Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-04-23

The Little Outcast.

"Mayn't I stay ma'am7 I'll work, cut
Hood, go for water and do all your errands.'
Tho troubled 'cyos of tho speaker wore filed
4 Nth tears. It was a lad that stood, ono cold
inlay in winter, at tho outer door of a cottage
Esn a bleek moor in Scotland. The snow had
lSS6on falling very fast, and the poor boy looked
Nlery cold and hr ,gry.
|gb "You may co. Q in, at any rate, till my
Husband comes home. There sit down by tho
Hire; you look porishing with cold and she
brew o chair up to the warmest corner then,
Buspiciously glanoing at tho boy from the cor,
Blsr of her eyes, she continued setting the ia
Ebls for supper.
Presently camo tho tramp of heavy boots,
and tho door swung open with a quick jerk,
Hand the husband entered, wearicd with his
Nday's work.
A look of intelligence passed between his
AWifo anu himself. Flo looked at tho boy, but,
did not seem very we'll pleased; no nevertho-
less made him come to the table and Was glad
10 SEQ how heartily he ate, his supper.
Day after day passed, and yet the boy bogg.
I'D 70 bs kept "until tomorrow )" ss the good
Usaple, after duo consideration, concluded
that, as long as he was such a good boy and
worked SO willingly, they would keep him.
1 Ono day, in tho middle of winter, a ped.
dlcr, who often traded at the cottage, called,
and, after disposing Of his goods; was pre-.
\ pairing to go, when he said to the {:
You have a boy out there splitting wood
I see," pointing to the yard.
eyes; do you know him 2"
81 have seen him."
"Where2 Who is he? What is ho ?'
GA jail-bird and the pcddlor swung his
pack over his shoulder. "That boy young as
lie looks, I saw in court myself and heard him
sentenced ten months. You'd do we'll to look
carefully after him."
"Oh! thorc was something 20 dreadful in
the word "jail" Tho poor woman tremblcd,
as she laid away the things che had bought of
the pcddlcr, nor could sho be easy till she had
called the boy in and, assured him that she
knew that dark part Of his history.
"Ashamcd and distressed, tho boy hung
his head. His checks seemed bursting with
the hot blood, and his lips quiyered.
"Wcll," he murmcrcd, his whole frame
shaking, there's no use of my trying to do
better; everybody hates and despises mo
nobody cares for no."
"Tcll mo-" said the woman, chow came
you to go, so young, to that dreadful place {
Where is your mother"
"Oh," exclaimed the boy, with a burst o.
grief that was terrible to behold, ooh ! ]
hadn't no mother ever since I was 4 baby l.
1t I'd only had a mothor," he continued
while tears gushcd from his eyes, ri WOULDN'T
have beon bound out, and kicked, and ouffed
and horscwhippod; I wouldn't have beer
sauoy, snd got knocked down, and then stole
because I was hungry. Oh! if I'd only had
a mothorl !"
The strength was all gone from the pool
boy, and no sunk on his knoes, sobbing great
choking sobs, and rubbing the hot tears away
with tho sleeve Of his jacket.
The woman was a mother and though al
her children slept under the cold sod in the
ohurchyard, she was a mother still. She put
nor hand kindly on the head of the boy, and
W ioon uP/ anu buIu from LnaG TINE
he should find in her a mother. Yos, sht
even Put her arms around the neck of ths
forsakcn, deserted child. She poured from
her mothers heart, sweet, kind words-word
OF counsel and tenderness. o. how sweo
was her sleep that night! how soft hcr nil
low sho had plucked somo thorns from th,
path Of a little SHINING, but striving NOR
tai.
Thai poor boy is now a promising man.
His fostcr-fathcr is dead his foster mother
eged and sickly, but shc knows no want
The "poor ~outcast' is her support. Nobl,
docs he repay the trust reposed in him.
"When my father and my mother forsak,
ne, then the Lord will take me up.
THE Standard Bearer.
life bears us on like tho stream Of a nigh
ty river. Our boat first glides down tn