The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-03-29
RE WILD DUCK sHoOTER.

acteT OF tue poor! '-
Call 10 mind the coolest day you ever
experienced. Think of the bitter wind
and driving snow; think how you shook
and shivered-how the sharp, white par
ticles were driven against your face, how
within doors, the carpets were lifted like
pillows along the floor, the wind .hoMled
and moaned. 10 the chimpeys, windows
creaked, doors ratlled, and every now and
then heavy Jumps Of snow came thunder
ing down with dull weight from the roof
Now hear my story 1-zae SKI fo oL
lac Of the broad, open plains oil
LlncolnshiIe, there is long, reedy sheet
OF water, a f4vorite resort of wild ducks
At'the northern extremity there stands
two mud cottages, Old and out of repair
One bitter, bitter night, when the snow
lay three feet Oh the ground, and cut
ing east wind was driving and whislling
among the dry, frozen reeds by the wa
ter's edge. aud swinging tie bare willow
trees till their branches swept the-ice, an
old woman sat spinning in one of these
cottages before. a moderately cheerful
FIRE. Her kettle was singing on the Goals,
she had reed candle or home made rush
light on her'tsble, but the full moon shone
in, and was the brighter light OF the two.
Tbeee Two cottages were far from the
road or any other habitatiou; the old
woman was therefore surprised, as she
sat drawing out her thread, grooming an
old north country song, 10 hear sudden
knock al the door. go,
It was loud and impatient, not like the
knoek of her neighbors in the other cot
tsges; but The door was boiled, and the
old woman rose and Snuff ng to the win
dow, looked out, and saw shivsriug fig
ure, apparently that of youth.
"Trampers, said the old woman sen
tentiously; .'tremping folk be not wanted
here" so saying, she went back 10 the
fire, 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 from his shoes
a. iinst her Intel, and again knocked as
il he thought she was deaf and be should
surely gain admittance if he could make
her hear.
The old woman. surprised at his au-
dacity, went.to The. easement, aud, with
all her pride of possession, opened il and
eDquired his business.
GOOD woman - the tranger began, al
only want a seat al your fire."
May" said lhe.old woman. giving eff
feet to her words by her uncouth dialect,
'thoul'C get no shelter here; I've naught
to give to beggars-a dirty wet crittes,
she Continued, wralhfully slamming to
lie window, Sits wonder where he
found any water, too, seeing it freezes 80
hard body can get none for tie kettle.
save what is broken, up with Ratchet, !"
o. this, the beggar turned hastily
away.
And at this point in his narrative the
person who told It to me, stopped and
said: .-.- ....4
"Do you think the old woman was
very much to bame?''
"She might have acted more kindly,
l replied; but why do you ask?'
Because, he said. Il have heard her
coaduct SO much reflected on by those
who would have thought nothing of it
If it had not been for the conse quences. -
"She might have turned him away less
1 observed.
That is true, he continued. "but in
any case, think. though we might give
Them food or money, we should hardly in
Vite ,beggars to sit by the fire."
"Certainly not" replied, "aud this
could not tell that the beggar was
honest" .s.
No." said he. "But I must go on
with my narrative"
The stranger turned very hastily away
from the. door, and waded through the
leep snow towards the other cottage.
The bitter wind helped to drive him to-
wards it. It looked 10 less poor than the
irst, and when be had tried the door,
found it bolted, and knocked twice with
out attracting attention, his heart sank
within him. His hand was so numb with
cold, that he made scarcely any noise; he
tried again.
A rush candle was Burning within and
a matronly locking woman sat before the
Ere. She held an infant in her arms, and
had dropped asleep; but his third knock
reused her, and, wrapping her apron
around her child, che opened the door a
little way land demanded what be wanted
Good woman" the youth began, II
had the misfortune to fall 10 the water
this bitter night, aud I am so numbed
can hardly walk"
The woman gave him a sudden, earnest
look. and then sighed. 81
"Come in, :" said che, ''tl1ou art so nigh
the size of my Jem, I thought at first it
was him come home from sea-"
The youth stepped across the TIRES
hold, trembling with cold and wet: and
no wonder, for his clothes we're complete
Iy incased with wet mud, and the water
dripPsd from them with every step he
took on the sanded floor.
= Thu art il sorry plight" said the
woman, ''and 1t be two miles to the pioh-
est house; thy teeth chatter SO pittifuIIy,
l can scarce bear to hear tbeun,'
Saes!ooked at him more auentively.
and saw That he was a mere boy, not more
than sixteen years Of age Her mother
ly heart was touched for him.
art huDgry?' ' che asked, turning to
the table; '9hou art wet 10 the SKIN.
What hast thou been doiug9' "A
shooting wild ducks,'' said the bow.
'Oh,' said the hostess, s.thour art one
Of the keepeIs boys then. Eeekon.,ssa
be followed the direction of her eyes,
and saw two portions of bread set upon
The table, with a small Eiece Of bacon
OF each.
.sAEv master Is very late - she ohss,v.