The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-02-16
TON


whislled by. hardly frightened the sloof
dozea PAGES around them The win
tore through the streets as II Il had gou
mad; vhirling Leiorc il dust aud snow
and every movable thing II conld lay it
clalching hand upon. A poor old batter
ed Kite, that. some time last saiumn, hai
lodged far up 10 the tallest tree in th'
neighborhood, aud bad there rested peace
fully ever since, believing iis labors at al
end. vas dragged from its nest, and drivel
unpityingly before the blast Some feebl'
efforts Il made 10 dodge into corners, lnrk
ing behind steps and diving into areas
bu, no, bit OF III Down would swooI
the wind, and off ii would go again,
AZ last, driven around one Of tho long
row Of barrels, that stood, like wretched
seniinels. along the edge Of the sidewalk
IL flew into the very arm OF small boy
who, seated on the curb stone, crouched
down Ia the barrels somewhat question.
able shelter Such very small boy lie
looked like nothing in the vorll but .
little heap Of rags; and the rags were very
thin, and the small boy Was very cold
His nose, his ears, his hands, and his poor
bare feet were blue. He was almost too
cold TO shiver, certainly too cold to notice
the unfortunate kite, which, as its enemy,
the wind, approached with a roar. seemed
10 cover close to him, as il begging his
protection. Round both sides OF the bar
rel at once came the wind shook hands
right through poor little Tom, and, howl
ing with delight, rushed OF with its miser-
able victim,
Tom--that was all the name he had
Who he was, or where he came from, no
one knew. except perhaps the wretched
old woman with whom he lived; which
meant that she let him sleep on pile Of
rags on the floor Of her miserable room,
and sometimes gave him crust and often
er blow. When she was drunk-and
that was greater part OF the time-Tom
took to the streets; and by night she was
very drunk. The boy was, perhaps some
six years old, but as he covered down on
the cold fag.stones, with his worn, pinch
cd face and dropping head, he might have
been a hundred
A carriage came rafting through the icy
street, and stopped close by him. The
door was pushed open, and two children
hslf-tumbled out, and, leaving the door
swinging, rushed up the steps. Tom
watched them stupidly, heard the quick,
sharp ring of the bell, caught glimpse Of
something that looked warm, and then it
was dark again. He turned his eyes tow
ard the carriage, expecting it to drive off
again; but it still stood there. The coach
man sat upon the box like furry monu
ment. One OF the horses struck the stones
sharply with his iron hoof, and cast an in
quring glance around, but the monument
sat unmoved
Toms heavy eyes looked through the
open door into the carriage. Dark as j.
was, he could see that it was lined with
something thick and warm. He raised his
head and glanced about him. IL he were
inside there the wind could not touch him.
Oh, if he could get away from it one min
ute He would slip out again the moment
the house door opened. Unbending his
stiff ffl,tle body, he crept nearer, hesitated
q moment. and, as the wind came round
the corner with roar, slipped swiftly and
noiselessly into the carriage In the fur
ther corner of the seat he curled himself
into little round heap, and lay. with
beating heart, listening to the wind as it |
swept by.
1t was very quiet in his nest, and the |
soft velvet WAS much warmer than the cold |
flag stones, and he was very tired and
very cold, aud in half minute
he was fast asleep. He did not know when |
at last tho house door opened and lady,
gathering her cloak close around her, came
down the steps-did not know even when
the suddenly animated monument descend
ed from its PEDESTAL and stood solemnly
by the open door until the lady had step.
ped inside. But when it shut with slam,
and the coachman, returning to his post
drove rapidly away, the boys eyes opened
aud fixed their frightened gaze upon the
lady's face. Preoccupied with her own
thoughts, she had not noticed the queer
bundle in the dark corner. But now, her
attracted by some slight move.
ment on his part, she turned her eyes
slowly toward him, aud then, with sup.
pressed cry ofsurprise and alarm, laid her
hand upon the door. The rattle Of the
wheels and the roar Of the wind prevented
il reaching the ears Of the coachmsn; and
Tom, rapidly unwinding himself, and
covering down in the bottom Of the
carriage, said in frightened sob:
didn't mean no harm. | was awful
cold Say, Just open the door, missis, and
III jump out You needn't stop the ker-
ridge.
The lady, with her hand still on the
loor demanded:
How did you get here'
The door was opened, aud clum, he
answered. 1t was awful cold.
The lady took her hand from the door.
Come nearer, she said, let me see your
lace.
Tom drew his ragged sleeves across his
eyes, sad looked up at her over his should
VI, They had turned into q brilliantly
lighted street, and she could zee that the
tangled yellow hair was soi, and hns and
iha, the big, frightened eyes ths, raised
themselves to hers we're not pickpocket's
nyes. With a sudden impulse she laid her