National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-05-08
The Little Heroine.

The Little Heroine.
Morning agaiu,' and the weary
wasted invalid lifted his head lIon
the pillow and looked pitiiully ovcl
the dim room. oh, that the night
had been longer. to the wretcIed,
sleep is dear. MY poor, poor wife
-ny darling hmbes-must they
/ freeze and Starve ? And with tears
gushing from his eyes, the pale man
buried his head in the scamty cover
ing and groanea aloud.
1t was no wender that he was out
of heart Oh that cold, dark Deccm-
| ber morning. At best he had ii hard
struggle to Get food, and fer the
past six months the struggle had
been desperate, for his wife had been
unable to assist him in the least,
being confined to her bed with Il
slow, wasting disease. His little
daughter. Marie, a pretty child OF
twelve, kept the room tidy. and her
self, and two little brothers, like
wax. BY the aid of her mothers
whispered directions, She also man
aged to do tip the weekly washing
and ironing.
My little sunbeam the father
fondly called her, while the mother
would say. in her low, and sweet
/ tones oar angel
One night tiie young houSekeepei
waited until it was pitch dark for
her father to come home to IL frugal
supper, and then with fearful fore
boaln.s at her hear,. undiesSed the
little boys and put them to bed, AMI
tied o;; her hood and cloak to go
1 for him. \ crowd was at the very
threshold. With Il wild cry, she
rushed toward the inanimate form
they carried lpon il board. 1t WAS
/ her father brought home with Il
! broken leg.
A week has passed since this mis-
fortune. BY the sale ot the few
pieces of furniture the wolf had been
k ept from the door. But now, moth
ing remained sac the coarse bed on
Which the distressed ones slept. No
coal for the CRATE, no tea for thei!
tcyersh lips; 40 crust for the fam
/ ishcd children! What should be
/ done
Is was a question little Marie ask
ed herself again, as they there watch.
inS the few pale sunhcains that
struggled through the WINDOW
Aud She asked it Oltencr after she
had risen and dressed herself and
two brothers and smoothcd the two
beds. Bread they must have that
day. They were all taint even now.
and the boys clamorlng tor then
breakfast.
Suddenly "a bright thought came
to the title daughter. 81. rcmcm
bercd. having seen in .e coltr,
houses, Young girls no .i'Icr than
she, waiting upon the cuStomerS.-
Perhaps they would try her eli
they only would she murmurcd.-
Il am handy. quick and patient, ald
would try SO hard to ohllge.'
am pretty, 100, she might truly add
ed, had there been Il spark ot vanity
in her heart; for she WAS Il SWcc'
: child, with II brow like Il sunny
Snowdritt, aud eyes like the spring
violctS that nestles III the woodlands
Il will try, at least, and see what
| can dos and, after Watching I;
, moment the weary sleep of her pa
rents, she whispered to the llttI'
boys that she WAS going ont to Ge
: some bread for them and hurried
| away.
She did go to the bakers but he
y pitilul story failed 10 touch his har'
: heart. and there were tears on ne
: cold cheek as she turned away
!, Even if she secured u place sh
| could hope to any wages until Sat
urday, and there were four wear.
T. daNs before this and that Brca'
| would he too late il she waited I'll
4 then. What 81 mld she do-beg
; She asked herself the question wit
!. a 1ui,ering lin. Never before lm'
: their poverty driven them to illa
u strait, and 1t wa, hard. even nov
II with The picture Of that wret,'lc
5 home fresh in Ii + VISION, to plea
:. tor charity. But she did it. Aga'
u and again she said 10 the passer 10y
= please sir, please ma'am sivc me
q penny to buy bread for my sick pa
- ents.'
T. But the gentlemen had the owe
7, coats bul,oncd up to Their cl'Ins, aii
=. the ladies we've cuvclopcd IN fur
t. and it was too much like trouble
find their ockct books or purse
Just to supply u bcggar'S wants.
Go to the soup house,, s,id on
- ~ last. more cluiliSli tian the res
oi 'The city provides for such as you
1t was u new idea TO her, and
- Mst as fee, could carry her. she wei
lis and, e ,tciing IN brcail''ess hast
told her story 10 the attendant ma
u ron.
v. 4 will report the ease to the cor
&. mittce,l said tho womau quietl