Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-04-12
[From the Springfield Republiean.
MARY OF THE HEATH.

yatl0n, that, did any one note down the
remarkable occurrences of his own life,
those of his friends with whom he is well
acquainted, OF such as become known to
him on good authority, in the course Of q
few years, how curious a collection it
would form. The following is an exam
pie:
1t must now be nearly half century
ago, when one fne summers day, about
the hour Of noon, little girl who could
not have been more than ten or eleven
years old, was seen on particular part Of
--Common or Heath in Kent (not
very Far from the house of wealthy baro-
metz suspending a pot on three. sticks set
upright in the ground after the manner OF
gipsies, over fire which shee had kindled
beneath il. She was dressed ii rags and
seemed miserably poor and forlorn. The
child was alone. The singularitx Of the
circumstance excited the uurprisY Of two
ladies, who were taking their morning
walk on that airy and agreeable common.
They looked around, expecting to see a
party of gipsies, to whom they conjectur-
ed the child must belong; but, though
vide and open, not living creature, save
the little girl boiling her pot, was to be
seen far or near. Their curiosity was
raised and much increased when on q
nearer approach, as she turned her head
! towards them, though burnt and Drowned
with the sun and wind, they saw at a
glance that the face which looked out from
beneath bonnet worn out Of all color
and shape, and the arms, which were but
partially covered by an old tattered cloak,
were neither of the gypsy character or
complexion. The features were small and
round, and the eyes and hair of true Saxon
origin, blue and light brown. There was
also an expression Of artlessness in the
countenance, which, il must be confessed,
is not very generally the Distinguishing
mark of the daughters of Egypt. Thore
was something so singular in the solitari-
ness of the child. it was impossible that
two ladies of good heart and benevolent
ittentions could other than feel interested
for her. They proceeded, therefore, at
once to question her, beginning with the
kindly and encouraging expression Of "My
dear" as they asked her what she was do
ing there.
"Boiling my pot for breakfast" was her
reply.
"And what have you got in il ?"
1.-TWO turnips that took out Of the field"
els that all you have got for your break
fast ?"
"All except some bits of bread"
: -s--.i-ss -esy~-r raar breakfast. To
whom do you belong2'
"To nobody"
ITO nobodyl and you so young How
did you come here and where are you GO
ing2''
81 don't know"
you neither know how you came here
nor where you are going? What strange
story ! Whit is your name, and where
did you come from? You must have come
from some place."
"My name is Mary; came long way
off; but can't tell where"
"How did you get here p
"l walked have been many days 60
ing
~ never heard so strange an account
as you give of yourself. Where did you
get that pot 2"
~ brought IL away with me"
"Ihcn you must have conc from some
persons with whom you have been living.
Tell US now the truth. Have you not
been with gipsies p
A blush rose in her checks as she re-
piled; ayes, have been with gipsies."
"Where are they, and whore did you
leave thcm?"
She paused a moment, looked down and
then said, 81 got away from them, for |
did not like their way Of liio."
"And when was il, and how have you
lived since you left them?'
"Ncry hard, !" said the child al begged
my way along the roads. and with the few
half pence got bought n little bread "a
save mo from starving. have nowhere
TO 60 have no homo'
She burst into tears and therc was
something 80 iorlorn, both in her voice
aud countenance, as she spoke these words
il was impossible to doubt their truth
: There was nothing In II Of the whine of d
; made up tale to excite compassion, and
she rather sought TO wipo away her tears
unobseryed, us she turned aside her head
than TO make pardie OF them.
III am sure,' said Miss O., the
uuuEhNNf VI utlShuotiHS i'hioH0fs thcis
; is something very uncommon in this child''
story. Poor creature. she is really in yer,
great distress. Let US take her home, an,
mamma will know better than We cal
what would be the best 90 do Tor her.
Her friend assonied and Miss G.
) turned TO the child and told her that if sh,
, would come along with her she would giv'
} her some good advice. The little cir
followed gladly enough, but she would no
leave the pot behind her, for that and lh'
miserable attire on her back, was all th'
property che possessed in the world.
Lady c. was woman Of know
benevolence, but she was not one who ex
erted IL without due caution and judgment
She did not, by hasty or indiscriminat
. charity, encourage vice and low cunning
The truly afflicted sought her doors, an'
: the idle vaeabond passed on, certain tha
inquiry would precede relief. Yet, will
= all this, Lady G. did not carry eau
! ton to that cold and extreme extent whicl
1 rendered her suspicious where there ap
peared marks of want and sorrow, tha
carried with them their own evidence o
o sincerity. This was such case.
o "That child" said Lady q, afte
n hearing her daughters account of tn
meeting on the common, sis indeed i
1 need of food and rest. can see it in he
looks. can sec that her distress is res
n 10 every line Of her face, which is yer
q pleasing one; and in the few words she ha