New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-24

from C6&Seu6 MoeDeaucJ
! 1twas cold December night, and nothin
J was stirring in the village street but tn
wind. This trespasser did not content itsel
! | with the public highway, but invaded tn
. private houses without the slightest CON
| junction, 1t reared down the kitehe
cbimneys. rushed through the public rocmi
and even forced itself into the chambers @
the sick, making them shiver in their beds
1t was 70 utterly destitute Of good breeding
J or the slightest sensc of honor that not
corner escaped it's scrutiny; and having N
respect for persons, it burst into the post
masters parlor, driving the smoke imperti
nently into the eyes of his wife, on purpose
to make her sneeze. The former angus
| parsonage stood with his back to the fire
appearing to be in perfect luxury OF mind
body and estate. The flame blaDed in stead,
defiance of the powers OF the air, shedding
ruddy glow on the carpet, curtains ant
carefully polished mahogany; also on TIL
features of an old man standing behind tn,
table, who returned the pOstmaster's smil,
unenviously, although it was rare he die
not know cold, hunger and discomfort.
"YOu must see, TOm," urged the former
"that the offer is o capital one for you. Tn.
child will be boarded, clothed and educated
in very different way from what she now
is. You have not the means to provide fol
her. l do not understand how you cal
| hesitate for a moment" W
| "Thank you humbly, SIR" said the old
| man, and i'll truth the reverence and hu.
| mility Of his manner could not have been
| greater to the Queen herself
Thank You very humbly."
| But the tone expressed something besides
Difference. The argument was clear and
unanswerable, yet he was not convinced.
He turned in dull perplexity to the Post
mistress.
Remember" she said kindly, guess
ing his thoughts, sit will not be
parting from the child; you shall
come AS often as you like to see her-every
day if you like. And what pleasure It
will be to watch her growing up, SO well
cared for and happy!" .....'
Persuasion had more power than reason
ing, yet neither was strong enough to con-
objection, which words would not.
could not, reveal. His helpless silence
reused the postmaster's Impotence.
Sir" said the old man at length "l1l
speak to dot -fPtl-
Suppose suggested the postmistress,
1--WE leave the matter for the present. Think
OF it tonight and let us know tomorrow.
There is no need to hurry yourself in de-
Gliding"
Tom assented gracefully, and with pro-
found Obeisance left the room. Once out in
the open air the wind met him face to face,
and shook and bufieted him until he thought
he had never known how threadbare and
scanty his coat really was. He was feign
to draw it closely around him, to prevent
the blast penetrating to his very heart,
thereby proving itself to be not merely un-
scrupulOus, but unfeeling.
The struggle with the unseen enemy was
desperate, but not SO fierce or violent as the
conflict within, in the heat of which the
chills Of the outer world were forgotten.
Fortune had not bestowed upon Tom
brilliant career. nor were his circumstances
the most enviable. To beggary was added
neglect and ill-usage: to these were united
the suffering OF. bodily deformity; and the
sum total Of misery produced rose to fear
from boyhOod to manhood heaven knows
it. indeed, a creature may be dignifed by
the name Of man who can only be SO called
i'll the sense of his being a few degrees
higher than the beasts of the field, and many
lower than the angels. Yet this poor soul
was not without his ambition. His highest |
aim had been to attain the rank of cObbler;
he could conceive no greater happi- |
ness and his desire was fulfilled. |
In the service of a harsh, parsimonious |
master, in a dark back room, he cobbled, |
and was content. But he was doomed |
to lose even this qualification. His eyesight |
gradually failed, and he was compelled to |
give up work. He yielded not only without |
a murmur, but with cheerfulness, being ac- |
to receive thankfully but to ask |
nothing. A few small shopkeepers, out of |
employed him Oh errands, and |
by this means he picked up Il livelihood. In |
such circumstances it is difficult to conceive
my room for happiness - any loOp-hOle
through which hope, comfort or JOY could en-
-er. The cripple seemed to have no heritage
II the delights of beautiful world Yet to
he very lowest there is always heaven at
land.
One bitter night he was returning home
As he passed under an archway he saw
hid seated upon step. her eyes closed, her
ace and hands blue with cold. He bent over
Ter. For the first time in his life he recog-
lized link between himself and a fellow
reature, She was also cold, poor and lonely
hey were equally miserable. Seized by
udden impulse he lifted her in his arms and
arried. her through the streets to his
vretched garnet. Then taking off his coat
e wrapped her in it, aud commenced rnb-
ing the icy hands and feet. After some
ime the child opened her ewes. and from !
hat moment the strong bond between them
1as sealed forever.
She never left him. He soon lavished
pom her all the devotion of an undying
allure. In return, the poor little heather,
Tho had never entered q church in her life,
bought nothing on earth so wOrshipful as
ON, and adored no other Deity. A new
fe had dawned upon. them both. great
line of wealth had been opened. They
'ere no longer poor, lonely, desolate. Cali
infatuation, or what you will, it was a
power which could thus trans
ON want into plenty, cold into warmth,
into luxury, one of those few
leXplicable powers which combat and con-
uer death.
1t can now be understood what was the |
Id mans despair when the postmistress
mt for him and proposed to adopt the
Mid. She had taken a. fancy to the little
hing, and having learned the destitute con-
ltion in which the two lived, never doubted
en- charitable offer would be accepted. The
d man could not rejoice. He could only
'alize the one miserable fact-she must 90.
e fastened home very detected, and when
sight of the house, thought it had never
oked so poor. The roof was broken in
veral places and states wanting. The
mdow, in which faint light glimmered,
as patched with paper; the walls We're
scolored with the damp, and the door was
W. As he CROPPED his way up the rickety
airs, he sighed involuntarily
"Oh, Dot, Dot, I'd like to take all the
arlnth and shine out Of that house before {
ever tell Of it to your
On entering he peered through the dark I
ess for the one object which made the room
sht to him. The child knelt close to the {
re, sewing some coarse garment. Her
entie, quiet face, with the short brown hair |
rushed lat smoothly ,of it, possessed all the .
ILoush,' power, and purpose of womanhood.
Ter eyes sparkled with pleasure on seeing
le old man, but she greeted him with a
,mic pretence of anger !,
Il was hoping she said with dignity. at
asnt you. ! thought you'd have STAYED
inside all night rather than come in and a
'ok me in the face. Perhaps you've for
often what have told you Yesterday p,
NIn1Ia ln11aa1 Ii l1.,