Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-20
Red Wlnc--.A True Story.

Red Wlnc--.A True story.
1t was growing dark in the city streets; |
men and women hurried along, as If eager to |
reach comfortable homes: the horses seemed |
to pull the heavy wagons with more willing |
ness than usual, as if they too knew that the |
days work was over, and enjoyed the pros
pect of rest. The lamplighters were going |
their rounds and trying to make up for the |
lost daylight. Little children were safe and |
warm at home
An but one, perhaps. A little boy stood |
on the deserted sidewalk, close to a great |
window Of plate glass, through which he
gazed with rapt face The picture which |
he looked at was a beautiful one. A great
room with painted ceiling overhead, and
chandelier which seemed to make real sun
shine. The walls were covered with fine
paintings. \ marble table, heaped with de-
licious food, stood near the center of the
room. The bright light struck through the
great decanter. and made big crimson stain
on the white hand of gentleman who sat
at the table reading newspaper. A large
diamond ring on one finger seemed to wink
and blink at the little boy outside. al wish
he would look up" the child was thinking.
But though he waited and watched the
man did not move for a long time. Then
he flung the paper down, and reached out
! the hand with the diamond for a wine-glass.
which he filed and drank. never once look
ing towards the window.
Please, sir"
That was all the boy said. lie had stepped
from the street into the wide hall then,
without stopping to knock, he had opened
the great door which led into the gentle
mans room. On the threshold of the saloon
he stopped, frightened at what he had done.
"What is it. my small man ?"
Mr. Arthur Leonard had pleasant smile
which came easily to his handsome face /;
but the child shranb back although he
looked into the big brown eyes as if he saw
something there he had been looking for a
great while.
"You came to beg suppose" and the
gentlenans hand went readily Into his
pocket.
"Oh, no, sir, never thought of that.
wanted meau-please sir, will 90 now"
lie moved back awkwardly, but Mr.. Leon
ard stopped him with gesture. The child's
face interested him. His manner, too, at
first SO eager. now so embarrassed, had
aroused his curiosity.
You are cold" he said noticing that the
child shivered and that his garments were
thin and poor.
lie rose, took the boy by the hand and led
him to the CRATE fire which was dancing on
the hearth-a big, jolly fire, which seemed
trying to light up the room and make the
. chandelier notice how big and bright it was
Mr.. Leonard did not seem 10 think il queer
for poor little boy with patched clothes to
sit in one of the crimson satin arm-chairs
big enough for a throne. lie drew up one
for himself opposite.
. Are you hungry ?" he asked. al will
give you something to eat, and little wine
will warm you up
ooh, no, sir" and the child shrank fur
Their back into the big chair.
p You will tell me your name, at least -
I Yes, sir. My name is Eddie Boynton
/ and am ten years old"
p "Ah 2"
/ Mr.. Leonard was smiling now, as he saw
4 the boys courage coming back
4 a" You will not be angry with me, sir ?"
y "Angry why in the world should | b
angry with you z"
i :" didn't know but you might, sir, if
n said what | wanted to-"
- "Never fear, Eddie; | am anxious t
:" know what you have to tell me"
q The little boy stretched his little thin
4 hands, red with the cold, out toward tn,
:. glowing fire, and said
% " | work in the dye-house now, and get
e good deal of money-a dollar a week"
~ Mr.. Leonard could hardly help laughing
The wine he had offered the child cost NOR
Il than that
q. " / come past this bigwindow every nigh
n on my way home. | shan't come again
a though, because we are going TO move away
~ | like to look in here, because it is so warn
- and pleasant, and because You are sittin
h.. L..,r Al
What a strange child' Mr.. Leonar
a. was thinking.
" He was so handsome and tall" went o
# the little fellow, looking back into the fir,
10 light. d" He wore nice clothes, too, hk
r. yours; aud we lived in great big hous,
In most as big as this. | used to sit next {
n him at the table, and he gave me that t
h. drink, pointing to the wineglass. Alothe
-, would cry sometimes but he would XII,
. her, and tell her that good wine would max
IA me strong and handsome. One day he wen
81 away for a long time, and mother cried a
nj the while he was gone. When he cam
,g back he struck her, and then fell down o
Il the floor. ! screamed, because | thought h
re was dead. The black man, who drove tn
10 horses, came up stairs and helped mother t
IN get him to bed. She said he was sick II
used TO scream and fight if any one wer
ia near him. 1t was the red wine that mad
him so, mother said. And then one Nigh
al he died, and there was great funeral. A
nj ter that mother packed up our clothes, an
went to live where she could earn som
or money. We've only got two little room
,g now. Mother sews on a machine. Som
- times she cries all night, | guess"
at lie had been talking very fast, but stoppe
#. suddenly.
Mr.. Leonard moved uneasily.
ST "This was what you wanted to tell me
va 90 Yes, sir. Every time | come by III
window and see you sitting here, you MAX
II me think of my father and ! wondered
hi you had any little boy at home and how
and his mother would feel if you should d
-e. because of the red wine' and then the teal
70 came, and Eddie Boynton slid down froi
the big chair and stood beside Mr.. Leonar
mo- who had turned his face away. Eddie wo
ry dered if the gentleman was crying, too. Il
i9g could not see the big, brown eyes, for h
head was dropping upon his breast.
-" "I'm going home, now, sir. Mother wi
have my supper all ready and be frightene
ps if don't come" and before Mr.. Leonar
Oh reused from'his painful reverie, the child ha
slipped from the warm, CHEEKY room, an
% was running down the dark street, home
= his waiting mother.
20 In all the years 10 come, Arthur LeonaI
4 and Eddie Boynton, man and boy, may new
a.. meet again. The room in the luxuriol
. clubhouse is deserted the fire is out, Il
IN room is dark, the heavy curtain drawn
nj the big window but in beautiful hon
~ the brown eyes look lovingly at sweet W
.lv man, and TO the rosy boy who hangs abo
be his neck the father whispers God BILE
Of you, my child, and keep us from the destru
he ton of the red wine, C0agregaiionaiis'.
TIA
nl,o naL.