Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-02-03


soldier husband and father came often, and
at length a letter in an unknown hand told
the young wife that she was widowed, aud
the little Mamie, who had never known a
fathers caresses, and Sammy, our little
hero, that they were fatherlcss.
Then followed the struggle between labor
and want, in which want often gained tho
supremacy, yet with the few dollars monthly
supplied by Government. and her own
meagre earnings She had managed TO keep
her little ones at home, although many had
repeatedly urged her to place them with
some good family, whore they might be
more comfortably provided for and educated.
Sammy had resolutey refused TO accept
new shoes until Mamie had first been proy-
ded with pair, and those Of my little read
ers who have never known what it is 10 90
cold and thinly clad, can hardly realize how
seli-sacrifcing il was for the noble little fel-
low to insist upon Mamie being first supplied
As ! said before, conflict was going on
in the breast Of the child the mother read
| it in his changing features, and her heart
yearned for her boy.
IL will 60, mother" he said at length.
4" | am glad sister Mamie has nice warm
shoes, and as you have some, my turn will
come next"
TIalloo, Sam Patch what's the price Of
leather ?" shouted John Dorm. II say,
Bob, his shoes are happy see EN- grim" and
the two tall, well-dressed boys laughed up
roariously at this poor display Of wit, while
the little fellow, although stung to the quick
! by the heartless taunts, walked quickly on
in the direction Of the church, the boys fol
lowing and ridiculing his ragged shoes and
patched coat.
Sammy's neatly mended clothes never
seemed so shabby before, and the white toes
never peeped out so frightfully plain as now.
lie was really unhappy He almost wished
he had stayed at home.
A light shower of snow had fallen the
night before, which the wind had blown
close under the edge Of the white paling,
and suddenly John cried out, See here, see
what I've found and he picked up, half
covered with the snow, pocket-book.
Were IN luck to-day, sure said Bob
wonder who lost it." Sammy had also
stopped to see what the boys had found, and
! he said, Perhaps the owners name is in
side Look and see'
John acted upon the suggestion, and
Wm. Bisbee " was several times written
upon the papers. and was also marked upon
the cover thus removing all doubts as TO the
owner of the book and its valuable contents
/
run home now and get some new boots in
the morning." and John handed a note
toward Sammy. The child shrunk back.
Surely you will return it 10 Mr. Bisbee,"
he said.
"Surely we shall not; he is rich enough
now--owns the biggest store in town. A
| likely storyl Wen divide even up, and say
nothing about it," returned John Dorm.
"'Twould be the same as stealing and |
would not touch cent Of it no sooner than
| would 90 into the store and steal his
| goods, said Sammy, with a very earnest face.
"Very WELL" replied John the less you
/ take, the better share for us; but let me catch
| you telling about it and III" He did not
say tchd, he would do, but he shook his fist
defiantly, while a fierce light burned in the
eyes Of the bad boy.
| Sammy walked quickly away, and was
soon in his class.
His lesson, so well learned was but indif-
ferently recited, for he kept thinking of
those boys and that pocketbook and he tried
to think what he ought to do whether he
should 90 directly 10 Mr. Bisbee and tell
him, or to the fathers of the boys, but finally
decided to wait and ask mother.
lie was sure she would know Just what
would be best to do.
There had been, although they knew it
not, silent spectator to this scene. Screened
| from observation 10y the olose-growing ever
| greens stood Mr.. Weston, the new minister,
aud he had seen and heard all distinctly.
After dismissing the congregation he came
up to little Sammy, and taking him by the
hand, his ragged shoes notwithstanding, be-
gan to talk TO him in a very friendly manner
lie asked him his name, where he lived
and in fact before they separated he learned
much of the child's simple history, and when,
in n very kindly tone, he bade "good-by,"
he said, "Ask your mother if you may come
10 see me tomorrow evening. | have
something that | wish to say to YOU" and
again bidding him "good-by," he left him
standing alone, wondering what the new
minister could possibly want to say to him.
The next evening Sammy was promptly
at the house of his new friend, who received
him kindly, and after few moments spent
in pleasant conversation he asked, "Would
you not bike to earn some money to help your
mother 2"
"Oh, | would like to so much; but what
can do ?" and the child's face was radiant
with animation and delight, for he felt that
the new minister was about to help him
solve that difficult problem that he had puz-
zled over so long and so earnestly.
lie had often got little odd job TO do, but
it did not last long and then he was such a
Lnle boy that men did not want to pay much
for his services.
"Well will tell YOU what YOU can do.
Mr.. Bisbees errand boy has gone away to
school, and he wants TO get good trusty
boy to fill his place. | overheard your con
versation yesterday with those wicked boys
about the ragged shoes and the pocketbook,
and thought that little boy who could re-
sist evil when the temptation was so great
was really noble little man, and as | had
heard Mr. Bisbee say only the evening before
that ne wanted sihall BOY 70 90 errahds,
,hougnt cou,u saieiy reeon'ilenu you ior
honesty ana nave seen nm to-day ana IN
formed MN oil the matter oil the pocket
pook, anu also secured ,he situation iof YOU
lou arc 10 get iout uoiiats week 10 oeglh
i;,tl. T' man % "''' you '''''" Vi '"''' my
~ So,'S,, s"u oo,,l1 har,l,, ro,i;,a ha. aa
not dr"a,nin@ F"nr dolIar, ',as's Vel ~ anJ ""
az, III ",,a Sig;no, ,ba hanS oT H. ;,'J i,'ei
s.;d g.; ,'i' ;at AZ ~ ,I, iu ~ LIE n'i''
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