Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-17

room is quite cod, and their is no wood for
us. Oh you do not know all--you cannot know
all"
"But miH,' replied the boy manly. Where
do you live?'
"Will you go with me?" asked Elsie, her
face Frightening.
Eyes; let me go with you" said he; "show
me the way"
Through street, lane, and alley, she guided
him. They reached the door of her howell
The cold breaths of the wind whisted in at
the cracks aud crevices and key-hols before
them, as If inviting them in. They entered.--
A scI; woman feeby raised h er head from the
pillow and gave her sweet smile. elsie,
have you Gomez" she family said.
eyes, mother" answered the child; "and
have brought this boy with me- do not know
who he is, but he said he wanted to come and
see where we lived. Did do wrong to bring
him, mother"
"No, my child" said the mother, 'if he
knows how to pity you from his little heart;
but he cannot pity me yct--he is not old
enough"
The bright faced, sunny hearted boy gazed
in astonishment upon the mother and child
The scene was new to him. He wondered if
this was what they called poverty. His eyes
looked sadly upon the wasting mother, but
they glittered with wonder when they turned
towards Eslle. Suddenly they filed with tears.
The want, the woe, the barrenness, the desc
lation, We're all too much for him. He shud-
dered at the ia|a a9kas sSae aseseal.s gszed
! H''"''<.---r Lar. =. 49, u ss@- @'s eyes
wandered wondeiingly over the naked walls
looking so lninvitingly and cheeress. Putting
| his hand into his pocket, he grasped the coin
that his mother had that very morn given him,
and drew it forth. You may have that said
he, holding it o1t to the child,
"Oho you are too good You are too gener-
GUS fear - broke in the mother, as if she
ought not to take it from him.
Mother will give me another if want said
he; ait will do you great deal of good, and
know don't need it. Take it, take it you
shall take it! and he was instantly gone.
1t was gold coin of the value of five
dollars
Mother and child wept together. Then they
talked of the good boy whose heart had open
ed for them on this new years day. Then
they let their fancies run and grow wild and
revel as they chose. They looked at the gls-
tenng piece. There was bread, and fuel, and
clothirg,a every other comfort, i'm its depths.
They continued to gaze upon it. Now they
saw within its rim pictures ofdelight and Joy,
visions of long rooms, all wreathed and deco
rated with evcrgreens and flowers visions of
smiling faces and happy children; sights of
merry sleigh rides and the glistening of bright
runners over the smooth-worn snow. They
listened they heard the mingled sounds of mer.
ny voices, and the Ginning music bells, the ac-
cents of innocent tongues, and the laugh of
gladstone hearts. All what philosophers
stone was that coin How it turned every
thing first into gold, and then into happiness
How it grouped around them kind and cheerful
friends, and filled their ears with kind voices
How it garlanded al hours of that day with
evergreens and full blown roses How it
spread them laden table and crowded it with
merry guests? and those guests, too all salts
fed and happy! O. what bright rays shone
forth from that trihing coin Of gold Could it
have been as bright in the child's or the man 3
dirk pocket? No: else it had before then burn
ed its very way through, and lent its radiance
to others. Could it have shone with such Wis
ions in the rich mans hands? No; else his av
arice would have vanished at once, and his,
heart overflowed with generosity No, no; it
was only to such as the widow and her child
that it wore such shine, and emitted such
brilliant rays, and revealed such sweet and
welcome Visions Only for such as they.
That night returned this angel boy to the
lighted with joy; but he was not alone; his own
mother was with him. Blessed boy. He pas
sed the whole of New Years dav in making
others happy. And how much happier was he
himself! How his little heart warmed and
glowcd to see the child uncover the basket he
had brought with him, and take out one by
one, the gifts that were slowed there! And
how overjoyed was he to see his mother offer
the sick woman work and a new home, and
to see the sick woman grow suddenly strong
and almost well, under the influence of their
kind offers He wondered if their happiness
could be as deep ashs own their New Years
was as bright to them as his was to him. He
knew not how any one could, be happier than he
was at that moment
Years have rolled away into the silent past.
That little girl Elsie Gray--s 4 lady. Not a
lady only in name, but me in every decd in
heart, in conduct. She dwells in sweet sub.
urban cottage. and her husband is devoted on
ly to her The husband is no other than the
generous boy who on the New Years festival
accosted her SO tendcry in the street, and went
home with her. Her poor mother sleeps quiet.
ly in the little churcd yard: yet she lived to
know that God had provided for her child. She
died resigned and happy.
Are there coins, either Of gold or silver, that
must be locked away from sight on this day
of the new year? Are there any containing
within their depths such sweet visions, such
happy sights, they ra,sst lie under lock aud key
all this day, lest happiness and comfort may
become too universal?
Here is one-where comes another?