Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-08-15
stIttt storp.
THE SWEEPER.


The ship &olent went ON its WAY to
Southern lands II WAS night, and the
wind WAS up, pushing the vessel before II
quickly. over the wide, hcaviug waters
The moon WAS 1T full. and carried her
bright lamp over and through dark clouds
now siIvcring their edges. and now trail
ing misty light across their dark surface,
sometimes Scuding broad moonhcam
across the pillows. like luminous rail.
way Tor travellers between the stars,
sometimes withdrawing it altogether,
and sometimes turning upon the ship her
large poIcemanS lantern, Lighting uP
tho deck aud all upon it with wonderful
clcuucSS. All around the lonely SOlcnt
WAS great, rolling liquid world, with
unltthomed deeps beuealh-ouc wide,
vast grave that, to think upon, filled
many u fearful heart with shu1dering
axe, but over which, aS led by invisible.
angelic guides, the ship made her way in
safety to the lar-otr land whittier she WAS
bound Most OF the passengers were
asleep. bul one or two, tempted 10y the
line, fresh air OF the night. were walking
the deck CT standing by the vessels sidos
watching the play ol light and shadow
on the >ombrc mass of water beneath
Two young men stood in This way
conversing, g.ancing occasionally, in in
tervalS OF talk. across the seething waters,
with thoughtful eyes, The youngest, n
dark haired, wide .browed young man,
about two.and-twenty years OF age, was
the chief speaker. He seemed to be an
swering remark of his companion rs
he said You say true. Ben; very
small things al times turn the whole
course or our lives. OF ut least, what seem
to bc very small. lshould not have been
herc If il hadn't been Tor The dropping Of
a little bracelet from lady's ann
How was that" asked Ben. "What
could a lady's bracelet have to DO with
your going TO Australia ?"
IN tell you. You know what y
drunkard my poor father was. How he
lost one place after another because he
wouldn't keep sober, and how he died ut
last ut the hospital, through being run
over when he was tpsy. Mother was
left in great poverty and trouble, with
me. = pool. untaught little chap. on her
hands could neither read nor write,
tor father had never halfpcnny To spare
out Of his wages for schooling; they all
went 10 the public house Tor ale and GIN.
except what she managed to lay hold oi
by stealth, rs il were. lie lell hei in
debt. besides, so she'd enough TO do 10
keep body and soul alive with the work
of her poor ill-uscd hands and fingers
But she mover gave up, and she never
ceased trying to do all she could. But
woman's work is badly paid Tor, Ben, and
it was little she could earn at the best OF
times.
Then tried To work, ard at last. us |
could do nothing else. got Il broom and
took crossing, and there | stayed long
time, and nothing better seemed to offer
for me. was last becoming a big boy,
and was very anxious to learn to read,
but how could spare time? And on
Sundays, when might have gone to
school, did not like to go out i'll my
shabby clothes amongst the better dress
ed folks. Then my mother fell ill, and
m, clothes got in rags, and my shoes and
stockings were clean of my feet; and
when was eleven years old. instead oil
being better off, seemed worse OF than
ever, and mother could only lie in bed
and tell me to be \ good boy, and be IN
dustrious, and honest and patient, and
God would find a way for me if put my
trust in Him.
One bright spring morning | was
standing ut my crossing, with my broom
in hand, waiting Tor people To pass over
my clean pathway and give me lew
h'pence if they would. when young
lady stepped from the pavement and
stood still moment beside me beiole
she went forward She didn't see me at
all, so had time to look at her, and to
admire her beautiful face.
Well. as said, she didn't see me. and
good reason. for why-she was looking
at somebody else who'd just lett her,
gentleman with black curly hair. who
was walking up the street and Just gong
round the corner. There was such
beautiful look of love in her eyes rs she
watched him, that thought at once, mes
her sweetheart, and no mistake" But