St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-03-12
for the Tuung folks.
Charlie Monks Fortune.

When Charlie Monk was very small
boy, he came over from England will
his parents. They lived some fifty mile:
from New York City, and by honest in.
dustry gained Il comfortable livelihood
When Charlie was six years old, hi.
father died very suddenly, and his moth.
er was sick a long while. The funera
expenses of the father and the sicknes.
of the mother consumed what littl,
property they had and when Mrs
Monk was able TO work, there was non,
TO be got, for the times were very hard
and every one must do their own work
Piece by piece, Mrs. Monk sold what
little furniture they had, and all tn,
clothing they could possibly spare, to buy
bread with; but the time came when
there was nothing more to be sold They
tried starvation awhile, and then set ,oul
atoot for New York. Everything was
TO be found in New York, SO people had
told them. Yes, almost everything was
there and. among other things, hunger
and cold Their journey was long and
wearisome; they begged their food and
lodgings of the kind-hearted, as they
travelled along. The journey and ex-
posure were too much for Mrs. Monk,
and she died i'll three days after reaching
New York, in Il poor shelter where she
had been permitted to lie, after giving
her wedding ring as a pledge for payment
Little Charlie cried and sObbed over her
body, until 1t was ia ken away for burial,
but he had not fully realized his loss till
II was gone. Then he felt how utterly
what he should do father and mother
both dead, no brothers or sisters, no one
in the wide world that he knew, to feed
or clothe him. What was to become OF
him ! He asked the man who had shell
tered him for piece of bread. and was
roughly told that he must get his own
bread, tor he had something else to do
beside feeding Eaupers. So. he opened
the door, and told him to tramp, retain
ing what few things his mother had left.
a he said, 10 help pay her expenses.
Thus thrust out, Charlie wandered up
and down the streets. He saw plenty
of food in the bakeshops and markets
but when he asked for it, they would say.
''Where's your money !'' And when hc
answered, Il haven't ANY," then they
would tell him that they had nothing for
him. He was 20 hungry and fam. that
he felt almost sick. lie saw other boys
that We're not starving but who fed
them Some OF them were carrying
baskets, and others. bundles happy
boys. for, with work comes bread
Charlie asked for work but was told
that he looked too thin and pale; that
he waS not strong enough to work.
Alas what should ne do lie had been
without food so long that he was ex-
haustcd, and he sat down on the side
walk and wcpt. He felt utterly torsaken
and discouraged. Some one touched his
shoulder; he looked up. Say. Young
un : what's the Use of snivelIing? IT.
never helped 'un," Charlie said nolh-
ing. The boy who had spoken TO him
was coarse i'll appearance as well rs in
speech, and ne carried rough broom,
"Tonsue-tied, are you ! Well, you
needn't; know>-hungry-I knows
got the brcad-rii--I knows"
"leS, Ise hungry" walled out poor
Charlie.
''Thcn I'm the one YOU want You
just play my broom. and you'll have
summat TO eat. L IN you're man. |
feeds en- thai works for me; take my
broom and come on"
Charlie took the broom and followed
mechanically. They went to one of the
most trequented and fashionable streets.
Here, big Dick, the broom owner. stop
ped, and taking the broom, began sweep
ing with great energy. There, sir
Just sweep like That. Keep the crossing
as bright as Il gold dollar but be sure
to hold back your broom and play up We
cap every time there's Il croSser That'n
bc money for boss, for you've got tip
top business look: but I'll bring We
summat for the stomik. You'll make
heaps to-day. cause lis pleasant, ard
there's lots of free folks out: but rainy
days there isn't many, only the men from
the stores, and the Wall Street folks, as
they call en-, and they don't notice no.
body. Then, the young ladies, all dress
ed up in their toggery, they don't give
oh, no. They he 80 afraid of spelling
their dresses, that they won't stop to get
out Il cent. Sometimes, | slops my
broom on the ground, and bespatters
their fine clothes, i'll revenge. But some
walk along quietly, and speak easy-hke,
and don't curl up their noses-thems
the ones TO give; | know 'em. Now,
mind yer eye don't think o stealin' the
boss money; COS, yer see, Eve got Il
cove on hand 10 look out for all my
brooms and | tell We, none ov 'em tries
it mJre'n once, young 'un." Then, with |
Il grin, big Dick went OFF. looking back |
at Charlie us lie went, and giving him
nod of approval as he commenced to
sweep.
Charlie swept away quite briskly at
first: but he broom was heavy, and lie
was 50 hungry and faint, that he soon
had TO flag. Still, he did not dare to
stop sweeping, except to hold out his cap
to the passerS and he looked anxiously
the way Dick Went, hoping to see him
come back. The poor little fellows
anxious, pitcous look brought many
copper into his cap; but he did not dare
spend one of them. Had Our Father,
who watcheth the sparrows fall, forgotten
the little orphan OH, no; he never
forgets one OF hi, children, nerer An
lrishwoman, carrying a huge basket,
passed the little hungry sweeper. She
threw roll into his cap, excIaiming,
I.Ent ont md may thr IInly Nirnin