The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-07-22
@tsrellanp.
THE LOST LINCH-PIN.
BY 4. NJ. DANA,

uoNc " tahC tuc
There was detected thrill in the sad child
voice, telling alike of physical dread and Of
utter hopelessness of spirit.
"Wait a minute, Robbie" answered cheer
icr tone. "Walt until look under the hay
bed. A linch-pin's little, you know, and it
might roll can't bear to give 1t up yet"
And as the girl spoke, she swung her lantern
under the huge vehicle, and STOPPING, began
to search carefully among the loose chaff and
whisps of hay scattered over the floor.
The scene was the threshing floor Of a
large barn, and great mows frowning darkly
above on either hand, and vast graneries
stretching away in the rear, and the speakers
were poor little orphan-boy who had lost a
linchpin, and the sympathetic kitchen girl
of the farm. As the latter rose from her
frultless search, the bright glow Of the Ian
tern fell upon her, revealing face-not pref
ty, certainly, if viewed from cultivated ar
tistic standpoint, but fresh and girllsh, and
just now glorified by a soft halo of womanly
pity,
ing. "Cant' you think where you had it
last p
mo, Sue, can't. I've tried and tried. I
last time" Then with a shudder, throwing
his childish arms around her waist, 30, Sue,
he's awful"
"Poor baby.' cried the girl, clasping him
closer, while her seft gray eyes filled with
tears. 81 wish / could save you. How did
you ever come to be left with him anyhow ="
"Why, you see" was the reply, 'when
mother died there was only me and Chris.
and Chris. amt like me. He's strong, and
smart, and afraid of nobody. So he thought
he would go away and make fortune for US
both His name is Christopher-like chris
topher Columbus, you know-and he meant
to do some great thing, too. Not in ship,
though, but in the big city. He had read of
poor boys making money there, and as the
homestead was gone he was bound to try it.
And then old Beeson offered to keep me
while he was away. But Chris. never meant
for me to be abused. heard him say that l
was to go to school and be we'll treated, and
that he would pay for my board any expenses
when he came back. But reckon he'll nev-
er come now" And the poor chi!d's tears
fell at the thought.
80 may be he will,' answered the girl
soothingly. "We'll hope SO any way"
"Well, may be-" he assentcd drearily,
'But, o Sue, if only were of age, like you,
wouldn't 60 to seek hlmv' Then as with
sudden thought, "Sue, what makes you staya
LOU 'WcIc Vi aSc SIX LuoutuS ago.
81 know she said and paused as if the
question was an unsettled one with herself;
then, with the light still upon her brow,
know where to 90. l don't mind working,
and must do that In any place. Besides it
is better for me: I'm in the house with Misses,
and, Robbie, she isn't like him. Many piece
ofbread and meat she gives to the hungry, and
many poor tramp she allows to sleep in the
barn when he amt round.'
The last clause was unfortunate, for the bey
clnging yet closer, cast shuddering glance
upward toward the great mows where the
shadows were scarcely disturbed by their fee
BILE glow of light.
80 Sue"' he cried wildly. "What if he
should make me stay all night in the barn.
He has threatend to many time ANY way,
he is going to horsewhip me. O, Sue, Sue.
what can we do y
The poor excited child sank down in dies.
pair.
I'VE might pray" said Sue timidly.
"Pshaw He prays"
There was . whole volume Of inefficient
skepticism in those three bitter words.
81 know" answered Faith, sorely puzzled.
yet clinging TO her anchor. II know, but it
don't sound like the prayers used to saw ut
the sylum. They spoke to one so close at
hand, so gentle. so loving, and yet 80 mighty
U, Robbie, now Just remember the words. 20
Strong to deliver Who knows but He
might save you. There was man in the den
Of lions, and the three children in the fiery
furnace"
ITS no use, Sue," he interrupted sadly.
"There's no deliverer for me but Chris, and
heU never come now. Go on to the house
and tell the old man can't find it. Its a.
we'll to get it over"
Poor lamb said the tender hearted girl
kissing the quivering lips which were trying
SO hard to be brave. 'i'll leave the light
and III beg hard for YOU" And REFRESHING
sigh over the hopeessness OF her task, she
gllded out into the starlight, leaving the poor
little victim to wait a cruelty which. consid.
ering the centuries of Christian progress that
nave elapsed since the slaughter Of the lnno
cents, not only ut-IIerods Herod, but is one
OF the darkest blots upon our social life.
just here must pause to offer plea for
children, the most defenscless objects in Gods
creation. We sigh over the miseries of NOR
Smikc, over little David Copperield's sorrow.
1ul journey; alas that the magic hand
which so moved MS is vanished forever, but I
can lhatch these thrilling narratives with true
stories ut child rendered almost idio,ic hy
continued cruelty, and Of Il little fugitive
Douhu'poy. VINO, after wrnrv DAYS of hunger
ana travel sank bislrr.d aud ,aju,i,y a, In.
mothers feet. can tell If :. womap-tLin,;
OF II woman who, ;,r some childish fam,
committed during the day. followed nm ~.
phan boy 10 his bed with u horsewh,p and