Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-03-03

than the other-and drew her legs up under her
to warm herself, but she was still colder, and she
burst not go home; she had not sold any matches
or got a single farthing! Her father would beat
her,-and it was also cold at home, they had on
~ the roof directly over them, and there the WIND
whstled in, although straw and rags were stuffed
in the largest crevicos-
Her little hands were almost benun,bcd with
cold. All. a little match might do sone good,
burst sho only draw one out OF the bundle strike
ono on the wall, and warm her hnseTs.--SsI9
drew ono out, rich, how it burnt, il was a warm
clear flame like that of little candle, when she
held her hand round tit was a strange light.
Tho little girl thought she sat by a large iron
stove with bright brass balls the top: the fire
| burned so nicely and warmed SO well! Nay,
| what was that? The little girl stretched ont her
feet to warm them too, then the fame went ont,
the stove vanishe1she sat with the stump of the
burnt match in her hand. Another was struc-.
il burnt, i; sonc nad where the igh. fell on Tie
all it became transparent as Grape; she LOOK
cd drectly into the room, where the roasted
goose stuffed with apples and prunes steamed so
charmncy on the table which laid out, COW
cred with shining white cloth and fine porcelain
service What was still more splendid, the goose
with knit. and fork in its back; i. came directly
up to the poor girl Then the match went cut.
and there W as only the thick cold wall to be seem
She struck another match. Then she satu
der the most charming Christmas tree. 1t was
still larger and more ornamented than mat she
had see ,hrou Oh the glass door at the rich MGR
chants the last Christmas; thousand candies
burnt on the green branches, and motley Pictures,
| like those which ornament the shop windows,
| look ed down upon her. The little gal lifted up
| both her haDds-then the match was extIngnish-
ed--the nla,.y Christmas candles rose higher AID
! highar--sh- that they were bright stars; one
Of them fell and made bright stripe IN the sky
.Now one dcs.'' said the poor girl. for old grand
mother, who al ne had been kiad to her. bat who
was now dead, had told her that when star
| falls, soul goes up to God.
She again struck match against the wall
| i, shona all around, and cid grandmother stood
| in tho lustrc, shining, mild and blisstui.-
| "Crandmother'' exclaimed the little 81 rl, ooh.
take mo with you. | know you will be gone
| away when she match goes out--ike the warm
stove. the delicious roast goose, and the delight
| full Christmas treen'-and she struck in haste
| the whole remainder Of the matches that was IN
tho bundle; she would not lose sight of her grand
mother and the matches shone with such brilii-
ancv that it was clearer than in broad daylight.
Grandmother had never before looked 50 pretty,
so great She lifted the poor little girl up IN her
arms, and they flew SO high. so high in spiendor
and Joy, there cold, no hunger, no anx'-
! ety-they with Ged.
! But the little girl sat IN the corner by the
house. in the cold morning hour. with red cheeks
and with smile around her mouth-de ad--fro-
| zen to de ath the last evening Of the old year
| New Years morning rose over the little corpse
as it sat with the matches, of which bundle was
| burnt. She has been trying 10 warm herself,
said they! But one knew what beautiful
| things she had seen--in whs, splendor and glad
ness she had entered with her grandmother into
| New Years Joys.