The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-05-12
BREAD ON THE WATERS.

JOHN G. WHITTIER.
BREAD ON THE WATERS. "a d
It is now many years ago since j.
Mary Rivers, performed. tho one eecen-
trio act of my life. / was old enough
at that time to have grown prim and
'.governcssy." and years spent . in
preaching propriety to young ladies had
had their effect upon me, and 4 knew
that it would never do in my position
to be spoken of rs peculiar. And vet
But you shall hear. Ihad at that time
an engagement in Mrs. Pemberton's
family to finish the education of an only
daughter. The house was u large
double building, and the study, or
schoolroom. was in wing across the
hall. Next it WAS handsome, well
furnished apartment, which had been
given to me as a bedroom. 1t was re-
| the house. and at night I was entirely
alone. However, l had no fears of the
supernatural and no terrors Of any
sort, and the room suited me.
On this night had retired as usual,
and the whole household slunibered.
myself included, when 1 was aroused by
something-I hardly knew whats
sound. a movement, perhaps merely an
impression. Whatever it was, it in
dnced me to rise and open my door a
little. Instantly draught of cold air
struck me, and L thought that the hall
door was open.
"Who is tllere?' cried. aloud, but
all was dark and utterly silent, save for
such a little velvety pat as a cat would
make in crossing marble floor. ..
However, the draught. Lad no busi-
ness to be there, and 1 stepped back to
my room and lit wax candle which
stood on my stand, and came out again
with my dressing-gown wrapped about
me. s-.s.aal
The door was not open, but a window
one of two ON eitherside Of the hail.,
had been Lifted. and I heard ,hsaSy
clatter as of the dropping Of articles Of
iron or steel in heap. Something was
wrong. With . sort Of tremor. rather
Of excitement or fear, creeping over me,
l ran up stairs and knocked at Mr..
Pemberton's door. cryin2s
'Thieves are in the house.''y
In moment more my employer and
his brother were both in the lower hall,
made of every room on that floor but
my own. As / had been there, there
was no thought Of finding AhICne il
'ns ne he police wsresssntf Tor and some
burglars tools werS discovered outsids
the open window. SIS &c
They explained that the window mus
have been opened IN ofder to;s6dmtt
some small bov who could open the
door for them. A small boy indeed he
must have been to get in at those long
narrow slips; but nothing haS yet beeh
done, and after q wliiie all returned to
their own apartments, to sleep, if pos
sible. -,
and Sleep with Florences' ASKED Ms.
Pemberton. I'm sure it's dreadful
for you to be down here alone. Miss
Rivers"
How.gladI am to-day that NY her<es
were steady enough to allow me to de-
cline the offer, and laugh at any idea Of
fear ON my part. but q, goyerness can
not yield to fine-lady terrors, and I, as
have said, had occupied that position
I retired 10 bed again. knowfng the
house safe for the night at least, and
was just about dropping off to sleep
when l felt, rather than heard, some
one creep from under my bed. My
door was locked. Whoever it was, +
was alone with him-one never thinks
of ''her" in such circumstances; and
the darkness was the worst Of all. l
struck light at once. Some one tried
to blow it out and failed. 1 clutched at
the dark object near me. and found it
to be the wrist of small boy; and now
ek, Co. 70 ~n1 T hall him,
tight and looked at lim. A child
of ten years-not more-a little, slen-
der, dark creature dressed in dark
blue shirt and pantalOOns, and with list
slippers on his feet His head was al
most shaven it was cropped so closely,
and he looked rather like ~ little gnOme
than a child. 1 knew at once that he
was the boy the burglars had slipped
through the window-a tight squeeze
for even this slim thing fluttering in my
grasp.
..Be quiet, child.'' I said; 81 am not
going to hurt you. / suppose you .are
only tool of those wicked men. Sit
down there and let me look at you"
He sat down, looking 1t me in ter
ror. .iE8l Z a- ,zW srs-
"You must tell me the TRUTH" said.
81 want to be yourg friend. You came
here with the burglarsa's
He nodded.
They put you through the window
to open otn doorrc, NL 49, sAzsSs 4
s.Yes," he said.
''Did your mother know Of itP' !
asked.
II never had any mother" he I'M
swered. -...a- ,,,stEt.,y1 -,,,s
l-.And your fathers go -. =,
1 Daddy. Daddy was hung for kill
ing man." said the child. 20 n"a
''Do you like this sort" Of hfc,;'" I
He looked at me doubtfully. ',er .-'
81 dno," he answered. y. ,.l. <.
Il mean going out with these men to
rob housesP'' / asked g8ilisffsT (
mo-" replied the boy; I'm afraid Of
the dark. Once they shooted me. and
it bled. l like to 60 to bed and sleep
nights. 1 wish they'd let me-" q
"Poor little wretchr' sighed to my
self. When had called for help asain
| he would be sent to q police station.
| and fhanCo IN rnnNo nrisOn achOO1 or reA-