Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-05-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
A TRUE STORY.

* NE cold day in Winter, lad stood at the
outer door of a cottage in Scotland. The
snow had been falling very fast, and the poor
boy looked very cold and hungry.
"Mayn't stay, ma'am?" he said to the
woman who had opened the door an work,
cut wood, go for water, and do all your er-
rauds."
''You may come in at any rate, until my
husband comes home," the woman said
''There, sit down by the fire you look per-
ishing with the cold" and she drew chair
up to the warmest corner; then, suspiciously
gIancing at the boy from the corners of her
eyes she continued setting tho table for sup
per.
Presently came the tramp of heavy boots,
and the door was swung open with quick
jerk, and the husband entered, wearied with
his days work
A look of intelligence passed between his
wife and himself He had looked at the boy,
but did not seem very we'll pleased he never
theless made him come to the table, and was
glad to see how heartily be ate his supper.
Day after day passed, and yet the bov
good couple, after due consideration, con ncluded
that, as long as he was such a good boz, aud
worked so willingly, they would keep him.
One day, in the middle of Winter, ped
dler, who often traded at the cottage, called,
and, arrer dtsposfug or sume or his eoutis, was
preparing to go, when he said to the woman ::
"You have boy out there splitting wood.
see" pointing to the yard.
''Yes; do you know him?"
''l have seen him." replied the peddIer.
where? Who is he I? What is he p"
ga Jail bird ;" aud then the pcddle swung
his pack over his shoulder. "That boy, young
as he looks, l saw in court myself, aud heard
him sentenced ten MONTHS You'd do we'll
to look carefully after him."
Oh there was something so dreadful in
the word 'jaii" The poor woman trembled
as she laid away the things she had bought of
the peddler; nor could she be easy till she
called the boy in and assured him that she
knew that dark part of his history.
Ashamed and distressed, the boy hung
down his head His cheeks seemed bursting
with the hot blood, and his lip quivered
swell, he muttered, his frame shaking,
''theres no use in my trying to do better
everybody hates and despises me; nobody
cares about mo-" rla
-"Tell me-" said tho woman, show came
you to go, so young, to that dreadful place
Who're is your mother z" as
"Oh !" exclaimed the boy with burst of
grief that was terrible to behold-''oh !
hadn't no mother ever since l was n baby T.
II | only had a mother, he continued. while
tears eushed from his eyes, 81 wouldn't have
been bound out, and kicked and cuffed and
horse-whipped l wouldn't have been saucy
and got knocked down. and run away, and
then stole because was hungry. Obi ifTd
only had mother" ...-
The strength Was all gone from tho poor
boy, and he sank on his knees, sobbipg great
choking sobs, and rubbing the hot tears away
with the sleere of his jacket. a..9sa-
The woman was a mother, and, though all
her children slept under the cold sod in tie
church.yard. she was a mother still. She
put her hand kindly on the head of the boy,
and told him to look up. and said from that
time be should find in her n neither. Yes,
even put her arms around the neck of that
forsaken, deserted child. She poured from
her mothers heart sweet, kind words-words
of counsel and of tenderness. Oh how
sweet was her sleep that night-how soft her
pillow She had plucked some thorns from
the path of little SHINING but striving mortal.
That poor boy is now a promising man
His foster-fsther is dead. His foster-Dother
is aged and sickly, but she knows no want
The "Poor outcast" is her support. Nobly
does he repay the trust reposed in him.
When my father and mother forsske me,
the Lord will take me NJ"
The Standard Bearer.