New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-15
For the New Orleans Republican;
SEVEN LITTLE PAIRS OF SHOES.
Or
THE POT or GOLD.
EY ALICE EINGSRCRY COOLEY.

&
! There they stood, seven little pairs o
we'll blacked, well-patched shoes. Evel
Tootsums was there-TOotsum had jus
| learned tn walk-and the blacking scarcel
hid where the "blg little pig" had slmos
\ worn hole through the leather. Ant
there by the fire. pinned to worn towel
l we're the seven little pairs Of stockings. 70
! it was Saturday night, and the wearers o
them had to go to Sunday school, sxcep
Tootsum and Jern, Who we're too young ant
noisy.
The clock ticked loudly. for il was YER.
quiet: that and the singing Of the tea kettle
with little snore nov and then from tn
room, were the only sounds audible.
y do wish John 'ud come. il be gettin
late and be SO sleepy that ! can hardl,
keep my eyes open." No wonder Mrs
Truehart felt sleepy. sitting SO still after 1
hard day's work, with only the kettle snd
the crickets for company.
The toast was ready and the teapot. with
its treasure Of two spoonsful Of tea, waiting
tor the hot water. Still John did not come
II wonder why he be so late!" and Mrs
Truehart sat down again and gazed at the
roses and laughing Cupid carved in thu
high, old-fashioned mantel piece. "Mos,
likely Mr.. Sneezeum can't pay him in
money, and he has to take another order
and 20 miles to get it filed. do hope i,
will be for victuals this time--it be hard
fo1y so,v, ond ,ioto
frames" Here she looked at the one OF
the mantle. which vas the delight Of the
whole house but too grand for the sur
roundings. ''Mr. Sneezeum says, Sell 'em
man, sell EN- He forgets the time it takes
and the money We lose, but John be 90
shame faced he can't say No. Never mind
he says. 1T will all be we'll when my ship
comes home.' Ah: ships seldom come to
poor people. but my Johns q genius, and
mayhap he'll sell one Of his inventions yet. =
The carved Cupid seemed to laugh at the
idea, as she gently nodded until she fell
asleep. And what bright dreams she had;
real ships on real water, filed with satin,
Grape and tea. all the way from China.
Then the scene changed and she was walk
ing in Golden California, treading on silver
dollars. Then, as il transplanted by genii.
she was in her own home, just where she
was, and still gazing at the Cupid. The
little fellow seemed to leave his carved
roses and TO hop upon the floor with many
an eltish grimace.
Mrs. Truehart. Mrs. Truehart ~ he cried
in little piping voice. ''how would you
like to find pot of gold y
"a pot OF gold. a pot Of gold!' she re-.
piled, wonderingly. why. man. where
could I get it!"
''Shall tell her, Brownies = and from
every carved rose little brown head ap.
peared nodding violently.
''Yes, yes, she. good; we've seen her Sine
and again patching clothes. darning stock.
ings, and even making little yootsum's
Shoes"
.'Yes, and she doesn't grumble when her
husband comes home late and tells her he
couldn't help it, cried little fellow with
a long beard and a dissipated lock in his
face.
o'Well. then. Mother Truehart." cried
Cupid, all of grin, ''pull away yon set of
shelves. and in the little cupboard behind
them you will find pot of gold; bye-bye."
And Brownies and Cupid all vanished as
she jumped up rubbing her eyes.
'.What if it be true.'' she said. going to.
ward the shelves. "A pot of gold: Oh
then my John could get his inventions pat.
ented. and wouldn't our William look we'll
as gentleman. and Elizabeth, too, would
be able to pick and choose from the best in
q few years.
By this time she was pulling vigorously
at the shelves, and suddenly they slid to
one side and disclosed small cupboard.
She stopped in amazement. almost amount.
ing to horror.
"Nayhap this be a temptation Of the Evil
One. Johns patents might not be liked, so
he'd fret and may be 20 to the bad; and
William. with lots OF money, might take to
the drink and cards, and. instead of the
good, industrious lad he is now, break his
mothers heart" She pushed the shelves
back quickly and, sitting in her big chair.
,ried. mo, no: if there be a pot of gold in
ron cupboard, there let it stay, and never
ct it trouble me or mine!"" She soon
iell to thinking and doing again: Things
,e unequal in this world-the money to the
'ich, the children to the poor; more mouths
o feed-to feed--than food to put-put-."
And now she was fast asleeps but her
lreams did not take her from homes
1t was still Saturday night, and she had
worked hard all day with scarcely mouth
ul of food, for John had lately been paid
n orders that were very unsalable, and
he couldn't hear the children ask for bread
a vain. so had gone without herself, and
,as hungry and unhappy.
"Ah well, if there were less mouths to
aed, one wouldn't be compelled to 60 hun |
ry and wear such shabby clothes" So in |
er dream she went on fretting and COM
isining
'Look!" said the carven Cupid, not !
.ughing now. but sternly pointing to the
w of shoes.
She looked-and the line was broken
here we're vacant places; three pairs of
,oes were gone-Williams, Elizabeth's
NY own grandmother had such dream, with
It the fairy element. and pulling the shelves
fh's was in Bristol, England, after the riots
an during which tame much money VA ~ |
etcd II outofthe Wy plsces