Newspapers / The Durham Recorder (Durham, … / Aug. 7, 1867, edition 1 / Page 1
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A CHILI) SHALL LEAD THEM. '.. " BY T. g.'anTHTR. ' .. Two childreVwere playing on a lawn in front of a white cottage. "Around the porch and windows climed roses and honeysuc il.c K.muiili tv!kt. bordered with ilow rrs, rat through the lawn; anil everything About the cottage and grounds ha J an air a . ...... i r... ' ' - ..' VI Uiesanu vouuoii. x A link waJf off, and across the road, " I too J another cottage ; but very 'different in appearance. The lawn in front. was overgiown with weeds, and the walks wi'h coarse trus. The fence that cncWd die lawn was Diokrn in many puces anu me gate, held only by the lower hinge, stood half open and airiy. No rocs or, vine hung their green and crimson curtains about the window, or .clambered up the porch. The cottage hid once been white; white as that befoie which the-'children plated; bit now it was dingy and suited, and looked forlorn and comfortless. 'Fl.eie was as much difference in the ippeara.ice of the children s in the twu rttagr. O.ie was neatly and cleanly tlreed, and had a tupp he. Pe clothe" t.f the I'ther were -r aid'W!n. an-: his f4ce had sober loAi, OVe yUy,l ith heatfy enjoyment, laughing and -houtin at limes; fc other in a (jiit and SJj Jucd way. Why this difference between the two cottages an J the two children? When iusi built, the cottage and gr. n Is were alike '. ..... ... t I. . ...... .. .... tn.f .1 ..-I. ; 111 t'f.Z aim uriyu( aii'4 i-icT i'i limit 11 them alike ha pp v. It is sorrowful t3 give the reaori. You wdl know it soon. ' Jiin, isn't t'nt your father r" aked the well drcrd by, as a nun appeared cum in dawn the road a litilc way off, " 1 ' Jim tartcd in a ha'.f scared manner, and turned towards the road. He stood very still fur a moment or two. boking at the run, and then with a face now red aid nw very pate, hrak away ami laid hime!f clue cown upoti the grass under oie cor rant busies, savin as he did so. io a chok ing voice, i)!'t. FrctlJr, AeM, tell him I'm here." I.ijht and jy went out of Freddy Yfce ato. He ui-df rti iJ to writ what all (hit lit ' a ti t . - . - Slavering W.in the road came Mr. Har wood, Jim's lather. Whit a watt S'ght it wa. As he drew nearer, and Freddv Wil s in, li-I.I t. (he spot whrrc he was aUrvl im as if oun-I there hr a spell, u hi rel atfi aol!en lace, and he id him ml It-ring and swearing t hiimclf, he shudder cd itW a fecltn; of tnnr.r. A Mr. liar ! wa p.iin the gjte be t'redJfaml tiip;d. Kreddr be- ai to tresitbte. His firt thaht was t run back to tn htfiie I bat he wt a brave tittle b-r, and it went a4int his feeling t run 11 (ruin atuihin;. So be did not mr, f I. v I . t 'HI I i mj uw liii nerer anei mi. liar woi, in an anzry twice. Si.e mrn when druukarc aUajrs ill-natflred and cruel, and Jim s Uttirr w me f tlier. tittup IVcldy, and knowing that the two bos p'aved mcb together, lie natural, hr thought of his own son. Kredtlr did nut answer. He could tell a lie, and so he uiJ nuthiii. Utd sou r.ear me?" growled Mr. liar wood more anrtlv. Klill Freddy looked at him and said mt!i in,;. He knew that if Jim's Isihr l.tund him thrre, he would kick -rid cuff him all tli. y home. Not thai Jim was in nnv fault, or had disulieved bis father ; but Mr. lIarwiio-i(as I have said, wa loll of aner anJtmrUv wlirn drunk, and took a savage piri'ure m abus'n h little boy. Fred Ir bcjjm to ftel braver nw, he. cause lie winded save Jim from harm. This Is usually the way. The moment wr lorget ouraeitci, when'in danger, and be come animus inul others, fear leaves us, and wr grow calm and brave, There was . bult on the inside of the Kt near which Freddy was standing. Vith sicalthjr motion, not neen br the drunken mm, he slipped this bolt ami fas trod the gate. It was not done to instant too soon, Tor Mr: Ihrwood, grdwihg" fu rious, made a dash towards the hoy,' and tried to get at him through the gate,! V You young do r" he cried, '.I'll teach You maimers ! ; Why don't you. answer me? Where' Jim ?? ,.: .. ! ... t.V v' ; Mr. Harwood rattled the gate violently, and tried, with his unsteady hands, to fiad the bolt on the inside. Hat , his efforis were in vain. He could not reach the little fel? low, who stood cIoe op to him, f with a brave but sorrowful lace. ( r , . , , " You'd better go home,' sir. I'll tell my father ol this." 'Thire was" a manly firmness in the air ol Freddy, and a rebuk ing tone in his voice.'thit had their effect upon the drunken inlnl' ' " " " Who cares for yoor father ? I doa't!" he replied, moving buck a step or two from the gate, muttering and swearing." ' Hat I say, youngster!" and he came toward Freddy again, with a acowilinglolc on his swollen aud disfigured face. Just answer tne one thing, day yes or no.; Is that young scamp ol iniue here r"-,. "i don't know any youn; scamp: of yours, Mr. Harwood,'' replied Freddy, , . You don't, hey ! Now . that' cool fur a model younj gentleman like Mater un. Don't know 4"y Jim !" ; I know your Jim very well," saTd Fred dy. I! j l he's a good liitle boy and not a young scamp ; and I dun't think you are a kind lather to call him such an uly name. This retuke wa leU by Haruond, i!runk as he was. He could mt ttand Freddy's clear eyes and s'eady louk. Then away iluwn in his heart, almost covered up and lost, was an old feeling id fatherly prole, and this stiried at the words of praise p kni about him. " A good little boy." , The auger went out of Mr. Harwood'a face. He was a good little by once," taid hr, with someihitig so like tenderness in his voice that Jim, who was lying cfuse by, hidden unJer the current bulici, lis tening t-ieterv word, tubbed out aloud. Wlui's thatr aked Mr. JLrMooJ, leanii lurwaril and locking toward the currant buhes. Hut the s nnd ws hushed in a moment. Jim had chocked down hit feeling. " Hc' a 2d little bor now." suiJ Fred dr, spt-akutg in a verr firm voice, and not! tecum). i hear the ob, or the question, j i.t J i in'. liWier. ' A to ul hit tut'." lit I repealed ; and added, to m ike hi tii: stronger, " There i'ia belter one any wiierea'juul here, if his father doi't beat him about, and let him go ragged when he ou'Ut to have good clothes like the rrst d: us. Mr. Haiwuod didn't '.o,i tu hear any thing farther, but turned from th fate lo wjrU the pr cottage across the road, Wilkin more nleadilv thin he had done a short tune before. Then Freddy went be hind the rurient bu!iet where Jim still lay on the ground. " He's gone," said Fifddy. Tito pent up grif fot Jnn sad heart rnuld be restrained no longer. He bart out into a wild lit f cry in:, ill it Continued lor se veral minute. Freddy .id all tl.at he could.to comfort his little Iriend ; and when h had j;rown calm, asked with the ujcr ic of o.ie who l3t in earnest, " Caa't something be done, Jim ;" Jim sliook his head in a nopvle4 way. Something ought tu hi done 1 I'm nure s tiiiething Could be dune if e jit kii'-w what it was. Ou ! int'i drinking an awlut th.njr " It's the worst thing i:i the world," said Jim, atxi Ua no wonuer he Ihnugiit so. When lather is sober,'' he went on, he' just as kind as he can be; but wherl he'- drunk oh dear I it ilreadlul lo think of!" ' Does he get drunk very often ?" aikcd Fieddy. Now he does. He's drank 'most all the lime. 15ut.it wasn't u alwavs. Oh dear!" And Jim's tears ran over hi cheeks again. He used to be so good to us." he subbed, 'and take us out with him sometimes, and bay at nice things. U never doei It tiowV' 'Most tilth e money he g m is petft at the tavern. Hut I mast run home. Mother U ick, and father it to crosi when he'a been drinking and slie's weak und can't bear it' i.. fl .--; '! .u.;l-j Jim got up frooi behind the'cuicaht bush es and w-dked JLoward.tbe gate.' I - ' V Aren't you afraid helll beat you ?', He wai ia a dreadful rage at. yoa'about some thiogjust now,' said. Freddy.::.' r. !" .. " May be henvill and may be he woh't,' answered Jim. M Hut' I mustn't stopho think of that. , Mother -U' sick and weak; and father will , be so cross to her.". -And he started off and passed through thft gate; . Freddy, remembering how his defense and praise of Jim had cooled Mr. llar wond's anger, said to himself,- Majrbe I can do some good' and started alter his little friend, resolved to face the drunken man again in the hope of turning away his wrath; .". ; The, two lads entered Jitna poor., hooiq tog-ther, and stood face to , face with Mr. Harwood.; , ... , t ,-v ' (. : 0 lathee!" : exclaimed Jim, as he saw, with glad surprise, a look of almost tender pity ou his fathprs countenance ; aad 49 he spoko, he sprang , forward and caught his hano", clinging, to it tightly. , , ,. This was too much (for Mr. Harwood; whw was . not, yet sober, enough to coatrol his feelings, and he turned away with a choking sob, trying to draw bis . hand out of Jim's ; bat the boy would not let go his hold. And now Freddy spoke out in be half of his little friend. "Jim's a good boy, Mr. Harwood. Iknow all the Uovs around here, and there isn't one of them better thau Jim. Father says so too; and lets me have him over at our house whenever I please." - 'l " Who said he wasn't a good boy r" an swered Mr. Harwood, turning round upon Fredtly with a half angry manner. " I'd justMue to hearanvbody speak against him, I would!" . Ami he sat down, drawing Jim between his knees as he spoke. , A pale, thin, lu'f-frightened woman, Jim's mother, now came m from the next room, wondet-iii w hat all this could mean. Her eager eyes ran hurriedly from face to face. Don't be scared, Ellen' said Mr. Har wood, kindly. There isn't anything wrong. 1'in'only having a little talk with these boys." He was almost s ber now ; excitement of feeling had cleared his stupid brain. Look ing from one to the other of the lads, he tould not help noticing the painful con trast; one so clekii and well dressed, the other soiled an J rag4ed. He knit his bros clj-ely, and sat very Mill, like one arguing with himself. I'll tell you what it is, mother,", aud he turned toward Mrs. Harwood, " I am not going to have Jim running about looking like a beggars child, lie's just as good as any of the boys around here, and I'll not have him ashamed to be seen with the best of them' Jim covered his lace with his hands, but could not hide the tears of joy that came trickling through his linger. His father .tw them. Liying his hand on the boy'a head, he made this promise, speaking in a solemn voice. " 1 will drink nothing stronger than tea or coffee while 1 lite, God being my hel per " Oh. th ink (and !" almost wildly ex claimed Jun'a mother, dropping upon her knees and claping her hatand' neck. " Oh, thanks be to God 1" she repeated. " He wilt be your helper. In him is all compassion and all strength ; but without him our poor resolves ate as tlax in the lire I" Freddy stood looking on for a little while, greatly moved bf what was pass ing I then he walked quietly to the door, and was going out, wheu Mo". Harwood called to hint, saying 1 Just one word befureyou co. I'm sor ry to say it: but it's io my thought now, and I feet it had better come out. May be I wouldn't say it another time." Freddy stopped and turned toward Mr. Harwood. I'm aorry (0 asy It, Freddjr, 1 sin. for you'ie nice boy and hate always been good to Jim'.' ' But you'll thank ; me for it,' may be, one of these days." " ' 4 ru 1. : !.. .11 1.. ii.; 1 iicitj was soineiHing in Air, narwnou 3 manner that sent a feelmgof alarm to Fred dy'a hearU He stood still, wailing, eVery fill Irfsa-Kwaf tfnii ml r kl . .- May be your father' head ii stronger than mine was five years ,tg' said Mr.. Harwood, " but I've seen hioi at the Black.' Horse .too often of late, going on just as T. began, it isn't safe, Freddy J. It.isn't safe! And" T don't like to see him there. W 1 s. . a ar ' ' ' ' t - m 1. $ -m ' 1 - ijook at wnat 1 ve come to! Uut there was a time when I could hold my head a's higfi.' as Mr. Wilson or an v body else in' the5 ? neighborhooU." " -' ' ' 1 ' 4 ; . -iivm IV mvui liu I1IU1C. Ah OCCIU- ed as if niht had fallen suddenlv on his 4 !.:... . a . . . . . .. Timii'r xnirii. nii sic 11 rn iAniii t n . j "g - j' " - " - s aiaw isi vi a a uuv m a a as ' , Uw I .. .1 ' . M II . ' Ldin 11 a 1 i 1 . - iip 1 111 iifii itnsfl ra uriiii t aiviv ( such a weight on, and sueli a pain in his heart that it seemed as if he would die. ' t -1 Mr, Wilson .was coming along the road, and near his own gate when he saw Frcddv liurrying across from Mr.;Harwood't coir ih.vi iii iCkwG vt aai lc aa oa. ai ar wr.L m 11 11 ninwi riir. agitated. .. Vf t. My soo 1 , what ails you ?Vhe cried, in ; alarm. , . . .... ... , : '0 father ; '. It was. all Freddy could , say, as he stopped before him and looked ' up with a strange, sad, grieving expression on his countenance, ... , . 1 don't believe it!" he cried, after a ' few moments, burstiug into tears aud hid ing his wet face in his father' hands. "It's all a lie of Mr. Ilarwoo.l's !" ' M Don's believe what?" asked Mr. Wil- " son, wondering at all this. " A lie of Mr. Harwood'! What has that drunken wretch dared to say ?" His voice changed to an angry tone. .' ' ' . 0 " ,'1 can't tell you, father. It would choke me.- But it's all a lie. Oh; I wisli I hadn't raid anything about it! Hut I felt so miserable, and you came right on me." Mr. Wihum led Freddy within the gate to a seat under one ot the tree Now. me iftii." Iio s.i.l in v.a ... . J - . . W KIIIU, 111 411 voice,; tell me just what Mr. Harwood baid. FiedJr then related all ahoui flu. il run. ken maacomiog lo the gate, and what oc- currcu mere ; ana all that he saw and heard when he went home with Jim, even to the wa. iiing word of. Mr Harwood. - As Freddy came to this last part, Mr. .Wilson., turned hi lace so far away that t his son co.ild not sec it: but Freddy felt ' his father's arm that was around hi in draw more nanny. At least a minute nassed n dead silence. Then Mr. Wilson laid his lips closely and with a long pressure on . Freddy's forehead. I will talk with Mr. Harwood abont this he said, in subdued tones, as they arose aud went toward the house. . l'oor man ! he was nearly lost. But there is one mure chance to sac mm And he was saved. Mr. Wilson went to see him that very day. Their interview ' was affecting to both, and good for both. The warnit'g sentences had not come a moment too oon, and Mr. Wilson felt this so deeply that he could not be angry with his poor friend. No one ever savv'either of them at the Black Horse after that j nor did they ever again permit the cup of con fusion to come nigh their lips. The Providence (K.T.) Journal lift a; warning voice against immoderate moscu lar exercise, of which there is sofPei'anirr ui inr icriii iiaion ior Date pan, rowinz Ml... . 1 . r 11 T WkW. anal i'sumcs OUT oe lOHOWea to an injurious excess, it st is shown by' facts developed in connection with the re- ceniucam ot a student of Drown Universi ty, Mr. Lemuel Grosvenor Ferry. A post mortem examination of his remains ehowrd ' that the death was caued by an abscess resulting frum inflammation "of the psoa muscles, brought oft by elective exercise at the time of the University match pm of base ball, bo: ween the student of Har vard and Ilrown some two weeks since, in - whtcii he engaged with preat ardor. He had been a remaikably henlthy and timor ous yovt man-j bat after the dar when he rnggto in mis game, ne leu the tionsr no mere.
The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 7, 1867, edition 1
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