The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-05-10
9isreIIaneuns SsIeGtiuns.
MY NEW YEAR.
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.

Al NoN IAN
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.
One solitary five dollar bill, the
last of Charles earnings, and Char
lie himself helpless and unconscious
in the little bedroom, his right arm
and shoulder shattered by that drad-
full fall!
In the trundle bed beside him,
three pairs of chubby restless feet,
all sadly in need of shoes and stock
ings, and three hungry little mouths
that must have bread and butter, and
no coal in the bin, and little food in
the house.
The wintry dusk was fast deepen
ing into darkness, and snow was be-
ginning to fall. 4 must have some
wine for Charlie,' 1 said at last, and
a few other things With these
words, l kissed my poor sufferer, and
went out into the tempest.
1 had gone but a little distance,
when a woman's voice arrested my
attention, in passionate and agon-
lied entreaty. 1 Ipaused an instant
to listen. Before the door of a small
cottage, a couple of officers stood
with slender lad between them,a and
a rough, brutal looking man, whom
1 recognized as one Bronton, the
landlord of the village inn.
On her knees before him with her
uncovered head exposed to the storm
was the woman who pleaded so pas
sionately.
Don't do it, SIR she was saying,
for Gods sake don't. His father
will be home tomorrow, and he'll
make it all right. Don't take my
boy to prison.
She put up her slender hand to
clasp the tavern keepers arm, but he
shook her off with an oath.
4 won't wait, I tell you,' he cried /;
the young sascal stole my money,
and 1 want it back. Give me five
dollars, and we'll play quits.
'Havn't five dollars in the world,
she sobbed; but if you will only
wait, l can raise it tomorrow
No I won't wait another second
march on, officers; the young
thief shall sleep in Jail this very
night
Pm no thief sir cried the lad his
fine face blazing. l didn't steal
your money, and you know it.
'Silencep thundered the landlord.
DO you mean to call me liar2 Of
icers will you go on?
/ had thought my own trouble in
comparable. But here was some
thing infinitely worse.
-Impelled by an impulse of uncon-
trollable pity, 1 stepped to the poor
mothers side.
What is it my poor womanp 1
asked. She turned her poor, agon-
lied glance upon me with a flush OF
eagar hope.
oh! they accuse my boy of steal
ing, madam she cried; and his
father, who has been over the seas
for over two years will be home to-
morrow, and his son in prison likei
a common thief. It will kill him,
and break my heart
Ny hand instinctively went into
my pocket, where the five dollar bill |
rested, as she watched the action
with e pitious look in her poor eyes. !
I thought of my own boy at home, a |
brave little lad so lik his father.
What if this poor mothers case were !
mine?
l drew the bill from my pocket,
and put it into her hand. With
cry of joy she darted after the Off
GERS, and only waiting to see that
her boy was released, I hurried
away.
Charlie was worse that highland 1
had to summon doctor early on the
morrow.
The doctor ordered fresh supplies
Of medicines, good nursing, and the
best of nourishment. Alasl l had
not a cent in the house. Over and
over again looked at Charles pale
face, and the old saying, Charity
begins at home, recurred to me.
l worked every spare moment at
some embroidery l had procured,
and when 1 had finished one piece [
seemed to be going blind. But II.
took it up to Mrs. Denham who en-
ployed me, for [ needed the money.
She examined it critically, and ex-
pressed herself only tolerably well
and then, settling back
amidst her warm cushions said she
would pay when 1 had finished all.
l ventured a remonstrance, but /
she cut me short with:
4 have no change, besides it is a
'ule OF mine never to pay for part
If a job
hurried bach to Charlie with an
aching heart and found him moaning
with pain, the hour of his medicine
-ong past, and the prescription in
my pocket. In desperation Irushed
to the bureau and drew out my
quaint little jewel case. J.
1t contained some trifing articles, Il
a brooch that belonged to my moth
eT, and a few other trinkets. I Sc
lected two and hurried out again,
down the snowy street, to the one
ieweIry establishment of which the
little seaside village could boast. 1t
was hard task to prevail on the
dealer to purchase my triukets; and
ct last, When he consented, he offered