Maryland free press., 1867-01-17
i iGRANDpA's BEGGARa BOY.


Or speak not of him at al. .! .l....'.....
A9iGRANDPA'S BEGGAR BOY. 2'"
.aS5 cj 80 -. tis ---1 agi'aulor1 yas3G
lido but hear me, papa, -do but have patience
With me a few short moments while tell you
exactly how found them In q cellar, papa, a
dark, gloomy, musty cellar, in narrow Lame,
where the sunshine never beams, where the birds
never sing where flowers never grow, where all
b flth and rottenness; and he lay, yes, our dar-
ling Charley lay upon few bundles Of damp.
straw, wiih:only thin sheet to cover him, and
30 pale, wan and emaciated-n
"Mary, I command you TO cease" and the
old man,s voice fairly trembled with SINGER
fsHe madehis own bed-let him lie in itn ..-
:'But, papa the verest sinner in the world
would gain your pity did he suffer rs now does
your only. son. And then his wife, SO careworn,
yet 50 sanity, and his two sweet babes--'' .''',
'ifaHearken to me Mary" exclaimed Mr.. Som
ers.sin'i vehement tone; 'if yeu stop not this
Instant, further pleading for--".in spite of bis
anger his..voice grew husky here, 'infatua ted
boy, that unflial son, that rebel to home; if YOU
SPEAK again of him to me or any other friend, III
cutyoulotf with but shilling. will, ay, BY
al the saints in the calendar, will eco to yeur
rgom befvre-""I curse you too, he was a going
tsRsy, but then she glided softly to his knee,
nesded upon 1t as in olden time, wound her fair
atins sbout his neck, and hushed his voice with
kisseHg. "a -aIc. ft'o sara~- .,,a. J'' a
''Go to sis, you are but fooiish Girl af,cr all
and mean vel enough" said he gently, as one
and another sweet csress melted upon his lips
and.:cheeks, "but as you. value your inheritance,
never gain sll6de 10 this subject I inerdict it
hencefcfth andsforever !" And the-old mar, gent
1y<touchcd hesspsle forehead with HE lips, ga.
zipg q moment in her dark blue eyes, ,brimful of
tears, turned abruptly from hor, puton bis oyer
coat, gloves and hat took up his gold headed
cane and walked away ''' 0'' f''S'.'.. ''
Hwnsi q bright beautiful winters morning. A
light snow had fallen the night before, and now
every dingy roof sparkled like marble terrace,
while the streets and hyways seemed lined with
swans down, SO feathery were the purc-drifting
fakes that had whitened their dark pathways
Itsvas yet early, and but few were abroad. Mr..
Somer's footsteps were the frat that imprinted
itself on the yielding snow, and .childlike he
pleased himself with marking how straight was
the path he made, and how regular the fall Of
his foot. > But the long avenue was paced at
length, and then1he came to "a crowded thor
oughfare, and WAS jostled about as all the rest.--
He went to the market, the grocery and the coal
yard for the wants of his household reached to
all fhfee that morning, and then turned his steps
onceamors towards home. The walks were NOT
yet swept, and as he again traversed the roble.
-haso e.. !,
home, he saw with pleasure his own footprints
yet fresh in the snow, and carefully followed the
the track. lie had walked half the distance,
when aslight hoarse cough arrested his attention.
The sound came from behind him, and looking
back he saw little fellow but four or five years
old, only few yards distant, aud was amused
10 see tile efforts he made TO follow him in his
own broad footsteps. siNow goi'u now 60
down. r would he say to himself, as he raised
and let fall his tiny feet, and then when they
dropped in the right place, he would clap his
little red hands!and shout aloud hurrs. But in
the midst of his giee his foot slipt and down he
went. But he lay only moment, and was gent
~ raised by Mr. Somers, who exclaimed as he
held him to his arms, " new. you are ap.''
"Yes, sir, asd new I am down." and he slid
from his arms and stood proudly alone. ''It
didn't hurt me- SIR" '""
HYou are a brsre boy not to cry over . fall
like, that, Who are you, and where do you
live? land .... ..-.t. -t,i.a, -- tes.
20, am a little bsggar now, and live. in q,
cellar too. Please sir, did you ever beg and
will ysu tell me how, cause mother sent inc out
to beg some breakfast for US all, and | don't
know Ahat to say, only Fm very hungry and SO
Is iitsle sis and poor mother, and sick father too.
Are people good to little beggars, sir?'
There was q najyette about the little one SO
earnest and so true, that it melted the old mans
heart entirely, and too full Of tears to speak, he
only took the childs hand in his own and led
him 10 his own warm breakfast room Softly
did Harrie, Cor sach he told them was his name,
softly did he nestle in the chair that WAS drawn
close to the glowing CRATE, and with wondering
eyes did he look about I'm while Mr.. Somers
and the maid rubbed his red palms and feet.
fiAhd now that you are warmed young Harrie
what would you like to ea;?' ...;2
"Bucxwhsat cakes and honey, sir, I used to
love them dearly fore papa grew sick and poor"
And it did the old mans heart good to see the
little beggar eat. d ''.'"
tsWhy, you were half starved, p said he.
30 yes, cir, we've been starving for week,
but mother couldn't bear TO own we were beg
gars till to day, Please sir, you've got so much
to eat WON'T you let me bring her and little sis
ter to eat their breakfast, and give us something
for fathsrf He's too sick to walk so far"
cay" said ehost, "that will I. Fix up
basket, Susan, and bid Thomas bring the car
riage. / am too hired to walk again. How,
would yon Ike ride, my little fSllow."'