The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-03-30
The Little Outcast.
BY MRS. DExNlsoN-A MASONIC SISTER.

were filled with tears. 1t was laa
that stood at the outer door, pleading
with a kindly looking woman, whe
still seemed to doubt the reality of his
good intentions.
The cottage sat by itself on black
moor, or what in Scotland would have
been called such-the time near the
latter end of September, and fierce
wind ratified the boughs of the two
only naked trees near the house, and
filed with shivering sound into the
narrow doorway, as if seeking fol-
warmth at the blazing fire within.
Now and then a snow flake touched
with its soft chill the angry redness OF
the poor boys benumbed hand.
The woman was evidently 10th to
grant the boys request, and peculiar
look stamped upon his features would
have suggested to any mind an idea
of depravity far beyond his years.
But her woman's heart could not
resist the sorrow in those large, but
by no means handsome, gray eyes.
Come in, at any rate, till the good
man comes home; there, sit down by
the fire; you look perishing, with
cOld;" and she drew rude chair I'D
the warmest corner; then, suspicious
ly glancing at the child from the cor
ners of her eyes, she continued setting
the table for supper.
Presently came the tramp of heavy
shoes the door was swung open with
a quick jerk, and the good man pre-
sented himself, wearied with labor.
A look of intelligence passed be-
tween his wife and himself; he, too.
scanned the boys face with an express
sion not evincing satisfaction, but
nevertheless made him come to the
table, and then enjoyed the zest with
which he dispatched his supper.
Day after day passed, and yet the
boy begged to be kept, only till to-
morrow so the good couple, after
due consideration, concluded that so
long us he was docile, and worked so
heartily, they would retain him.
One day, in the middle of winter, a
peddler, long accustomed to trade at
the cottage, made his appearance. and
disposed of his goods readily, as if he
had been waited for.
"You have u boy out there, split
ting wood, | see," he said, pointing to
the yard. =
Yes; do you know him e@
" | have seen him, replied the ped
dler, evasively. ..5
And where is he ? what is
he p
"a jail bird" and the peddler
swung his pack over his shoulder;
/" that boy, young as he looks. | saw
in court myself, and heard his sent
ence-ten months he's hard one.
You'd do well to look carefully after
him.
oh! there was something so horrible
in the word jail-the poor woman
trembled as she laid away her pur-
chases nor could she be easy until
she called the boy in and assured him
that she knew that dark part of his
history.
Ashamed, distressed, the child hung
down his head his cheek seemed
bursting with the hot blood his lips
quivered, and anguish was painted as
wildly upon his forehead as if the
words were branded into the flesh.
Well" he muttered, his whole
frame relaxing, as if burden of guilt
or joy had suddenly rolled off, 81
may as well go toruin at once-every-
body hates and despises me-nobody
cares about me may as well go to
ruin at once.' &
Tell me = said the woman, who
stood off far enough for flight should
it be necessary, how come you to go
so Young to that dreadful place ?
Where was your where 7"
"Oh ~ exclaimed the boy, with a
burst of grief that was too terrible to
behold / hain't no mother; oh
| hain't had no mother ever since |
was a baby. If I'd only had a MOTHER"
he continued his anguish growing
vehement and the tears gushing out
from his strange looking eyes, 4s /
a been bound out and kicked,
cuffed and laid on to with whips. |
been saucy and got knocked
down, and run away, and then stole
because | was hungry. Obi 1 hain't
got no mother-I haven't had no
mother since was a baby 2"
The strength was all gone from the
poor boy, and he sank on his knees,
sobbing great choking sobs, and rub
bing the hot tears away with his poor
And did that woman stand
there unmoved ? Did she coldly bid
him pack up and be off-the Jail bird !?
Mono, she had been {. mother, and
all her children slept under
the cold sod in the church-yard, she
was mother still.
She went up to that boy, not to
hasten him away, but to lay her FIJI
gers kindly, softly on his head-to
tell him to look up and from hence
forth find in her q mother.
Yes, she even put her arms about
the forsaken, deserted child-she
poured from her mothers heart sweet.
ly womanly words words of counsel
and tenderness.
Oh how sweet was her sleep that
EN-" "