Mower County transcript., 1871-07-20
THE LOST LlNCH.PIN.
RY A. NJ. DANA.

There was detected thrill in the sad
child-voice, telling alike of physical dread
and of utter hopclcssness of spirit.
"Wait minute, Robbie, answered
checrier tone. await until look under
the hay bed. A Inch pins little, you know,
and it might roll. l can't hear to give it
up yet" And as the girl spoke, she swung
her lantern under the huge vehicle, and
STOPPING, began to search carefully among
the loose chatf and wisps Of hay scattered
over the floor.
The scene was the threshirg floor of
large barn, with great mows frowniDg
darkly above on either hand, aud vast
granaries stretching away in the rear, and
the speakers were poor little orphan boy
who had lost linch.pin; and the sympa-
thetic kitchen-g girl Of the farm As the
latter rose from her fruitless search, the
bright glow Of the lantern fell upon her,
revealing a face-not pretty, certainly, if
viewed from cultivated artistic stand
point, but fresh and girlish, and just now
gloritied by soft halo of womanly pity.
90 Robbie I'm so so,ry,' she said, ris-
ing. Cant you think where you had it
last?"
mo, Sue, can't. I've tried, and tried.
l reckon old Beeson will nearly kill me
uc ulu bIHlC. ueu WILL a oIlVOuCl,
throwing his childish arms around her
waist: 90, Sue, he's awful"
"Poor baby!" criel, the girl, clasping
with tears. II wish could save you.
him, anyhow"
"Why, you scc,' 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 a
fortune for us both. His name is Christie
pher-like Christopher 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 home
stead 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. I heard him
say that was to go to school and be we'll
treated, and that he would pay for my
board and expenses when he came back.
But reckon he'll never come now.' And
the poor child's tears fell fast at the
thought.
90 maybe he will" answered the girl
soothingly. "We'll hope SO any way"
"Well, maybe" he asscnted drearily.
But 0 Sue, if we're only of age, like
you, wouldn't go to seek him!" Then,
as with sudden thought, "Sue, wha,
makes you stay2 You were of age six
months ago"
Il know" she said, and paused as if
the question was an unsettled one with
herself; then, with the light still upon her
brow, "Partly for your sake, maybe,
Robbie, and partly because don't know
where to go. l don't mind working, and
l 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 of bread and meat she gives
to the hungry beggars, and many poor
tramp she allows to sleep i'll the barn when
he amt round"
The last clause was unfortunate, for the
boy clinging yet closer, cast a shuddering
glance upward toward the great mows
where the shadows were scarcely dis
turbed by their feeble glow Of light.
60 Sue!" he cried wildly. "What if
he should make me stay all night in the
barn. He has threatened to. many a
time. Any way, he is going to horse
whip me-. U Sue; Sue, what can we dol"
The poor excited child sank down in
1--WE might pray" said Sue timilly.
"Pshaw! lie prays."
There was whole volume of incipicnt
skepticism in those three bitter words.
Il know" answered Faith, sorely puz-
zled, yet clinging to her anchor. II know,
hut it don't sound like the prayers used
to hear at the 'sylum. There they spoke
to some one close at hand, SO gentle, SO
loving, and yet so mighty o, Robbie,
now just remember the words, so strong
to deliver Who knows but He might
save you. There was the man in the den
of lions, and the three children in the
fiery furnace"
Its no use, Sue," he interrupted sadly
"There's no dcliverer for me but Chris,
and he'N never come now. Go on to the
house and tell the old man that I can't
find it. It's as 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 re.
pressing sigh over the hopelcssness of
her task, she glided out into the starlight,
leaving the poor little victim to await a
Christian progress that have elapsed since
the slaughter of the innocents, not only
out Herods lIerod, but is one of the dark
est blOts upon our social life.
Just here must pause to offer plea
for the children, the most defenseless OBJ
jects in all Gods creation. We sigh over
the miseries of poor Smike, over little Da-
vid COppcrtield's sOrrowful journey; alas F.!
is vanished forever, but can match these
h. r%, <c
child rendered almost idiotic by continued
cruelty, and Of little fugitive bound-boy
who, after weary days of hunger and
mothers feet. l can tell of woman
think of it-a woman! who, for some
childish fault committed during the day,
followed an orphan boy to his bed with
horsewhip, and then, when there was no
protection save the one thin little night
garment, broke upon his innocent slumber
with stinging blows. And, upon the evi-
dence of the laundrv-girl, when that same
little garment came to the wash, it was
striped with blood. This is not pleasant
reading. 1t is far from being pleasant
writing.
"a father to the fatherlcss is God in
his holy labitaton!" Think Of this, .,
mother, whose household contains one Of
these children of the Highest Think of
itals you gather your little ones around
the glowing fre-side for song or story, and
make room for the stranger within your
doors. When you divide the boarded
store of cakes or apples, remember that
his little milk teeth are as eager for sweets
as those of your own darlings, and be
there much or little, give him share.
When your hand is laid caressingly upon
your own childrens heads, let its light
pressure also touch his young brow. Who
knows but it may be there like conse-
Grating chrism, amounting him to noble
deeds for God and humanity? Do these
things and do them now. Check not your
kindly impulses until it is too late, until
the thin hands are crossed within the col-
fin, and the sad cyes-hungry for
mothers kiss-havc gone to- tell their pitt
full story to Him who has said: "Sufter
the children;" or worse, until a young soul
shall have grown hardened; and little
one, offended by you, shall have become
curse and clogging mill stone upon the
neck Of society.
But to return tony story. Left alone
IN the great barn the sensitive child en-
dured the two fold agony of nervous tor.
ror and anticipated suffering. But he had
not long to wait Soon the heavy boots OF
old Becson were heard tramping across the
COW yard and into the barn. Robbie stole
one furtive glance as he entered, saw the
hare set face; saw the long, black whip
trailing from his hand and the last vcstige
of hope was gone.
"Now, you young rascal, III pay you
for your carclcssncss," cried the bitter
master, as he caught sight of the little
form; and selling the trembling
boy by the arm, he raised the whip, like a
great stiffcning serpent, high in air.