The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-11-06

= plea for the children, the most dc
i fenseless objects in all Gods crea
ton. We sigh over the miseries G
! poor little David Copperfeld's joul
|, ney; alas, that the magic hand tina
SO moved us is vanished forever, bu
T 1 can match these thrilling narrative
with true stories of child rendered
; almost idiotic by continued cruelty
and of a little fugitive bound bo,
who, after weary days of hunting anc
travel, sank blistered and fainting a
his mothers feet. 10
E I can tell of woman-think of i
"a woman!wh for some childisl
fault committed through the day, fol
lowed an orphan to his bed with &
; horsewhip, and there, when there
was no protection save the one thin
little night garment, broke upon his
innocent slumber with singing blows
And upon the evidence of the laun
dry-girl, when that same little gar.
ment came to the wash, it was strip
ed with blood. This is not pleasant
reading; it is far from being pleasant
writing.
ga father to the fatherless is God,
in His habitation." Think of this, O
mother, whose household contains Of
these children of the Highest. Think
of it as you gather your little, ones
around the glowing fire, for song OF
story, and make room for the strang-
er within your doors. When you di,
vide the boarded store of cakes or ap-
pies, 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 a share.
When your hand is laid caressing-
ly upon your own children's head, let
its tight pressure also touch his
young brow. Who knows but it may
be there like consecrating chrism,
amounting him to noble deeds for God
and humanity?
Do these things, and do them now.
Check, not these kindly impulses un-
til it is too late; until the thin hands
are crossed within the coffin, and the
sad eyes-hungry for a mothers kiss
have gone to tell their pitiful story
to Him who said: "Sufer little chill
dren; or worse, until young soul
shall have grown hardened, and lit
tie one, offended by you, shall have
become a lasting curse and a clog
ging mill stone upon the neck of so.
ciety.
/ But to return to my story. Left
alone in the great barn, the sensitive
child endured the two-fold agony of
nervous terror and anticipated suffer
ing. But he had not long to wait.
Soon the heavy boots of old Benson
were heard tramping across the cow
yard and into the barn. Robbie
stole one furtive glance as he entered,
saw the hard set face, the long black
whip trailing from his hand, and the
last vestige of hope was gone.
"Now, you young rascal, I'll pay
you for your carelessness!" cried the
bitter master, as he caught sight of
the little covering form; and as he
seized the trembling boy by the arm,
he raised the whip like great stiff
ening serpent, high in the air.
But why did it not descend? The
boy, who had closed his eyes, and
set his teeth hard to bear the torture,
wondered at the delay. From some
where above came q rushing sound,
and the cruel, uplifted arm was grasp
ed, and held with a grip of iron.
What could it mean? Had God sent
one of his mighty angels down to res
cue the little waif, too helpless to i'm
plore his protection?
1t well might be so, for our Father
is not Indifferent to the troubles of
His suffering children; but the eyes
of this glorious deliverer were burn
ing with too much indignant fury and
human passion for those ola heaven
ly visitant.
"Chrisl" This one glad cry burst
from Robbie's lips, and then, unno-
ticed of either, he sat down among
the hay and straw ittering the floor.
Coward! Hypocrite! Traitor!"
These were the words which burst
impetuously from the young mans
lips, and with each epithet a stunning
blow was heavily planted into the
broad breast of the farmer.
'Is it thus you treat the little
brother entrusted to your care? Were
it not that I have learned to be some
thing which you do not even know
the meaning of-a gentleman
would take the horsewhip and fay
you within an inch of your life Well,
indeed, was it that it occurred to me
to test your faithfulness in treating
him kindly, before gave of my hard
earnings for the boys board. Here,
in my pocket-book, are four hundred
dollars, designed for you-payment
for every week he has been here
Dut not one single copper of it will
you ever see now. On the contrary,
shall use it in prosecuting you to
jhe utmost limit of the law"
And he kept his word This youth,
whose energy and pluck had won the
victory in hand to hand struggle
with the world, was not likely to be
troubled with morbid pity for his ad-
and with Sues fair, honest
lace in the witness-box, not only was
the full measure of justice obtained,
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