Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-07-06
iSc anS
THE WILD Du,K SHOOTER.

The charity OF the rich Is much 20 be
commended, but how beautiful Is Ihc chari-
Cy Of poor
Cali to mind the coolest day YOU ever cx-
perienctd Think Of the ii:tor wind and
driving snow think how you shook ami
shiyered-how the sharp white PARTICLES
were driven against your !ace-h0w, within
doors. the carpets were lIltCd ike hllnws
along the floors, ths wind h1Nled and moan
cd in the chimneys. windows c9cakcd, doors
ratified, and every DOW and then heavy
humps of snow came numbering down with
a dull weight from the root
Now, hear my story.
In one Of the broad, open plains Of Lin
colnshire, there is a long. reedY sheet of
water. fayorite resort Of wild ducks. At
the northern extremity stand two mud cot
tagcs, old and out u repair.
One bitter, bitter night, when the snow
lay three feet deep on the ground, and
cutting east wind was driving 1t about, and
whistling IN the dry frozen reeds by the
waters edge, and swinging the bare willow
trees till their branches swept the ice. an old
Woman sat spinning in one OF these cottages
before a moderate cheerful fire. Her ket-
lie was singing en- the coal-; she had reed
candle. OF homemade rushlIght on her table,
but tie full moon shone in, and was the
brighter light of the two These two cot
tBges were far from the read, or any other
habitation the old woman was, therefore
surprised, as she sat drawing out her thread,
grooming an old north country song, to hear
a sudden knock at the door
Ii was loud and impaticni, not ike the
knock OF her neighbors in the other cot
tages. but the door was b1!ted. and the OLD
woman rose, and shutting 70 the window,
looked out, and saw a shIyering figure, ap-
paTently that Of youth.
"Trampers :" SAID the old woman, senten-
tiously, "tramplng folk be not wanted
here - so saying she went back 10 the ire
without deigning to answer the door.
The youth, upon this, tried the door, and
called to her to beg admittance. She heard
him rap the snow iron bis shoes against her
Intel. and again knock Is II he thought she
vas deaf, and he should urely gam admit
tance if he could only make her hear
The old woman, surprised at his audacity,
went TO the easement. and, with all pride Of
possession, opened it, and inquired his bust
ness.
"Good woman the stranger began, Il
only want seat at your fire "
"Nay," sand the old woman. giving effect
to her words by her uneouth dialogue,
.sthou'lt get no shelter here I've naught to
give to beggars-a dirty wet critfer," she
continued, wrathfully slammIng 10 the WIN
dow, Its a wonder where he found any
water, too, seeing it freezes 50 hard a body
can get none for the kettle saving what s
broken up with hatehet
On this the beggar turned hastily away.
And at this point in his narrative, the
person who told it to me stopped and said,
f'Do you think the old woman was very
much to blame ?"
''She might have acted more kindly, l
replied but why do you ask p
- Because said be, 81 nave heard her
conduct 80 much reflected on BY those who
would have thought nothing Of It II 1t had
not been Tor the consequences
"She might have turned him away less
roughly, observed.
THAT is true, be continued. but in any
case, / think, though We might give them
food or money, We should hardly invite
beggars in TO sit by the FIRE.
Certainly not, | replied land this
woman could not tell that the beggar vas
honegt,H
No, said be, but must 20 on. with my
narrative. The stranger turned very hastily
away from her door, and waded through the
deep snow toward the other cottage. The
bitter wind helped to drive him toward It
1t looked no less poor than the first; and
when be had tried the door, found 1t bolted
and knocked twice without attracting at
tention. his heart sank sithin him. Hit
hand was so numb with cold, that be made
scarcely any noise; be tried again.
a rush candle was burning within, and 9
matronly-lOoking woman sat before the fire
She held an infant in her arms, and had
dropped asleep; but his third knock aroused
her, and, wrapping her apron around hel
child. che opened the door little way and
demanded what he wanted.
''Goo1 woman" the yonth began, II have
had the misfortune to fall in the water thi,
bitter night, and l am so numbed | car
scarcely walk"
The woman gave him a sudden, earnes,
look, and then sighed.