Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-04
WHOLE NO 20l7

committed during the day, followed
al orphan boy 10 hla bed with horse
whip, aud then, when there was no
protection save the one thin little
night garment, broke upon hls inno'
cent slumbcr with stinging blows,
And, upon the evidence Of tho laun-
dry-girl, when that same little gar
ment,camo to the wash, It was striped
with blood, This IL not pleasant
reading. 1t Is far from being pleas
ant writing,
"A father TO the lathcress is God In
his holy habltatlon / Think Of this, o
mother, whose household contains one
OF these children OF the Highest.
Think oi II as you gather your little
ones around the glowing iire-side Tor
a song or story, and make room for
the strangers within your doors,
When you divide the boarded store
Of cakes or apples, remember that his
little mllk.teeth are as eager for
sweets rs those OF your own darlings
and be there much or little, givs him
n share. When your hand is laid
caressingly upon your own children's
heads, let its light pressure also touch
his young brow. Who knows but it
may be there like q copsecraling
chrism, amounting him TO noble deeds
for God and humanityH Do these
things, and do them now. Check
not your kindly impulses until it is too
late, until the thin hands are crossed
within the coffin, and the sad eyes
hungry for q mcthcr's kiss-have
gone to tell their pitiful story 10 Him
who has said: Suffer the chidren;'
or worse, until young soul shall have
grown hardened; and q little one,
offended by you shall have become
curse and clogglng milestone upon
the neck OF society.
Bnt 10 return 10 my story. Left
alone in the great barn the sensitive
child endured the two.told agony Of
nervous terror and anticipated suffer-
ing. DuJ lie nau not lOng " wa,..
Soon the heavy boots of old Bceson
were heard tramping across the cow
yard and into the barn. Robbie stole
one fugitive glance as he entered, saw
the hard set face; saw the long, black
whip trailing from his hand and the
last vestige Of hope was gone.
Now, you young rascal, I'll pay
you for your calelessness,' cried the
bitter master, as he caught sight of
the little covering form and seizing
the trembling boy by the arm, he
raised the whip, like great s'iffening
serpent, high in air.
"But, why did it not descend : The
boy, who had closed his eyes, and set
his teeth hard, wondered at the delay.
From somewhere above, came a rush
ing sound, and the cruel, uplitted arm
was grasped and held with grip of
iron. What could it mean? Had
God sent one of his mighty angels
down TO rescue the little waif, toe
hopeless to implore his protection?
1t we'll might be so, for Our Father
is not Indifferent to the troubles of
his suffering children but the eyes
of this glorious deliverer were CLEAN.
ing with too much indignant fury and
human fury and passion for those of a
heavenly visitant.
"Chris! The one glad cry burst
from Robbies lips, and then, un-
noticed of either, he sank sobbing
among the hay and straw littering the
floor.
Coward! hypocrite! traltor!'
These were the words which burst
impetuously from the young mans
lips, and with each epithet a stunning
blow was planted in the breast OF the
farmer. is it thus you treat the little
brother l entrusted to your care?
Were it not that since l have been
away from your vicinity, have
learned to be something of which you
do not even know the meaning-a
gentleman-I would take the horse
whip and fay you within an inch of
your life. Well, indeed was it that il
occurred to me to test your faithful.
ness in treating him kindly before
gave of my hard earnings for the boys
board. Here in my pocket are four
hundred dollars, designed for you
payment for every week he has been
here-but not one copper of it will
you ever see now. On the contrary,
I shall use it in prosecuting you to the
utmost limit of the law.
And he kept his word. This youth
whose energy and pluck had won the
victory in a hand.to.hahd struggle