Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-06-24
A True Story.

One cold day in Winter, lad stood at the
outer door Of cottage 10 Scotland. The snow
bad been falling very fast, aud the poor boy
looked very cold and hungry.
"Mayu't T stay, mo'am?" he said to tho
woman who had opened the dcor. "lll work,
cut wood, GO for water, and do oil your er-
rauds."
You may come in at any rate, untiI ny
husband comes home" the woman said
There, sit down by tie fire; you look per-
shing with cold :" and she drew a chair up
to the warmest corner; then suspiciouSly
glaucing a, the boy from the corners OF her
eyes, she continued setting the table for sup
per.
Presently came the tramp Of heavy boots
and the door was swung open with quick
Jerk. and the husband entered, weared with
his day work.
A look Of intelligence passed between Ills
wife aud himself. lie had looked Mt the boy,
but did not seem very well pleasedi but never
theless made him come TO the table, and was
glad to see how heartily he ate his supper
Day after DAY passed, and yet the boy beg
ged to be KEEP, "sn,iI tomorrow SO the good
couple after due consideration, concluded that
as long as he was such good boy, and work
ed willingly, they would keep him.
Onc day in the middle Of Winter, pcddler
who often traded at the cottage, called, and,
after dsposng Of some Of his goods, was pre-
pairing to 90, when he said to the woman:
"You have a boy out there splitting wood,
| see, pointing TO the yard
Yes DO you know him ?"
al have seen him." replied the peddler.
"Where? Who Is he? What is he"
"a Jail bird" aud then the pedder swung
his pack over bis shoulder. THAT boz, young
as he looks, saw in Court myself, and heard
him sentenced ten months You'd do well
to look carefully after him."
Oh there was something 50 dreadful 10 tho
word "ail." The poor woman trembled as
she laid away the things size bad bought Of tho
peddlcr; nor could she be easy I'll she had
called the boy in and assured bin that she
knew that part Of bis history.
Ashamed and distressed, the bog hung down
his head. His cheeks seemed bursting with
the hot blood, and Lis lip quivered
Well" he muttered, bis frame shaking,
there's no use my trying to DO better ; every
body hates and despises me; nobody cares
about ne
Tell me-" said the woman, chow came
you to 60 SO young to that dreadful place p
Where is your mother p
ooh Z" exclaimed the boy with burst Of
grief that was terrible to behold-ob hadn't
no mother ever since was baby II |
only had a mother" be continued While tears
gushcd from bis eyes, 81 wouldn't have been
bound out, and kicked, and cufed, and horse
whipped. wouldn't have been faucy and
got knocked down, aud run away, and then
stole because / was hungry. Oh if I'd only
had mother y
The strength was all gone from the poor
boy, and be sank on his knees, sobbipg great
choking sobs, aud rubbing the hot tearssway
with the sleeves Of his jacket
The woman was a mother, and, though all
ber children slept under the cold sod in the
church-yard, she was mother still. She put
her hand kindly on the head Of the boy, and
told him to look up, and said from that time
he should find in her mother. Yes, even put
her arms around the neck OF that forsaken.
deserted child. She poured from her mother $
heart sweet, kind words-words Of counsel
and Of tenderness. o how sweet was her
sleep that night-bow soft ber pillow She
had plucked some thorns fro1 the path Of a
little SHINING but striving mortal.
That poor boy IS now promising man.
Sis fosier-father is dead. His foster-moiber
is aged and ickly. but she knows no want
The "poor outcast" is her support. Nobly
does he repay the trust reposel in him.
"When my father and mother forsake me-
tic Lord win take nc up.'-Standard Bearer