The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-01-27
From Woods Household Magazine
Coming to Light.

saw-aud as damp and dirty as it was
dark uncomfortable, unwholesome, unit
for humanity to live in, yet two creatures
called this miserable shelter home. There
was ." no place like home" to Granny
Gratz and Little Dick that is, no
pla,e so wrctched; but poverty must put
up with great mauy discomiorts,so these
people put up here, and went iD Tor a
large share.
Granny Gratz was an unhappy old ie-
male, rheumatic. feeble, querulous. There
was something the matter with the setting
of her tongue nature had not adjusted IT
properly, and therefore the words it ut.
tered camc out in all sorts Of cross ways,
for which, of course, Granny Gratz was
not to blame. She was crooked old
stick, guarded and knotty regular how
ever, when it came to whisky, which she
never took otherwise than straight "
Perhaps This was why old Granny Gratz,
so warped in disposition was SO straitened
in circumstances. Her daily meal was
r4e-the extract-which to her was vic.
tuals in drink. With her it was always
supper time, at morning, noon and night,
did she sup, when she had her own way,
her favorite route being the shortest dis
tancc between two points her mouth and
the neck OF bottle
Little Dick had always lived with
Granny, though he was no child of hers ;
he never knew any difference, however, for
/ IL l. ttf,h ha
was her own sou. She whincd away the
triGing sums he earned, and abused him
when he had 10 more to give. His was
a hard life, but he was hardened fellow
aud was well used to Granny's ways. He
was bright. generous, wicked and daring
"A great favorite with the street boys anC
though full of rascality, petted by the po
lice us well, and his shortcomings deal
with not exactly according to law, bu
moro on the Gospel plan-a 'sevcnt,
times indulgeuce-for which favors Dicl
appeared to be truly grateful, though h
brought forth no fruits meet for repent
auce.' Dick Gratz was nobodys fool
Grossly ignorant in some respects, he wa
well POSTED in others, for he was very oh
serving, quick to learn, and. in the rovin
life which he led, he picked up Il grca
deal of information, upon which he oite
pondered when alone. He did apythin
for living sold papers, ran crrand'
blacked boots at times, and when oppoi
t tunty offered, and hungry pressed, h
did not stop for any length Of time
/, covet his ncighbor's goods, but possesse
4 himself Of them as quickly as possible
and as said wares generally consisted {
delicate pastry, he considered his actor
of pi(e)ous nature, and would thus hay
defended himself if called upon
1t was Sunday night. In a corner {
the cellar lay old Granny Gratz, in OF
It of her worst moods. 1t was damp witt
:. out, and the rheumatic had settled a
, over her. Then too, Dick had spent Il
% entire day in other quarters, aud this WI
/ severe sflliction to the old woman, ina
10 much as her favorite article of diet W
lust now no more. 1t was rather mci
\ in Granny to lie there and curse tho
. reeking walls, for they already had
i much to bare but under the circumsta
ces il was not to be expected that the o
woman would be very conisderate.
As the clock struck ten, Dick ere
down the wet, Shiny steps, and enter
} The cold. cherries hole.
A SO yer home at last air ye, ye you
\, tormint p exclaimed Granny why did
ye stay out forever, and leave me to ,
in the darkness An ye knowed v
perishin' for sup O. the bottle. u
raylher hang round the bars and git J
s fill O. gap then lift fgnor for p'or {
- dyin' woman. Me as brought We up
hand, ye spalpeen! Give it here, a
T., git out O. my sight
Here y'are !! said Dick, handling
a bottle, there hain't much this tim
want no coppers; he'd to beg as it "
I'll git directly
No ye won't, neither, git = !
goin' to stay by me, said Granny, as
fiery stuff gurgled down her bliste
throat
5 'All right then, here goes respon'
the boy, striking match and convey
it to small piece of candle. "A fell
a blamed fool to stay in the dark when
ken git lieht, ef its only pinch O. bli
| say, eh Granny? And now to m
the application, said Dick, crouching
the floor, I've been to church all day,
to none o the big steeples and big git''
but to little mission down the street
didn't hear no preachin, Granny, ! c.
1rit a nrin on ainh rnlishnh ainl La