Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-24
The Little Beggar.

A ragged, sad-eyed boy, aged nine or tor
stopped me ON the street the other day, an
said
81 haven't had anything 10 eat this Who'll
/ day Won't you please give me two centsY
gave it 10 him. Ia have given him th
money, If it had been necessary TO paw
my hat.
DO You let impostors swindlc you in thi
manner 2" inquired an acquaintance, wild
had seen every phase of human life. Med
women and children have swindled him, q
sought TO; people have lied to him; hi
money has been given 10 whining, lying ya
grants who told direiul tales of distress, and
he ought to be able TO correctly read huma
nature.
I'm bet that boy is a professional beg
gar" continued my friend, chuckling ct III
idea of my being swindled
None OF US care for the loss Of a shin
plaster on the street, while every one feels
vexed and annoyed at the idea Of being
swindled out Of a single penny. colId not
say that the boy was not a swindler, aud yet
| would have divided my last shilling with
him.
"WhyY"
al told my friend why, and will tellyou.
Nnu ual lasu 9oaii W"''i ''e "i'0 ''"V
blew the snow over me house roofs md
around the corners III pIihuii,g clou'r' ma
when the frosty arr cut ones lace I'M a
knife boy o. ten came up 70 me as "aied
ior the car lie was thlnly olad; ms lace 'e-
trayed hunger and suffering ana III noun
iul voice he pleaded $50.
I'm hungry and cola .r
why don you go nome asked
maven any ~,
" Haven't you any relatives 2
Not ore .,
IioW long nave you been mere
Three weeks. 49,.
Inc noy spoke III that draw whlcn po-
iessional beggaIs assume / beheNed, TO-
that had seen ms lace on the streets tine
and again hardened my neaTt ana sad
BOY ] know YOU ana II ! eaten you
asking any one lor money again. Il hFe
You arrested
lie moved away quickly ] argued mat
TINS proved ms gullt' forgetting that nome
less wall might evlnce fear when entirely
innocent.
Five hours later, whom night had come
and the wind had grown to a fierce gale the
boy halted me again as | plunged through
the snow drifts. did not see him until he
called out:
"Mister, I'm almost starved and I'll
freeze 10 death If | can't get some place to
slesrl"
The same thin. ragged clothes. hardly
comfortable enough for June weather-the
same whine TO his voice. | felt like giving
him money but the fear that he had been
sent ont bv his parents TO beg. restrained
and anpered me, Catching him by the
arm. | yelled ont
o See here. hoy II Won don't own nm
that you're living to me. I'm take YOU to the
station -
Thronoh the binding storm | saw hi,
white face grow paler. and he cried back
"Don't take me-don't Yes. was living.
released him and he hurried away Will,
I walked on. aattering myself that | haC
nlaved sbarn pame. and done the generou,
nubro a good tnrn.
An hour later. when the night had grow
still wilder and colder. some one knocked a
nv door. II was timid knock. and won
aeieo ~iio uoo1i l.-'. se..' e,.iii .''s...i .,
such night. When | opened the door, tina
same boy was on the step, his face blue witt
cold his whole form shiyerlng, and look o
desperation IN his eyes.
flease, mister lie began, but stopped
upon recognizing me.
was puzzled to know why he shoul'
have followed me home-why he had selected
me for a victim and trailed me so persist
emily. | might have argued that the storm
had driven people off the streets, and tina
the freezing, starving boy had IN his despera
tion called at the house but didn't. Hac
1t been any other person asking charity
would have given promptly and freely. Bu
! was angry at hlS trailing me-angered tha