, 1877-08-03
The Boy Hero.

The Boy Hero.
TWAS Oh Saturday morning,the fifteenth
of December, that little Paul Lavere sal
by a low, smouldering fire in the only
apartment OF the cot that had any furnl,
ture In it. He was only thirteen years
of age, though his face had an Older
look. There we're lines of care upon hl
high brow and the neither lip had a pecul'
Jar compression unusual In one OF MS
years. lie was small in stature, but with
much nerve, ard decision of character
that manifested itself in every look and
movement. His eyes were bent on, the
emlers now, and he was in deep thought
Near him, in great arm-c chair, sat his
mother. She was pale and thin, and the
low, deep, hollow-sounding cough thai
ever and anon burst from her throat, told
too plainly there was need for physi'
clan. She was not over five and thirty,
though, like her boy, she looked older
The lines of care and sorrow were deep
and long.
The furniture of the room consisted OF
small table, two common chairs beside
che one in which the widow sat, and one
small bed. The rest of the house was
empty. Nearly all the furniture they
once possessed had been sold by the hus-
band and father before he died, and what
few articles be had left, beside these in
this room, had been sold to pay the rent
Of ornament there was none--unless we
notice the old musket that hung on two
wooden brackets over the door. That
would have been sold long before, had
not Mrs. Lavere clung to it with all her
power OF eutreaty and prayer. It had
been ber fathers musket, and he had
carried it bravely and hOnorably through
the blood-stained fields of Trenton,
Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown
and when dying he gave it to his daugh
ter. The poor woman Clung to that at
the last memento of her better days.
"Paul," spoke the mother, in a weak
faint tone, ''is there no more wood2"
~ can easily get some, mother, when
you are able to spare me. l have some
gathered up by the roadside near the
pond"
"Then you may go now. shall gel
along very we'll until you core back"
So the boy put on his cap, and started
off with the sled. He was gone nearly
au hour, and when he returned he bore
wood enough to last through the rest Of
the day, and during the morrow. A bet
ter ire was soon kindled, and then Paul
moved out the little table, and placed LOAF
of bread on it. He then made some tea,
and when that was done he asked his
mother if she would eat.
"This is ALL" he said. mot another
crumb of food is there in our house. But
let us eat; can beg more. 1 am used
to it now.'
This was bitterly spoken-this last
sentence, aud the widow looked for the
momcnt as though she would chide hel
son for it. But the look quickly passed
away, for she remembered that for many
weary, weary weeks he had supported
her.
1t was toward the middle of the after.
noon that the door of the cot was opened
and two men entered. One of them was
Mr. Notworth, the owner Of the dwell.
ling. He was tall, slim man, with
sharp, angular features, thin, grizzle6
hair, small red eyes, a large mouth, and
narrow, contracted brow. He was &
hard, cruel man; unfeeling in the ex,
treme, and seer ed to know of but ont
incentive to action--and that incentive
was money. The other man was Not
worths tool-a stout, burly clown, ready
TO do anything his master bade him, SC
long as his wages were paid.
"Well, Mrs. Lavere, the other week ha'
gone, and now l want my house." Thus
spoke the landlord, in harsh, impera
tive tone.
"0h, good sir" the widow returned
ciasping her thin, white hands, and rails
ing them toward him, II am not able t.
move now. Let me stay here yet Will,
longer"
"Cau you pay me the rentYn asked
NOtworth, harshly.
''NOt now; but perhaps Paul may fine
some work.
sand why hasn't he found work al
readyi"
Because he could not leave me. sir
I have been very sick, and should hav,
died but for his attention Oh, sir, let Vi
stay
"NO; not another hourl | am not t.
support all the paupers in the town!
have family who wish to move in her,
at once. You can go to the poor house T
"Alasl we must come to that soon
had hoped we might escape that hac
hoped it for my poor boys sake. haC
hoped that health might come back t
me, and that then my boy and mysel