he exclaimed -
1--WE got considerable fruit here and
you must guard it well. Here's q
couple of peaches for you; lust stand
here quietly guess nobody1l dis
turb you"
lie went away and | stood for a
while, till was tired Thon, thinl,o,
l. Ill get handful of fruit, and run
But for the first time felt an instinct
OF shame at the suggestion. ale
trusted niche saw | was a mean
looking fellow, too, but he trusted me
and won't abuse his kindness"
Something like this reasoning ran
In my head, and | squatted down on
the curbstone feeling the Importance
OF an honorable trust, as | had never
felt such a thing before. Presently
some OF my fellows came along and
hailed me. ltoldtbem to 90 ON. They
peered about the cart. and saw tho
sunny faces of the peaches.
wen have some o f them" tbev
said. 'n''
mo, you won't, says |. Tm mt
IN charge here, and | won't see the
first thing stole"
With that they began rumpus.-
They reached over the cart. struck
them, and used such efforts that thew
came pell nell upon me, and we fouobt
TILL the blood came, but vanquished
them. just then out came the pro-
prietor.
What's the matter p says he.
40, nothing, only | had to fight for
your stuff there" says |.
"You did, Ell? You've got a black
eye for it."