The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-02-02
MI isc ellane O III 8.
Both Alike.

Without home, without friends, without
money-poor Charley WAS alone in the
world. He had never known fathers
care, for strong drink had made that father
worse than a brute before it sent him to Il
drunkard's grave he had never known u
mothers love. for her last feeble smile was
given to him in his first hour-his mother
was dead. And so Charley had been get
ting his living how he could, and very hard
he found it to live ut all.
Charley had never been taught to read {;
and no one had taught him to look up to
the Great Father in Heaven, and yet.
strange as it may seem, Charley had the
fear of doing wrong within him, a shrink
ing from those rough associates whose
lives had been in dens of vice and prison
cells He could starve and beg, but he
could not steal and when the times were
all the worse with him, there was something
always kept him from that.
Sometimes he looked ut the quiet church
es with a wonder, curious to know what
could induce 80 many to flock together {;
and peeping in sometimes, when the beadle
was not looking, to listen to the solemn
music, or to the voice of the preacher,
whose language had no meaning for him.
In the summer time Charley Jared the
best but when winter came, with frost
and snow, and the cold bleak winds, he
suffered much-how much, those who have
always been warmly clothed. well fed and
comfortably housed, cannot think.
Well, it was winter time-cold, bleak.
dreary-a time for roaring fires and snugs
rooms, and Charley was very wretched.-
He had not tasted food all day, ard there
seemed but small prospect of tasting any
that night. He had stood with misable
crowd outside workhouse, hoping he
would find shelter and some bread, hut
the wards were full, and there was no
room; so he turned away and faced the
cold, bleak wind, again wondering what
would become of HIM, and of what use he
was in the world.
~ don't see what use l am to nobody,
nor don't know what use nobody amt t.
me. suppose if was dead, it would be
about the best thing for me. You don't
feel the cold in the grave, and you are not
cold or thirsty. Suppose were to die to-
night2" He was talking to himself in
low voice, ami making his way down
narrow lane at half run. "Suppose
were to die somewhere tonight, what
then 2"
Just as he said this he heard voice
close to him saying "Suppose we were
both to die somewhere tonight, what
then 2"
He looked up, and saw by the gas-light
a tall, handsome looking gentleman in u
cloak.
Surprise was the first effect upon the boy,
the next hope of assistance.
"Spare Il copper, sir; have not had
morsel OF bread since yesterday"
"Poor child; take this'--the gentleman
placed shilling in his band-'bu tell
me how it is you and are so much alke2"
you and alike, sir T. the boy answer
ed staring ut him in surprise.
"Yes, alike. l heard you saying to
yourself am no use to anybody, nobody
is any use to me;' feel the same, and sup
pose we die to night, what then; would
the world miss either of us2"
at would not miss me SIR" said the
boy. except it might be glad to get rid
oil me, but"
1t might miss me, you think; no such
thing, boy, have no friends, no purpose
in life; ] am of no use to anybody, and
nobody is of any use to me-"
Aho IVY io'hCo up into tnc Bcutieillun
face and thought he saw something in the
flushed check and glitter of the eye which
he had observed in cuarser and stronger
form when his own father had been spend.
ing his earnings ut the public house; he
concluded, and not without reason, that
the gentleman had been drinking. He
was frightened and wished to get away.
Thank you, sir; thank you, and bless
you for your kindness, you have saved u
poor boy from starvation, and 30, if may
make 81 bold, you are of use to somebody"
"Ahl" said the gentleman, in IL strange
moody way, save you from starvation,
that you may live little longer to plague
the world-thieve. lie, swear-eh 3"
IL hope not, SIR"
why should you hope mote Nobody
in the world cares for you, you care for
nobody in the world"
j should like to care for somebody, and