Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-01-27
A STORY FOR TIE LITTLE
FOLKS.
THE RAa-PIcKER's SON.


THE RAa-PIcKER's SON.
As the gray dawn of q November
day was breaking over the city of |
New York, some twenty years ago, |
a light streamed from the window |
of an old tenement-house in Manhat- |
tan street. The room from which |
il came was the dWelling-place OF
/" Old Meg" the rag-picker, aud her |
little son Willie. For seven years |
she had been an inmate of the same
room, and nearly every morning, at
AN early hour, she went forth in
search Of rags, and her little son
went to his place of employment,
down town.
Willie was 8 bright faced, curly
b.;red Iittle fellow, of some thirteen
wears, and was the hope and pride
of his gray-haired mother. Old
Meg - (Willie's mother) as the boys
used to call her, was about forty
wears old but her road through life
being rough, and her burdens heavy
to bear, she looked much older.
Everybody in the neighbOrhood
knew her to be an honest, God-fear-
inc woman. She troubled nobody;
and since her husbands death, some
ten wears before, had worked hard
to support her little son, and let him
receive as much education as posi-
| BILE.
On the morning in question, she
was up at the usual hour, and her
| seanty meal was spread for herseif
and Willie. The room in which
they were living was not very large,
| nor was the furniture extensive I;
but everything had the appearance
of the most scrupulous neatness-
After they had been seated at the
! table a few moments, and Wlllle's
mother had asked a blessing, Willie
| said:
Mother, you must let me go and
gather the rags to-day. L have hoi-
iday, and you do not look Wen. 1
know the rounds, for, you know, 1
used to go with you often before l
went TO work for Mr.. Williams"
q NV son." said his mother, this
ia the only holiday you have had Tor
six months, and would not Ike 10
take il from YOU"
"Never mind, mother; I'm young
and don't mind work. You won't
have to 90 out many more mornings,
for Mr.. Williams is going to raise
nv wages soon, and then / shall
make enough to keep US without
your working"
And the little fellows eyes beam
ed with pleasure at the thought OF
his mother not working any more,
GWell, Willie" replied Mrs. Mat
thews, "you may go out in my place
l. mill raat -
willie soon finished his breakfast
and taking the bag and look, kissed
his mothers gale cheek, and will
her kind "God bless you" following
him. went down the rickety stairs
and out into the chilly autumn twi
, light, to commence his search fol
l rags.
, his BAG, and was on his way home
ward. AS he was passing mill
7 merry store, he saw some scraps ~
inc by the side of the curb, whicl
a had been swept from the shop, ant
2 setting his bag down, he began .
: gather them up. he had them near
I " all picked mp and put in a ca
q preparatory to putting them IN al
a bag, when something lying close I
q the sidewalk attracted his atten
!. ton. He stopped down and picke
n it up. What was his surprise I
+ find it was pocket-book, and, I
,, all appearances, well nlled. WIN
n opened it, and one look AZ Its cor
= tents caused his heart to leap wit
y joy. Sticking it quickly in his pocl
q ct, he shouldered the bag, and sta
" ted as fast as he could toward hom
If AS he trudged along with his ba
"a on his back, he pictured his mott
ee er's surprise when he should tell ht
T. what he had found, and show h
Id the pile of money which he kne
ut the pocketbook contained.
e. he soon reached home, and sc
IN ting his bag down by the door, fai
be ly flew up the stairs, threw open Il
e. door. rushed into his mothers pre-
ur ence, and exclaimed:
ly 90 mother! Pve found fortune
If And without waiting for b
rs mother to speak, he pulled out t
a pocketbook and commenced
ho count the money.
nd HFourteen hundred dollars !"
re exclaimed, when he had finish
of counting the roll of bank-bill. ''IsI
be. that a fortune, mother!"
N, 'eWhere did you get it, Willie
on said his mother quietly.
sI found it among some rags
front of q millinery store" ansW'
ed Willie, looking at the pock
book. HBut here's name, MOI
all err" he continued, as be raised
ire fiy-leaf. 'It is Horace Carpent
nd No. = Broadway But he mi
tn be rich and win not miss it, and
ast need it so badly"
.ue "But, my son, 1t would be ste
as ing to keep it. Honesty is the b
nc policy so YOU had better take it
- its owner, and if he does not
the ward you, God will
the Without a word of remonstran
l. Willie rose, saying:
But "I viii do as you say, mother, g
ETY. if he offers me reward, L Will !
pit, take it."
nd "Go, then my boy, and God pr
,ws per you," said his mother.
- So of he started for the store
as Mr.. Carpenter. When he arri'
i'm there, he asked if Mr.. Csrpen
,oe- was in. On being told that he "
for he said that ne wanted to see b
for a clerk went to side door and c
of ed him, and in a few moments
entered Willie stepped up 10 l
and and said:
r. care you Mr.. Horace Carpente
ym- eyes, my little fellow. What
ices | do for your"
nge "Take this pocketbOok, and sc
nav it is YOURS" said Willie, as he ha
Tay ed it to him.
: be Mr.. Carpenter took it, and W
ity, out opening it, said:
ow- ''Yes, my boy, that's mine.
cial was lost by my daughter while
the shopping yesterday afternoon.
lere had Just written an advertiser
E is to insert in the morning papers
ling corning 1t. But why did you bl
and it to me? You look as if you n
on ed money"
ance "But mother bid me take it K
yful owner, and never disobey her.
"You shall be rewarded for J