St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-01-24

The place which the poor boy had
called room, could hardly be entitled |
to that dignity. A thrifty farmer
would be unwilling that the least fas-
tidiOus of his dumb animals should be
confined to so gloomy a place, and be
obliged to breathe air so dank and
fetid. They approached the corner,
secured to the little apple-boy and his
brother by paying twenty-five cents a
week. The little fellow was lying fast
asleep on Il pile of shavings. The de-
clining sunbeams had found the open
ing, crossed by an iron grating, which
iightened this subteranean DWELLING
dungeon in everything but name-and
fell directly on the child's head and
face. How so great degree of beauty
could be preserved in the midst of so
much squalOr, WAS il mystery to MIR.
Waterson. But it was, at best, only a
sickIy kind of beauty. The little arms,
one of which pillOwed the cheek. had
none of the plumpness which gathers
dimples to the elbows, and spreads over
them rosy freshness, such as ought to
belong to early childhood. The blue
veins of the temples had il weak tiaccid
look, and the face, much paler than 1t
should have been, us well as the gener-
al attitude of the whole figure, was ex-
pressive of that languor arising from
debility, rather than that occasioned 10y
the gentle abandonment Of healthful
| slumber.
His clothing was neither ragged nor
dirty, and his little bare feet, as well as
the other portion of his skin exposed to
view, we've perfectly clean. The curly
hair, too. which was mingled with the
curly shavings, was us bright, soft and
silky as the golden ringlets pillowed on
down in the palaces of The rich. james
stood by the side of Mr.. Waterson, and
silently looked on his sleeping brother.
There was something which expressed
some pride us well us pleasure, when he
broke the silence, saying =
''You see, sir. if | have to wear rag
ged, dirty clothes, that Willie's are
clean and whole
"But how does it happen ?" said Mr..
Waterson.
80, pay the woman that lives here
for washing and mending 'em. Some
times | have to go without my dinner
or supper for the sake of doing it, but
Willie is so good and so pretty, could
| IIpb btait w StC illill VII -
comb and brush his hair every morning
Doesn't it look beautiful, sirY Here's
his new cap; see what pretty tasSel
One week, not long ago, | had uncOm-
mon good luck. 50 bought it for him.
He had nothing before but an old torn
hat that WAS too big for him, and kept
dropping down over his ewes. You see,
} too. for such us us, he has Il good bed
4 | IL. 81 l.,,
boards myself, but | get the incest
sottest shavings | can for Willie. Some
: sir, are IL great deal softer and niceI
than others"
| And shouldn't you like to have clean
, clothes and Il nice cap ?"
80, yes, sir; but cant earn enough
to get them for both of us, and | much
= rather that Willie should have then
than to have them myself. o, sir, what
; shall | do p said he, starting and snatch
; ing up his basket of apples; 1.-THE wO-
man that lives here is come-I heard
, her speak. She's coming down the
= steps, must run and try to sell some
/ more apples. for it don't get enough to
; pay her she'll turn Willie and me int
; the street"
: Before Mr. Waterson had time t,
iIiNNNI- lilt llAtlt bON udl ttt
l forward, and attempted to pass the wo
D man, who, pcrceiving his intention
placed herself before the steps and pre-
l vented his egress. She was coarse
4 untidy- looking woman, and said, Will,
she held him by the arm =
''Iou don't get off so easy. Mayb,
you've forgot It's Saturday, and that
the money is due me for Your lodging
1 I, l..
, luck sellim' apples every day this week
l and the worst of all to-day, so that
. haven't got enough to pay you by six
pense. If you will let me go, perhap,
/ can earn the SiXpence before dark, ant
enough bread tor Wilie's supper he
2 sides"
: ''Well, give me the shillin', and IL
1 let you go. 1t amt safe to trust boy
, with money that's another person.
honest due that don't know no bette
than to buy caps with silk tassels an,
gold bands"
Mr.. Waterson, who having, during
this collOquy, stood in the shadow %
: the damp wall, had been unseen by tn,
woman, now stepped forward.
"Twenty-tive cents is what the DO.
+ owes you | believe" said he, addressing
her.
EYES," she replied, without manifest
: ing the least surprise at his sudden ap
pcarance, 'and Il weeks lOdgin' for two
boys with IL decent woman like me, tina
' can be had Tor Il quarter, is dirt cheap
"That is commodity which ought
! to be very cheap" thought Mr.. Water
son, looking round him, and wondering
at the same time how James contriveG
to keep the corner where he and his
t brother slept so comparatively clean.
As these thoughts passed through
] his mind, he handed twenty-five cents
to James, and told him to pay her
With sigh expressive of the relief il
5 gave him to have the means to cancel
what to him was Il serious debt, and q
"Thank'e sir" to Mr.. Waterson, made
eloquent by the heartfelt manner ir
which it was spoken, he Obeyed the
2 command.
, "Come with me-" said Mr.. Waterson
as he left the cellar.
: A basket was purchased, which was
. soon filled with meat, vegetables anC
loaves of bread of good quality, such as
did not often find their way into the
: wretched subterranean abodes. such az
: Mr.. WatersOn had just visited. Some
little delicacies were also placed at the
top of the basket, such us father would
like to purchase for his own children
J. but there was nothing among the whole
i which gave so much joy to the heart O
the little boy as a mince-pie; for, be-
i sides its being associated in his mini
with the nursery rhyme respecting lit
e tie Johnny Horner, and the way, as h,
d sat in the corner, he pulled the plum