Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-10-27
CINDERS.


How artful the wllld was that cold
March morning, hiding away every now
and then. pretending 10 be quite gone,
only to rush out with q fearful howl ut
such unexpected moments that Gail was
nearly blown off his feet each time.
But he struggled bravely forward,
bending his head to the blast, and hold
ing his brimless hat on with one band,
while he carried his battered tinpail in
the other
There was not gleam of fire in the
wretched room he mad juSt left; and
Tony and Lena. his little sisters.
wrapped in the old piece of carpet that
served them for blanket. were almost
CRYING with hunger and with cod.
They would have cried outright If
Carl had not kissed them, and said,
"Neyer mind. young uns--wait till L can
give you each Il sreglar bang-ltp. lace
handkerchief to cry on-then you may
cry as mulch as you please"
Father and mother had died within a
week of each other, when February 8
SHOWS were upon the ground. leaving
these three poor children without money
and without friends-a bad way for even
growI-ups to be lett.
So Carl poor boy, loIind himself. ais10
Years of age. the head OF Il family.
Of course he became newSbOy.
Almost all heads of families ten years
and under become newSbOyS.
Twenty-Five cents given linn by an old
woman who sold apples AMI peanuts,
and, who, by the way, WAS not much
better off than he was himself, started
him i'm business. - s.fs -s-ss 80
But the business. am sorry to- say,
scarcely paid the rent. leaving nothing
for clothing. TODD and fire--;hree very
necessary liings--be home eyer so
humble.
So every morning, almost as soon as
the LAY dawned-and can tell you day
dawns very quickly in room where the
window hasn't a scrap of shade or cur
tain-before he went down town for his
stock of morning papers, Carl started
out to bring home the family fuel.
This consisted Of whatever sticks and
bits of wood he could find lying about
the streets, and whatever cinders and
pieces of coal he could pick from the ash
barrels and boxes.
Ii the weather WAS at all mild, Tony,
the eldest sister, aud the hOusekeeper,
went with hiin, and helped him ill the
old pail.
She carried forlorn-looking basket,
rope that served for its handle, and
stopped oil her way home at several
houses, where the servant girls had ia
ken fancy to the gray-cycd, shy little
thing to get the family marketing.
But alas very often the supply fell
far short OF the demand, for the winter
had been Il very severe one, and every
body had such IL MIN Der of calls from all
sorts of needy people, that they cOfild af-
ford to give but little 10 each one.
This particular March morning Carl
went out alo e. wondering as lie went
when 1.-The fortune" was going to '.turn
up."
For these poor children, shut out from
dolls, fairy books, ami all things that
make childhood merry and bright, used
10 while away many ALI hour talking of
"a fortune" which the brother had
prophesied would one day be fonnd in
line ashes.
At different times this dream took diff
frrelt shapes.
Sometimes it was Il pocket book, oh
SD fat with greenbacks, sometimes Il
purse of gO!u, sometimes ~ dammit
ring; but, whatever it should prove to
be, Carl WAS convinced, 'fclt it in his
boues," he said, it would be found, and
found hidden among the cinders.
Once he had brought home 4 silver
fork, ''scoope'l," as he called it in news
boys slang, from az asI-heap i'll all
open lot.
On this fork the famiy had lived for
three days.
Once he r.. letl doll, which would
have been lovely if it had had a head
and at various times there were scrips of
ribbon, lace and silk. all of which served
10 strengthen the belief that something
wonderful must turn up" at last
"Cricky how that old wind does hol
ler,'' said Carl TO himself, as he toiled
along, san it cuts right through me. my
Jackets so thin an torn-I'd mend it
myself if | only knew how, and some
bOdy'd lend me a needle and thread
Don't / wish I'd find the fortune this
morning. dreampt of it last night
dreampt it Was bar of gold, long as my
arm, ard precious thick, too, Guess Ill
go to that big barl afore them awful
high flat hOuses-that's allus full of Gin
ders. It's lucky for us them big bugs
don't slit their ashes. We wouldn't
have no fire if they dii-that's what's
the matter"
SO he made his way TO the "big bar'l,"
hoping no one had been there before
him, and, leaning over without looking,
put his cold, red hand in the ashes, but
he drew it out again i'm hurry, for, cold
as it was, it had touched something
colder.
"Hellop' cried Carl, s.what's that? 1t
DON'T feel 'zactly like the bar of gold,"
and, dropping on bis knees, he peeped
in.
A dirty little, shaggy, once white dog,
raised pair OF soft, dark, wistful eyes to
his face.
why! I'm blessed" said Carl, in great
surprise, IF it amt a dog. Poor little
beggar! that was his nose l felt, an
wasn't it cOld?'' -e'
Il s'pose he's got in among the ashes
to keep warm wOt poOty eyes he's got
just like that womans wot give me a
ten cent stamp for the Tribune the other
day, and wouldn't take no change. Poor
old Teller! Are you lost 20
The dog had risen to its feet, and still
looking pleadingly at Carl, commenced
wagging its tail in friendly manner.
"Oh! you want me to take you home,n
continued Carl. Il can't, cause | dunno
where you live, and my family eats all
they can git heirselyes-they're awful
pigs, they are" and he laughed softly,
IAN couldn't board dog, n0how."
But the dog kept on wagging his tail,
and as soon as Carl ceased speaking, as
though grateful for even few kind
words, it licked the cold hand that rest
ed on the side of the barrel.
That dog kiss won the poor boys
heart completely. sYou shall go with
me-" he cried, impulsively. jest come
out OF that barrel till fill this pail with
cinders, and then we'll be off, He kin