Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-29
Srlrct CaIe.
THE LITTLE HEROINE.

" No ming again ~ and the weary, wasted inva-
lid lifted hs head from the pillow aud looked piti-
fully over the dim room. o. that the night had
been longer,n To the wretched, sleep is dear.
Ny wle--my darling babies, mus they starve =
And with tears gushing from bis eyes, the pale
man buried his head ia the scaniy covering and
gruaned aloud.
1t was no wonder that he was out of heart on
that cold, dark December day. At best he had a
hard struggle to get food, and ior the past
months the struggle had been almost desperate
tor his wife had been unable to assist him IN the
least, being confined TO her bed with slow vast
ing disease His little daughter Marie, u pretty
child of twelve, kent the rooms tidy. and herself
AMI Two lt'ie brothers ike wax. BY the and Of
her mothers whispered directions, She also man
aged to do up the weekly washing and ironing.
" NY little sunbeam. the father ioudly called
her, while the mother would say in her low, sweet
tones, - our angen
One night the Young housckoeper waited until
il WAS pitch dark for her father 10 come home to
supper. and thea. with fearful iorebodings at her
heait, undrcssed the litde boys aud put them to
bed, and tied on her cloak aud hood TO go for him.
a crowd was at the very threshold. With a Wild
cry, she rushed toward the Illuminate form they
carried upon the board. Ii was her father brought
home with "A broken leg.
A week bad passed since this misfortune. By
the sale Of their few pieces OF furniture, the wolf
had been kept from the door. No coal TOR the
little CRATE no tea for the ieyerish lips no crust
for tue iaInished children What should be
doneP
1t was a question little Marie asked again as
they lay there watching the few pale sunbeams
that struggled through the window. And she
asked 1t oltener after she had risen and dressed
herself and brothers, aud smoothed the two beds
Bread they must have that day. They were all
faint even now, and the boys clamored for their
breakfast.
suddenly bright thought came to the little
daughter. She remembered having seen in the
coffee house, young girls no taller than She wait
ing upou customers Perhaps they would try her
" am handy quick and patient and would try
10 oblige" am pretty, too, she might have ad-
ded had there been a spark Of vanity in her heart
for she was n sweet child with brow like a sun
ny drift, and eyes like the spring yolets that
nestle in the woodlands. ' vail try. at least
and see what | can do aud after Watching mo-
ment the weary sleep OF her parents, she whisper
ed to her little brothers that she was going out to
get some bread for them, and hurried away.
She did 20 TO the bakers, but her pitilul story
failed to touch his hard heart, and there we're
upon her cold cheeks she turned away What
could she do--begf She asked herself the quest
ion with quiverng lip, Never before had their
poverty driven them to that strait, and It was hard
even now, with the picture Of thar wretched home
fresh in her vision to plead for charity. But she
did it. Again and again She said to the passerby,
Please sir, please ma'am give me a penny TO
And the gentlemen had their coats buttoned up
TO their chins, and the ladies were cnvcloped in
furs, and it was too much trouble to find the pock-
books or purses just to supply a beggar's wants.
- Go TO the soup house said one at last, more
chursh than the rest. The city provides for such
as you.n
Il was a new idea to her. and as fast as her fcot
could carry her she went aud entered in brrathess
haste and told her story to the attendent matron
a. | will repeat the case TO the committee said
the woman quietly, making memorandum of the
name 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 restf
With heavy heart, she went home, having no
courage to present herself waiter to any Of the
coffee houses she passed on hcr way
" Did YOU get some P' cried the boys, gathering
about her aud pulling off her cloak to see it it
was hitAen under her arms.
Did You get some ?' said two faint voices from
the bed corner, aud the coverlet was thrown oh
and two pairs Of thin white hands were put forth.
No, NO, she answered pla'nuyely but
will try again. Keep up good hope
There will be plenty out ot the oven now
Yes, plenty She said to herself, as she buttoned
her cloak on the threshold; "plenty, and I'M
have some, too. They shall not staryc Men
and women iorsake me God dosn't hear me any
longer There is nothing left for me to do but
steal ~
Her face paled as she spoke it, and for mo-
ment there was a wild wreste in heart Then she
went ON quickly, pausing an instant before each
bakers door, and looking anXiously within. BY
and by she found one thar seemed empty.
A whole pile of stecming loves lay upon the
counter
She rushed in aud seized one, and hiding ii un-
der her cloak, He'd madly up the street. But the
baker had seen her from the little sitting-room
and after her crying Justify, Stop thief, stop
thief!n A crowd followed her and the poor child
was soon run down.
"A clear ease said the police officer who
! took her. "She must ~ 70 the court room.'