The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-16

DUG Ino HOSG destitute COuld he induce
to live there, and yet it's barren, il
Kept rooms were always full.
In one OF the looms, lighted only b
small atTlc window. and approache
6y series of ricketty stairways, an
Dark, vermln- infested corridors. woma
lay DYING Of consumption. Fxposur
anc want had brought the disease en-
hurtured 1t so assiduously that deaf
seemed but TO toy With It's victim. Tb
room Was small and destitute of furni
tdre nothing save the low iron bed
stead, upon which reposed the en1aciete,
form of the dying women, ras there t.
relieve the barTa1ness of the apartment
y bent ana broken candIestick stooc
| empty upon the broad, wooden manteI
| piece. The brick fireplace underneath
contained a bed Cf ashes-notbine
more. Through the broken window
sash the winter winds came at will. an6
| found passive unresisting subject fol
their cruel sport on the straw-covered
| cot
The sound of shUfaiug footsteps along
| the corridor at last aroused the woman
from her lethargic condition, and caused
her TO turn her head eagerly towards
The door, IS if expecting some pleasant
arrival. The iron latch was lifted and
the door swung open, admitting the
small form OF little Dan.' He advanced
INTO the room softly, placed his box on
the floor at the head of the bed, and
kneeling down upon II leaned over and
kissed the wan cheek OF the invalid.
saying in a low voice, How do von
feel, mother p The woman, whose ewes
were fastened intently on the face of
her son, murmured, as with a feeble
motion she stroked his dark, curly hair.
Poor Dan, you have been unsuc,
cessful -
" Yes bad luck to-day, mother p
answered the lad, endeavoripg to sneak
cheerfuliy, but unable to suppress the
sob that struggled no from the tender
heart, t0uched to the quick at sight of
ms mothers patient suffering; little
Dams hps quivered painfully for an
instant and then, burrying his head in
the thin cDveFlst, he gave expression to
his feelings by food of tears. "Ob,
mother, he erred, eve are starving" "
The only answer that came from the
lips. of the agOnized mother-herself
nearly beyond the reach of the fortunes
of hunger-was, "My poor child ! nv
poor child - and encircling his neck
with one ar.1, she drew him close to
her, while with her other hand she
sought to cover him with a corner of
the well-wOrn blanket, which constituted
her sole protection from the blasts of
alc that came in through the broken
window.
"No, mother! no!" exclaimed the
little fellow, resolutely starting Cp from
his kneeling posture, and carefully re-
placiUg the blanket over his mother. |
g you mustn't do that. I ara not verv
cold, and besides, [ can buld a fire.
sayirg which be drew from his pocket a |
match and a bit of crumpled paper, /
which he held triumphantly before his |
mothers eyes. Then he proceeded to /
demolish his improbable 5lacking box |
by kicking in the sides and pulling the |
pieces apart with his hands. Soon he |
had quite pile of splinters, ana laying .
them carefully over his bit of paper on /
the dead ashes in the fireplace, he set /
fire to them, and n cracking, cheerful |
blaze sprapg up as the reward for his
pains, Look. mother. isn't that
he exclaimed, turning eagerly
% receive his mothers approbati5n, for
getfUl tOr the moment of all his troubles
n the glowing heat of the burning box
A sad, tender smile rested on the
mothers face, and she was about to
reply, when the door was pushed open, |
and lady's voice Uas heard to say,
81 Mercy on US what place - and then
the dOcr was thrown wide open, and
two richly dressed ladies crossed the |
threshold. It required little observa-
ton 70 tell them that they stood in the
presence of siCRT ess and destitutiOn,
They were two active members of the
PercIvai Square Church Relief society,
md they had come TO seek worthy sub
cots for their Christian charity. Little
Dan got up from the floor, and with
instructive politeness mOtioned for them
% draw nearer to the fire. eve amt
got no chairs :" he said "but we are
70 glad you have come"
Mrs. Jealous and Miss Prim ex-
changed commiserating glances, and the
Ormer, turning to Dams mother, in
Iuired feelingly, Are you in great
iced of anything p
eve have nothing, madam, but what
-Ou see here" was the answer. "My ;
on and myself have not tasted food ]
ince yesterday morning."
" And mother" interposed little Dan,
is very sick"
"This is suffering, indeed !" said
Irs. Jealous to her companion. "We /
lust do something to relieve these peo
lie I"
81 do not want for myself, " proceeded ,
he dying woman "I shall soon be ,
'eyOnd the need of earthly care but /
ay poor boy please take care of him, {
aides please keep him from want !" I
Most assuredly we will, my good ]
and we will help you also," re- t
pOnded Miss Prim, with some warmth.
Mrs. Healous, we must bring this case ,
o the attention OF the society without t
elav." I
eyes, it shall receive attention the :
cry first thing tomorrow, and l am
orry that / have no change with me {
ow, for I suppose you are hungry, my {
title man ?" continued Mrs. Jealous, {
lacing her hand on Dams head.
Yes'm, party hungry" answered
he boy, with a look full OF disappoint I
lent and grief. :
Well, keep up your courage, cheer !
Y responded Miss Prim, as the two :
aides turned to depart, "we will come :
D o-morrow and bring you something" 4;
Little Dan made 10 reply. Long
uherlng had made HIM patient and ,
rave and, a1 the two votaues of char |
" descended the ricketty stairways to I
be street, he silently crept to the head
bis mother, cot, and kneeIing on the +
Oor YEARLY laid his head beside hers l
n the pillowless straw tick.
IN. l
"The me ting will please come to Z
rider - called the dignifed matron who s
ficiated as president OF the regular c
eekly meetings of the Percival Square
hurch Relief society. I
A score or more of fashiOnably attired l
ldies were seated in the comfortably
lrnished parlor of the prosperous {
hurch. The prolonged cold weather I
ad afforded ample opportunities to the
lembers of the society to pursue their
haritable missions, and each lady had '
ONE interesting narrative to tell rela- Z
i've to the suffering caused by poverty l
4 the lower regions of the large city. l
" At our last meeting, ladies" spoke /,
be president, "a resolution was adopted |
rovlding for a systematic plan of char !
table work. The city was divided into
and to each member was as I
igued one district. with the understand I
ng that she should confine herself to
!, % v,ar+icularIv dafiuad fa1J OF 2Cllpr