The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-03-10
Chr 8eafnra 6azette
THE MrsER-s STORY.

"By the grace OF God, am what /
am.'' was born in London, and / re-
member nothing but poverty-stalk-
ing crime and absolute want. The
houses where lived were in various
stages of filth and decay. Whether
the old blear eyed man who kicked
and commanded me was my father /
never knew. Whether the woman
who sometimes fed and often beat me
was my mother. / cannot say. All
| know is, that had miserable drag
about life of it, going round after cold
victuals, knocking smaller boys down
to get the contents Of their broken bas
kets, and huntiag for old rags in he
gutter.
I suppose I was rather a good look
ing boy; they call me good looking
now for an old man. | know l was
smart, comparing myself with chill
dren as / see them.
OF course l was like the rest Of my
class, could fght little, swear lit
tie and steal a little, and eat good
deal, that is, when got the chance,
which was seldom. ] was ignorant
l didn't know one letter from another,
and didn't want to. What did care
about education-I, who never saw a
book from one years end to another?
And love, gratitude, hope, | could of
course understand neither. Nobody
loved me, therefore loved nobody
Nobody had ever made me grateful
had ever held out hope to me.
Some strange impulse was given me
one day. / walked up, sprang from
my bundle of straw, and involuntary
the words came from my lips, 'I am
going TO do something to-day" What
that something was, had not the re-
nlotest idea, but put on my apollo
gies for clothes, and sailed out in my
vagabond way whistling, caring for
nobody.
1t was about noon, and | had not
vet tasted a mouthful Of food. / was
hungry, aud skulked about grocery
shops. hoping 1 could get an opportun-
ity to take something that would stay
my appetite, till / felt in the hlmor
for begging. Passing round the cor
ner of a public street, / saw genteel-
looking man, standing at his horses
head. gazing about him somewhat peg
picked. Boy" he cried, won't you
take care of my horse for half an
hour ?''
"Yes SIR" said l.
think it was the first time that /
ever put on the "sir."
There's a manr' he exclaimed.
I've got considerable fruit here and
you must guard it well. Here's a
couple of peaches for you; just stand
here quietly-nobody'H disturb you"
he went away, a.A = stocd fol g
while till was tired. Then, thinks /,
''In get hatful CT fruit and run"
But for the first time / felt an in
stinct of shame at the suggestion.
"He trusted me-he saw l was a
mean looking fellow, too; but he trus-
ted me and 1 won't abuse his kind
ness"
Something like this reasoning ran
in my head. and l squatted down on
the curb stone feeling the Importance
of an honorable trust as | had hever felt
such thing before. Presently some
of my fellows came along and hailed
me. I told them to go on. They
peered about the cart, and saw the sun
ny faces of the peaches. We'll have
some of Them" they said.
mo you won't" says I, Pm put
in charge here, and l won't see the first
thing stole" With that they began a
rumpus. They reached over the cart.
struck them, and used such efforts
that they all came pell-mell upon me,
and We fought till the blood eaTne; but
vanquished them.
Just then out came the proprietor.
"What's the matter ?" says he.
"Oh, nothing; only had to fight for
your stuff here" says !.
"You did, eh? You've got black
eye for it."
"No matter" says l. 81 mean them
boys shouldn't steal peach, and they
didn't neither"
"Well, youv'egood pluck-here's q
crown for YOU"
Ny eyes stood out. "a whole
crown" says l.
"Yes do what you please with it
but I'd advise you to buy pair o
shoes"
"Thank you, says I, with beating
heart. 1t pays to be good don't it?"
He smiled curious smile, asked ms
several questions, and ended by taking
me home with him.
Home! | thought was in heaven
albeit have seldom heard of such |
place. Ny heart beat heavily every
time dared put my foot upon thos,
rich carpets. The mirrors were som'
thing new to me. The next day thert
camea man to see me. ! was washet
clean and had ON a good suit of clothes
Says he "Youngster, l am going Il
where you live, and probably shal
make bargain with your people
/ want a boy, just such cold cleve
boy as you are, and if you behav'
yourself, / promise yen that you shall
have as pleasant a home as you de
sire"
Well, that was good. l hardly dar
ell fo sneak or breathe. for fear o