Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-04-27
miscellaneous.
SANDY WRIGHT AND The POOR
Orphan

reach a shelter before the storm burst upon
them in all its fury. They had travelled thir-
ty miles that day and the house at which
they were to pass the highs was still ten
miles distant. The wind howled among the
cliffs and valleys, and the fakes Of snow be.
gan to beat in their faces.
alt was a terrible night, lads, in the Moray
Firth, said the foremost traveller, a strong
sbouldered. broad-chested man " but what
is thati" said be, pointing TO a little figure
by the side Of the road.
The figure arose, and came TO meet them.
Slow and feeble were the steps, and, as he
approached, they saw that it was boy Of
about ten years Of age.
80, my puir boy" sad Sandy Wright,
"whst can hae taken you here a night like
this :"
The boy told him that bic mother had died
and left him alone, and that he was going to
Edinburgh to seek his friends.
But" added he, sorrowiully, / am tired
and Gamma walk further, and I'll be lost, I'm
feared, in tho snow drift"
THAT ye Wilma, my puir BARN, if l can
help it" said the good boatman; and, taking
the boys hand, he told him to lean upon
him. But the boy was too mush exhausted
to walk, tho aided by the strong arm Of his
new friend, who finding his efforts were vain,
carried him on his back.
The storm burst upon them in all its fury f;
and, half blinded by the thick snow, the trav-
ellers had to grope along the road and through
the snow drifts, which we're blown across
their path. Still the brave bostman pressed
on with his burden, though bis companions,
without such load were almost worn out
and after many a fall, and stumble, and groan,
fua of Mt thn
house where they were to spend the night.
There was an immense peat fire placed,
according to the custom Of the country, in
the room, and the inmates were seated around
It, They made way for the weary travellers,
and Sandy Wright, unmindful Of his own
tired limbs, drew near the FIRE and began to
chate the hands and feet Of the boy who was
almost insensibe from the cold and fatigue
When life and warmth were restored to his
frozen limbs, he shared with bis little charge
his supper and bed, and took him on his ,ur-
ney the next morning. notwithstanding the
remonstrsnces Of his companions.
The little fellow told him his simple story.
His mother was poor widow, who had sup
ported herself and her only child by sewing.
When he was only six years old he had
shown love for reading, and his mother
worked early and late to keep him at school.
She WAS but eighteen years older than her
son; and often would she stop in the middle
Of her work, and, laying her hand on her
breast, ask him what he would do when she
was dead for her failing strength told her
that the day was not far distant. Her fin
gers became white and small, and she could
not sit up as before but when her son looked
at the deepening red of her cheeks, he
thought she would not die.
One day when he brought home the first
prize from school, she threw her arms around
him, while with tears in her ewes she told
him that the time would come when his faith
er's grand friends, who were ashamed of her
because she was poor, would be proud to be
connected with him.
The mothers faith was strong in her heart
The lad could not go to school, but stad and
watched by her bedside; and they would
have starved but for poor neighbor woman,
who had but little to spare herself He read
to her every day chapters in the Bible One
day when she was very i'll, and two Of her,
neighbors had come to take care of her,
him that when she was dead, he must go to
Edinburgh. for he had friends nowhere else.
Her own friends were there, but they were
too poor to do much for him; and his faith
er's friends were there, but they were too
grand to own her. But she told him not to
be afraid by the way for the good God knew
him. And then, after fond parting kiss,
and burst of sorrow, she babe him 90 to
school,
When he came home be found her lying
with white cloth on her face, and the bed
all white. The poor boy cried all night and
now that she was buried out of his sight he
was travelling to Edinburgh, as she had told
i
as his mother said they would be. And he
had letters to show him the way to his moth
ers's friends when he reached town for he
could read writing.
And God had put it into the heart Of San
dy Wright to be kind to he poor orphan -
He was like a father to him through his Jour
ley; no shared with him his bed, and car
ried him on his back when the lad was too
tired to walk.
On reaching the Queens Ferry, Sandy
Wright found that his money was almost gone,
and be intended to get the boy across with
out paying the usual fare. When the boat
reached the middle of the ferry the grufF
looking ferryman began to collect the fare
passing by the passengers, one by one, till he
stood in front OF the boy.
Dinna stop before the boy" cried Sandy
Wright; "he is puir orphan here is my
grost."
The ferryman still held out his hand, and
Sandy told him that they found him in des-
olsie glen, bewildered by the storm; and
they we're taking him to his friends in Edin-
burgh, and that he ought not to grudge him
his passage.
The ierryman, without antw ering, took off
his cap; but Sandy Wright twisted it out Of
his hand, telling him to take care, they did
not know what would become of themselves
or their own BARNS. But the ferryman, say
ing he would have the fare, or the farce worth,
II IL were in his jacket, laid hold Of the boy,
who began to cry. Then rose up Sandy
Wright, and, selling the ferryman in his pow
eriu grasp, told him not to touch the puir
thing, "shame on ye, man !" and the cry of
"shame shame !" was echoed by the pass
engers, and the surly ferryman gave up the
point.
On landing, Sandy Wright told the boy
that he had some business to do at the Gus
tom house, and some money to get, but he
must look into his letters and see in what
street they lived.
The boy united his bundle, which contained
few shirts and stockings, parcel Of papers
and q small box and said that his rnother