South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-02-18

= soorc. sro.y.

lt was stormy evening, and in one
OF the wild desolate Valleys Of the High
lands three men were walking quickly
that they might reach shelter before
the storm burst upon them i'm ali ;ts fury.
They had travelled thirty miles that day.
ana tho house at which they we're to pass
the night was still ten miles distant
The wind howled among the cliffs Of the
valley, and the lakes Of the snow began
to beat in their faces,
sit will be terrible night, lads, in
the Moray FIRTH" said the foremost
trayslor, strong shouldere,l, broad
chestsd man; i'but what is thst?" said
NE, pointing to = little figure by the side
Of the road.
'sTho figure arose, and came to meet
them. Slow and feeble were the steps.
and as ne approached they saw that it
was boy or about ten years OF age"
80, my pgir bairn1' said Sandy
Wright, what can have taken you here
in a night like this?"
The boy told him that his moShar had
died and left him alone, and that he was
going to Edinburgh to see his friends.
But" added he, sorrowfglly, II am
tired and Gamma walk further, aud I'll
be lost. Pm afraid, in ths snow drift"
That We Wilma, my puir BARN, If
can help it," said the good boatman !;
and, taking the boys hand, he told him
to lean upon him, But the boy was too
much exhausted te walk, though aided
by the strong arm Of his new friend, who.
finding his efforts were in vain, carried
him on his back.
The storm burst upon them in oil its
fgryi aud, half blinded by the thick
snow the travellers lad to grope along
the road and through the snow drifts
| which were blown by the fierce winds
across their path. Still, the brave boat
man pressed ON with his burden. though
his companions, without such load,
were almost worn ont and after many
fall. and stumble, and groap, they ar.
| rived, two hours after dark, at the house
| where they intended to spend the night.
There was an immense peat fire plac.
ed, according TO the custom Of the coun.
| try, in the room, and the inmates were
seated around it.
Thsy made way for the weary travel
crs, and Sandy Wright, unmindlul OF
his own tired limbs, drew near the fire
and began to chafe the hands aud feet
of the boy, who was almost inseEsibie
from cold and fatigue. When life and
warmth were restored to his frozen limbs.
| he shared with his little charge his sup
| per and bed, and took him on his Jour-
ney, Notwithstanding the responsiveness
Of his companions.
The little fellow told him his simple
story. His mother was poor widow,
who had supported herself and her only
child by sewing. When lie was only
six years old he had shcVg love for
reading, and his mother worked early
and late to keep him at school. She as
only eighteen years older than her son ;
and often would she stop in the middle
of her work and, laying her hand on her
breast, ash him what he would do when
she was dead, for her failing strength
told her the day was not far distant
Her fingers grew white and small, and
| size could not sit up as before but when
her son looked at the deepening red OF
her cheeks, he thought she would not
die.
One day, when he brought homo the
first prize from the school, she threw
her arms around him, while With tears
in her eyes she told him that the time
would come when his fathers grand
friends, who were ashamed OF her be.
cause she was poor, would be proud TO
be connected with him.
The mothers faith was strong i'm her
heart, The lad could not go to school.
but staid and Watched by her bedside /;
and they would have starved but for n
! poor pejghboF woman, who had but lie.
tie to spare herself He read to her ev.
cry day two chapters in the Bible. One
dgy when she was very i'll. and two of
/ her neiglbors had come To take care OF
her, she called the boy 10 her bedside,
aud told him that when she was dead he
must 90 to Edinburgh, FOR he bad friends
/ no where else. Her own friends were
there, but they were too poor to 10 much
for him; and his fathers friends we're
there, but thsy wore too grand to own
her, But size told him not to be afraid
/ by the why, for the good God knew all
about him. And then after a fond p.,rt.
ing kiss and burst Of sorrow she babe
him to go to school.
When he came home he found her
lying with white cloth or iIer face. and
the bed sll white, The poor boy cried
oil night and now that she was buriad
out OF his sight, he was travelling to Ed.
inburgh rs she told him TO do; and
folks were kind to him. just as his mo.
Their said they would be. And he had
letters to show him the way to his moth.
er's friends when he reached town for
he could read writing.
And God had put IT into the heart ef
Sandy Wright to be kind TO the poor
orphan. lie was like a father 20 him
during bis journey: he shared with him
his bed, and carried bin on bis back
when the lad was too tired to walk.
On reaching the Queens ferry, san.
dy Wright found that bis money was nj.
most gone, and lie intended 20 cat Che
boy across without paying The ususl
fare. ". "W
When the boat reached shs middle at
the ferry. the gruf looking fsrryman
began 10 collect the fare--passinc nv
the passengers ono by one until no
stood in font Ql che bow.
,'3,nlfa stop before the bow cried
4f~.|..4 ~.