The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-07-26
The Boy Hero.

of December, that little faui LaVere SAT
by low, smouldering fire in the only
apartment of the cot that had any furn.-
ture in it. He was only thirteen years
of age, though his face had an older
look. There were lines of care upon his
high brow and the neither lip had pecul-
lar compression unusual III one OF his
wears. He was small in stature, but with
much nerve, and decision of character
that manifested itself in every look and
movement. His eyes were bent on the
embers now. and he was in deep thought.
Near him, in great armchair, sat his
mother. She was pale and thin, and the
low, deep, Understanding cough that
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
q small table, two common chairs beside
the one in which the widow sat, and ore
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 chung to it with all her
power of entreaty and prayer. 1t had
So c1-at no 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 chung to that as
the last memento of her better days.
"Paul," spoke the mother, in weak,
faint tone, ''is there no more wood?"
IL can easily get some, mother, when
you are able To spare me. have some
gathered up by the roadside near the
pond"
Then you may go now. I shall get
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
an hour, and when he returned he bore
wood enough to last through the rest of
the day, and during the morrow. bet
ter fire was soon kindled, and then Paul
moved out the little table, and placed a 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
csumb OF food is there in our house. But
let US eat; can beg more. am used
e il now"
This was bitterly spoken-this last
sentence, and the widow looked for the
moment As though she would chide her
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 a tall, slim man, with
sharp, angular features, thin, grizzled
hair, small red eyes, large mouth, and
q narrow, contracted brow. He was a
hard, cruel msu; unfeeling in the ex-
trcme, and seered to know of but one
Incentive to action-and that incentive
was money. The other man was Not
worth's tool-a stout, burly clown, ready
to do anything his master babe him, so
long rs his wages were paid.
"Well, Mrs. Lave.e, the other week has
gone, and now / want my house." Thus
spoke the landlord, in harsh, impera-
tive tone.
"Oh, good SIR" the widow returned
clasping her thin, white hands, and rails
ing them toward him, II am not able t.
move now. Let me stay here yet while
longer"
"Cau you pay me the remit" asked
Notworth, harshly.
mot now; but perhaps Paul may finc
some work.
"And why hasn't he found work al
readya'
because he could not leave me, sir
have been very sick, and should have
died but for his attention. Oh, sir, let u'
stay
mo; not another hourl | am not q
support all the paupers in the town!
have family who wish to move in here
at once. You can GO to the poor-house J
"Alasl we must come to that soon!
had hoped we might escape that had
hoped it for my poor boys sake. had
hoped that health might come back e
me, and that then my boy and myself