Lizzy Glenn; Or, The Trials of a Seamstress

e cared little for the exposure to which he was subjected at Sharp's, even if clad no more comfortably. But Henry had little of that healthy warmth natural to the young. H

and which were now rent in many places; a pair of dilapidated yarn stockings, with feet like a honey-comb. His shoes, the pair given him by his mother, had been half-soled once, but were again so far gone that his stockings protruded in several places, and yet neither his master nor mistress seemed to

hobbled about as best he could, often in great pain; and at night the tender skin of his feet, irritat

uffling along in that kind of style for?" said

Henry, with a look of suffering

miserable apologies for shoes and stockings that but partially protected

osted, sir,

f your shoes and stoc

les, revealed the red and shining skin beneath. That little foot was a sight to pain the heart of any one but a cruel tyrant. The heel, in many pl

and stocking," said Shar

his foot exhibited nearly the same marks

" asked Sharp, looking Henr

le-grease on it at night before I

back door. Henry followed as quickly as he could walk on his bare feet, that seemed ready to give way

a pile of snow that had been shoveled up only that mornin

ndeed, bleeding feet, and, as may well be suppos

m out into the yard. Then catching him by one arm, he set him in the centre of the

e until I tell

l language of suffering; although the agony he endured for the next minute was terrible. At the en

ey had just taken to raise, and who stood near the kitchen window, her heart almost ready to burst

dled tenderly the blood-red feet of the little boy, ever and anon looking up into his

od looking on, "and now run up stairs and

stockings?" said Mrs. Sharp, a few momen

m for Henry," re

exclaimed, in surprise. "

op that he had on; but they won't

his feet, I'd like to kn

hey're

That'll cure 'em. It's nothing bu

comfortable pair of stockings. And here, Anna, do you run around to Stogies, a

ared with alacrity, and Mr. Sh

pair of stockings, or we sha

oes at the same moment. On lifting the child's feet from the water, the redness and inflammation had a good deal subsided. Mrs. Sharp rubbed them with a little sweet oil, and then gave him the stockings to put on. He next tried the shoes; and one pair of them fitt

ords addressed to him by Sharp, who pointed at his wet apo

re. His feet, now enveloped in a closely fitting pair of woolen stockings, and galled by

m the street, not seeming to notice the expression of suffering

r of endurance he could command. In this extreme suffering, the uppermost thought in his mind, when on the street, kept his eyes wandering about, and scanning every female form that came in sight, in the ever-living hope of seeing his mother. But the sigh of disappointment told too frequently, that he looked in vain. He had not proceeded far, when the pains in his feet became so acute th

the matter?" said he, leani

ing from or being taken back to his mother! The kind-hearted physician needed no words to tell him that the little boy was suffering ac

le boy!" he said in a v

ressed in the countenance and tone of Doctor R-, and still looking h

he doctor, with real and increa

y walk," replied Henry, whose tongue

your feet?" a

been fros

r child! Well, what h

etimes at night; and to-day my m

"But can't you walk up as far as the drug store at the

hough he felt that to take anot

t up, will you,"

turned Henry,

carriage, hurried on to the office. The child, when lifted in, sank back upon the seat, pale and exhausted. Doctor R-asked him no question; and when the carriage stopped, directed the driver to carry him in. He then, with his own hands, carefully removed his shoes and stockings. "My poor, poor child!" said he in pity and astonishment, on beholding the condition of Henry's feet. The harsh remedy prescribed by Sharp, if the subsequent treatment had been tender and judicious, might have been salutary; bu

Henry's face with an air of relief and sati

he expression of his countenance both indicating that he no longe

air of stockings and a light pair of shoes, belonging to one of the apothecary's children, from their mot

l better, don't it?" s

e; and yet, blended with that look, was an expressio

nce you've stayed so long?" he asked, in a t

Sharp will be almo

e or four strides across the floor. "I shall have to take the little fellow home, and

carriage, and settle all that for you,

ore the hatter's shop, and, lifting out Henry himsel

he latter, roughly, and with a f

on taking him into the drug store above, and examining his feet, I found them in a most shocking condition! Why, sir, in twelve hours mortification would have c

octor, that he wa

thing that I happened to come across him. Why, I hav

r him, doctor?" asked

suffered to have rest; and, as you value his limbs, don't let him be exposed to the

changed from what it was when the doctor came in. "But, really, doctor," he continu

e exposed to wet and cold, as Henry's must have been to get in the condition they are, of mortification superveni

nd offices he was indebted for the place he held in the family of Sharp! But all was in vain. A dozen times he was on the eve of asking for his mother; but, as often, weak timidity held him back. I

his distressed situation, that he had failed to make any inquiries of him in regard to his friends; and for this he blamed himself, because it was clear that, if the child had friends they ought to know his

f despair. One who could have told him of his mother; one who, if he had only taken the courage to have mentioned his name, could have taken tidings of his condition to her, o

oud, sharp voice of his mistress, who, attracted by the stro

t's that little wretc

a tone that left no doubt on the mind of his wife th

been doing? Not stealing, I ho

to take care of him," was

t he?" The tones of the vi

want in the pale, frightened face of the poor boy, as he stood tre

in here, just

lied the hatter, who knew t

did he

t him home in his carriage. He says that he must be taken care of, or he will become a cripple; tha

arply, and with a threatening look to the child. "I'd like to know what

oor. Mrs. Sharp sprang toward him, not with any humane intention, we are sorry to say; but, ere she had grasped the boy's arm, and given him the purposed jerk, the sight of his ashen, lifeless face prevented the outrage. Exhausted nature could b

t a very long time before the machinery of life was again in motion; its action, however, was feeble, as even his oppressors could see. Self-interest, and fear of consequence