Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-01-18
THE LITTLE HEROINE.

piioW 1uo ioohCu pAIiiuiiJ OFtT the aim
room. %, that the night had been
longer" To the wretched sleep is dear.
'My wife-my darling babies-must
they freeze and starve? And with
tears gushing from his eyes, the pale
man buried his head in the scanty COW
ering and groar ed aloud.
1t was no wonder that he was out of
heart ON that cold, dark December day.
At best he had hard struggle to get
food, and for the past six months the
struggle had been almost desperate, for
his wife had been unable to assist him
in the least, being confined to her bed
with slow wasting disease. His little
daughter Maria, pretty child of twelve,
kept the room tidy, and herself and two
little brothers, like wax. By the aid
of her mothers whispered directions.
she also manase ed to do up the weekly
washing and ironing.
MY little sunbeam, the father fondly
called her, while the mother would say,
in her low, sweet tones, 'our angel
One night, the young housekeeper
waited until it was pitch dark for her
father to come home to frugal supper,
and then, with fearful forebodings at
her heart, undressed the little boys and
put them to bed, and tied on her hood
and cloak to go for him. A crowd was
at the very threshold. With a wild
cry, she rus-ed towards the inanimate
form they carried upon the board. 1t
was her father brought home with a
broken leg.
A week had passed since this misfor-
tune. By the sale of their few pieces
of furniture, the wolf had been kept
from the door. But now, nothing re-
manned save the coarse bed on which
the distressed ones slept. No coal for
the little CRATE; no tea for the feverish
lips, no crust for the famished children
What SHOULD be dome?
1t was question little Maria asked
again as they lay there watching the
few pale sunbeams that struggled
through the window. And she asked
it oftener after she had risen and dress
ed herself and brothers, and smoothed
the two beds. Bread they must have
and that day. They were all faint even
now, and the boys camorcd for their
break fast.
Suddenly a bright thought came to
the little daughter. She remembered
having seen in the coffee houses, young
girls no taller than she. waiting upon
customers. Perhaps they would try
her. 4 am handy, quick and patient,
and l would try so much to oblige.'
am pretty, too, she might have added,
had there been spark of vanity in her
heart for she was sweet child, with
brow like a sunny snowdrift, and even
like the Spring violets that nestle in
woodlands. 4 will try, at least, and
see what can do and after watching
a moment the weary sleep of her parents
she whispered to her little brothers that
she was going out to get some bread for
them, and then hurried away
She did go to the bakers, but her
pitiful story failed to touch his heart,
and there were tears upon her cold cheek
as she turned away. What should she
do-beg She asAed herself the cues
ton with quivering lip. Never be-
fore had their poverty driven them to
that strait, and it was hard, even now,
with the picture of that wretched home
fresh in her vision, to plead for charity
But she did it. Again and again she
said to the passer-by, Please, sir, please,
ma am, give me penny to buy bread
with for my sick parents'
And the gentlemen had their over
coats buttoned to their chins, and the
ladies were enveloped in furs, and it
was too much trouble to find the pocket
books or purses just to supply beggar's
wants.
Go to the soup house, said one, at
last, more churlish than the rest. The
city provides for such as you.
1t was new idea to her, and as fast
as her feet could carry her she went,
and, entering in breathless haste, told
her story to the attendant matron.
Il will report the case to the COM
mittee,' said the woman quietly, max
ing a memorandum of the Eame and
number of the street. Come in to-
morrow morning, and | will do what |
can for you
Tomorrow She would become too
weak to walk so far by that time, and
what would become of the rest
With heavy heart, she went home,
having no courage to present herself as
a waiter to any of the coffee houses she
passed on her way.
Did you get some?' cried the boys,
gathering about her, and pulling on
her cloak to see if it were hidden under
her arms.
Did you get some?' said two faint
voices from the bed cerner, and the COW
erlet was thrown of, and two pairs of
thin, white hands put forth.
No, no. she answered rlaintively,
but I will try again. Keep up good
hope
There will be plenty out of the oven
now. Yes, plenty she said to herself,
as she buttoned her cloak on the
threshold /; plenty, and I'll have some,
too. They shall not starve. Men and
women forsake me; God doesn't hear
me any longer! There is nothing left
for me to do but to steal !
Her face paled as she spoke it, and
for moment there was wild wrestle
IN her heart. Then she went on quick