The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-11-12
The Little Heroine.

night had been loDger?' to tb'
wretcbcd. tlecp If dear. MY poor
poor wifc-my darling babes
must they freeze and starve?'-
And with tears gushing from BIZ
eyes, the pale man buried his hea,
in the scaniy covering and groanet
aloud. .'r.
1t was no wonder that he wa
out of heart on that cold dark De
cCmber day. At best he had
hard struggle to get food, and iol
tho past six months the struggle
had beer desperate, for his wifi
bad been unable to assist him in th,
least. being confined to her bee
with u slow, wasting disease. Hi
little daughter Marie, pretty chilC
of twelve, kept the room tidy, anc
herself, and two little brothers
like wax. By the aid of her moth
cr's whispered directions, she alst
managed TO do up the weekly
washing and ironing.
"My little sunbeam" the fathei
fondly called her, while the moth
er would cay in a low, sweet tone
sour angel"
One nightthc young housekeep
er waited until it was pitch darl
for her father to come homo to {
frugal supper, and then, with fear
ful forebodings at her heart, un'
dressed the little boys and pu
them to bed, and tied on her hooc
and cloak to go for him. A crow,
was at tho very threshold. Witt
n wild cry, she rushed toward th,
inanimate form they carried upol
a board. 1t was her father, brough
home with q broken leg.
A week had passed since tbi
misfortune. By the sale Of u iev
pieces of furniture the wolf hac
been kept from the door. But now
nothing remained save the coars
} bed on which tho distressed one
slept. No coal for the little CRATE
no tea for the feverish lips; no crus
for the famished children! Wha
should be done?
1t was q question littlo Mari
( asked herself again, as they la.
=, there watching the few pale sun
: beams that struggled through tn
l. window. And she asked it oftcne
after sho had risen and dresse
herself and brothers, ard smoothe
, tho two beds. Bread they mus
have that day. They were all fuiu
D.. oven now, and the boys clamorin
for their breakfast. -.. ...
I. Suddenly bright thought cam
to tho little daughter. She remeu
bered having seen in the coffe
houses, young gills no taller tha
, she waiting upon the customers
: Perhaps they would try her. t.
!, they only would" she murmurc
softly. II am handy, quick an
patient, and l would try so har
to oblige." l am pretty to-
: she might truly have added, ba
!. there been a spark of vanity i
= = her hcalt; for she was sweet chilt
with u brow like a sunny snowdrii
and eyes like tho spring violet
that nestle, in the woodlands. g
$ will try, at least, and SEQ what
y can do and, after watching a mC
g ment the weary sleep of her pal
ents, she whispered TO the it'll
boys that she was going out to g
some bread for them and hurrie
h away.
She did 90 TO the bakers but hC
piliiul story failed to touch hi
$ heart, and there were tears on he
cold cheek as sho turned away
Even if she secured q place, sh
) could hope for no wages until Sa
urday, and there were four wear
days before this and that. Brea
would be too late if she waited Ii
then. What should she do-Beg
She asked herself the question Wit
a ouiverinr lin. Never before ha
! their poverty driven them TO th,
strait, and it was hard, even nov
y with the picture of that wretche
homo fresh in her vision, to plea
, for charity. But she did it. Agai
Ct, and again she said to the passer b.
n "Pltasc, sir, please ma'am, give n
penny TO buy bread for my sic
n parents" ... .l...4 All
y, . But the gentlemen had the
overcoats buttortd up TO the
chins and the ladies were cnveloI
ed in furs, and il was too mpc
ike trouble to find their pockc
books or purses, Just TO supply
beggar's wants.
AGO to the soup, house" said on
VI VI at last, moro churlish than the ret
y, "Tho city provides for such asyou
" 1t was q new idea to her, and
fast as feet conld carry her, 81
went, aud, entering in Breathe
haste, told her story to the attic
} dant matron.
sl"I will report the case to u
con. mittee," said the woman quie
% ly, making o memorandum OF Il
namo and number of streeI.!
IS Como in to. morrow morning, al
n +. [ will do what l can for you"
Tomorrow she would bccon
too weak to walk 50 far by tn
time, and what would become
3, tho rest?" o GU. ''I''' ''.' '.., '.' 81
ii With heavy heart, she we
home, having no courage to pr
is sent herself as a waiter to any
IS IS the coffee houses she passed on h
e, way. ..''. ...'
ms ms "Did you get some?" cried Il
nd boys, gathering about her, and pr
ling off ber cloak TO zee If it we
hidden in her cloak or under b
arms.