Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-03
Tl1e family Cirele.
CinderS.

CinderS.
TIE FORTUNE CARL FOUND IN TIE ASHES.
How artful the wind was that cold March
morning, hiding away every now and then,
pretending to be quite gone, only to rush
out with IL fearful howl ut such unexpec-
ted moments that Carl was nearly blown
off his feet each time.
But he struggled bravely forward, bend.
Ing his head to the blast, and holding his
brimess hat on with one hand, while he
carried his battered tin pail in the other.
There was not CLEAN Of fire in the
wretched room he had just left and Tony
and Lena, bis little sisters, wrapped in the
old piece OF carpet that served them for
bla kct, were utmost crying with hunger
and with cold
They would have cried outright if Cml
had not kissed them, and said, Never
mind, young uns wait till can give you
ca h II reg lar bang-up lace Handkerchief to
cry on,-Men you may cry as much rs you
please"
Father and mother had died within IL
week OF each other, when February SHOWS
were upon the ground, leaving these poor
child en- without money and without
friends II bud way for even grown-ups to
be left.
SO Carl poor boy, found himself, at ten
years of age, the head of II family.
OF course he became newsboy.
Almost all heads of families ten years
and under, become newsboys.
Twenty-Five cents given him by IN old
woman who sold apples and peanuts, and
who, by the way, was not much better off
than he was himself, started him in bust
mes.
But the business, am sorry to say,
scarcely paid rent, leaving nothing for
clothing, food and fire, three very neccssa-
ry things, b Il home ever so humble,
So every morning. almost us soon as the
day dawned-ani | can tell you it tlawns
very quickly in room where the window
hasn't II scrap Of shade OF curtain-bcfore
he went down town for his stock of morn
ing 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.
| If the weather was AZ al mi d, Tony, the
eldest sister and the housekeeper. went
with HIN, and helped him fill the old pail.
She carried forlorn-l looking basket,
that seemed ashamed of the old piece of
rope that served for its handle, and stop.
ped on her way home ut several houses,
where the servant girls had taken Il fancy
TO the gray-eyed, SHY tile thing,to get the
family ma kuting.
But alas very, rcrY often the supply fell
short of the demand, for the winter had
been very severe one, and eYeryb dy had
uch number Of calls from all sorts of
needy people, that they could afford to give
but little to each one.
This particular March morning Carl
went out alone, wondering rs he went
when " the fortune was going to "turn
up"
For these poor children, shut out from
dolls, lairy-boohs, ana all things hat make
childhood merry and brigh, used to while
away many IN hour, talking of " for
tune which the brother had prophesied
would one day be found in the ashes.
AT different times this dream took differ
ent shapes.
Sometimes it was pocket book, oh! so
fat with grcendacks, sometimes II purse of
gold, sometimes " Il dammit ring:n but
whatever it should prove to be, Carl was
onvinced, felt it in his bones" he said
it woaid be found, and found hidden
among the cinders.
Once he had brought home silver fork,
" scooped, y us he called it in newsboy's
slang, from an ash-hcap in an open lot.
On this the family had lived for three
days.
Once he rescued IL doll. which would
havo been l0rely fit had had head and
at various times there We're scraps of rib
bon, lace and silk, all of which served TO
strengthen the belief that something Won
dcrfn must turn up " ut last.
"Cricky how that old wind does hol
ler," said Carl to himself, us he toiled
along, an it cuts right through me, my
jackets so thin and torn-rd mend it nv
selfif only knew how, AMI somobody'd
lend me u needle and thread.
Don't | wish I'd find the fortune this
morning!
81 dreamt of it last night-dreamt it
was bar of gold, long as my arm and
precious thick, too.
Guess III 90 to that big blr'l afore
them orful high llt houses that's alkus
full of cinders.
Its lucky for us them big bugs d MT
silt their ashes! Ne wouldn't have no
fire if they did, that's what's the matter.n
s. he made his way to the =" big barl,"
hoping no one had been there before him.
and leaning over without looking, put his
cold, red hand into the ashes, but be drew
it out agoin int hurry, for cold us it was
1t had touched something colder.
" llellom cried Carl, "what's that? 1t
don't feel 'zacIly like the bar of gold. and
dropping on his knees, he peeped in.
A dirty little, shaggy, once white, dog
ralsel pair of soft, dark, wislful eyes to
his face.
why! I'm blessed said Carl. in great {
surprise, " Ii it amt dog. Poor little I
beggar! that was his nose felt, an WASH I
ii oold?n a
81 sposo he's got in among the ashes G
70 Keep warmi wot poorly eyes he's got, J.
nst like that woman's wot give me II ten Il
sent stamp for the Tribune The other day, Il
md wouldn't take no change. Poor old r
ellpr! Are you lost" :
The dog had risen to his feet, and still !
cooking pleadingly ut CMl, commenced =
yagging his tail in II friendly manner. IL IL
"Oh you want me to take you home" .
ontinued Carl. ~ can't cause | dunno u
where you live, and my family eats all 81
hey can get themselves they're awful W
gs, they are" and he laughed softly y y
an couldn't board dog nohow." o
But The dog kept on wagging his tail, q.
nd as soon as Carl ceased speaking. Ms 'e
lough grateful for few kind words, il
ckod the cold hand that rested on the ID
de OF the barrel. OF
That dOg-kiss won the poor boy heart es
,mpleicly. you shall 90 with me- Is
} cried impuIsively. "Jest come out of Oh
at barrel till | fill the pail with cnders
nd then well be off lie can have The IN
mes zoe can't crack with our teeth emmy. nj