Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-05-01
The Little Heroine.

dim room. "Oh, that the night had
been longerv' to the wretched, sleep
is dear. "My poor, poor wite-my
darling babes-must they freeze and
Starye ?" And with tears gushing
from his eyes, the pale man buried his
head in the scanty covering and groan-
ed aloud.
1t was no wonder that he was out
of heart on that cold, dark December
morning. At best he had a hard strug-
gle to get food, and for the past six
months the struggle had been desper-
ate, for his wife had been unable to
assist him in the least, being confined
to her bed with a slow, wasting dis
pretty child of twelve, kept the room
tidy, and herself, and two little broth
ers, like wax. By the aid of her moth
ers whispered directions, she also
managed to do up the weekly washing
and ironing.
My little sunbeam" the father
fondly called her, while the mother
would say. in her low, and sweet tones
= our angel"
One night the young housekeeper
waited until it was pitch dark for her
father to come home to a frugal sup
per, and then with fearful forebodingS
at her heart, undres8ed the little boys
and put them to bed, and tied on her
hood and cloak to 90 for him. A
crowd was at the very threshold
With a wild cry, she rushed toward
the inanimate form they carried upon
d board. 1t was her father brought
home with a broken leg.
A week has passed since this mis-
fortune. By the sale Of the few pieces
of furniture the wolf had been kept
from the door. But now nothing re-
NAMED save the coarse bed on which
the distressed ones slept. No coal
for the CRATE, no tea for their feyerish
lips; no crust for the famiShed child
rem What should be done.
1t was a question little Marie ask
ed herself again, as they lay there
watching the few pale sunbeamS that
struggled through tue window. And
she asked it oftener after she had ri8-
Ell and dressed herself and two broth
ers, and smoothed the two BEDS
Bread they must have that day. They
were all faint even now, and the boys
cIamoring for their breakfast.
Suddenly a bright thought came to
the little daughter She remembered
having seen il the coffee houses,
young girls no taller than she, waiting
aP2n R6apu the M as tnoyP PTtPRs Sill ~odlT tlET
she murmered softly. a am handy,
quick and patient, and would try 50
hard to obIge.' l am pretty, too,
she might truly added, had there been
spark of vanity in her heart; for she
was a sweet child, with brow like
r sunny 8nowdrift, and eyes like the
, spring violets that nestleS in the
woodlands. II will try, at least, and
p see what | can do" and, after watch
ing a moment the weary sleep Of her
l. parents, she whispered to the little
boys that she was going out to get
some bread for them and hurried
+ away.
I. She did 90 to the bakers but heI
pitiiul story failed to touch his hare
. heart, and there were tears on hel
q cold cheek as she turned away. Even
. if she secured a place she could hope
4 for no wages until Saturday, a2d there
O were four weary days before this anc
Q that. Bread would be too late If she
/ waited till then. What should she dc
beg? She asked herself the quest
l. ion with quivering lip. Never be
: fore had their poverty driven them tC
: that strait, and it was hard, even now
# with the picture Of that wretched home
fresh III her vision, to plead for char
4 ity. But she did it. Again and agaiI
$ she said to the passer by. "Pleast
: sir, please, ma'am give me a penny tC
f buy bread for my sick parents"
q But the gentlemen had their over
Q coats buttoned up to their chins, anC
$ the ladies were enveloped in furs, anC
~ it was too much like trouble to fine
Y their pocket books or purses, just tx
! supply beggar6 wants.
! "Go to the soup house" " SAID one,a
% last, more churlish than the rest. "Tht
city provides for such as YOU"
" 1t was new idea to her, and a
y fast as feet could carry her, she wen
f and, entering in breathless haste, tol(
70 her story to the attendant matron.
d a will report the case to the com
mittee," said the woman quietly, max
n ing a memorandum Of the name ant
IS number of the street. Come in to
1, morrow morning, and | will do wha
@ | can for you"
E. Tomorrow she would become to-
in weak to walk so far by that time, an
q what would become OF the rest
le With a heavy heart she went homo
Ig having no courage to present herself
h, as waiter to any Of the coffee house
a she passed on her way.
h, "Did you get some ?" cried the boy
lg gathering about her, and pulling of
e. her cloak to see if it were hidden i
ID her cloak or under her arms.
"Did you get some ~ said two fair
voices from the bed in the corner,an
a the coverlet was thrown off, and tw
1e pairs of thin, white hands put forth.
lg "No, nc" she answered, plaintivel,
is "but | will try again. Keep up goo
ne hope"
IN There will be plenty out of th