Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-01-16
THE GbLD CoIN
CT, the Littk Street Beggar.
A STORY OF "1APPY NEW YEAR.
BY GEO. tANNING HILL.


a BY GEO. CANNING HILL.
1t was the morning d a new year that had Just
set in bright, golden and beautiful. The snow
glittered like a beewelhd raiment in the cloudess
sun The Ginning ofthe silvery sounds of bells
struck joyfally upon he listener in every street
The air cold, tltugh not piercing braclng,
though not biting JUS cold enough, in truth, to
nfuse life and elasticity into every one that NOV
ed
There was little I'll, child of poverty, on that
beautiful new years morning, walking the streets
with the gay crowds tIat swept past her. Her little
feet had grown numb, encased only in thin shoes,
and those badly worn, THAT she could but with diff
Guilty move one beforelhe other. Her cheeks shook
at every step she TOOK, and her lips looked truly
purple Alas poor Bsie Gray She was little
begger!
Just like the old yer was the new year to her -
Just like the last years wants, and last years suf-
ferlngs, were the vans and sufferings of this The
change Of the year brought no change in her condi-
ton with it She wis poor ; her mother was a
widow and an invalid; and the child was a beg
gar
In the old and chesrless room cleaned no bright
fires of happy anniversary. No evergreens, no
wreaths, no flowers, save a few old withered ones
decked her time stained walls. There was no sound
of merry voices in at the door, to say to the widow
Gray" Happy New Year to you, Mrs Grayn'
Heaven seemed to have walled her and her abode
out from tn happiness that was all the worlds, on
that festive day of the year. 1t had provided to all
appearances, no Joys, no congratulations, no laugh
ter, no gifts, no flowefs for them Why? Were
they outcasts? Had they outraged their claims on
the wide worlds charities? Had they voluntarily
shut themseve, from the sunlight of the living
creatures around them ? No a shame take the
world, that it must be so answered for them. Mrs
Gray was poor
Little Elsie stopped at times, and breathed her
not orea'i, ul'v 7s Llue and benumbed fingers; and
all the force left in them and then big tears stood
trembling in her large, blue eyes for mo nent, and
rolled slowly down her purple cheeks, as if they
would freeze to them. She had left her mother in
bed, sick, exhausted furnishing What wonder
that she cried, though those hot tears only drop
ped on the icy pavement They might as well fall
there as elsewhere; the many human hearts that
passed her, were full as icy and hardened.
She would have turned back to 20 home; but she
thought again of her poor mother, and went on !:
though where to go, she knew not She was to be-
come street beggar Where should street beg
gars go' What streets are laid out and named, and
numbered for them Surely, if not home, then
where should they 60? 1t was this thought that
brought those crystal tears that started those deem
ard I'm nessibe sobs; that choked her infant utter
ance.
A young boy,--a bright-loobing little fellow,
chance to pass her. as she walked and wept, and
stopped He caught the glitter of those tears in the
sunshine, and the sight smote his angel heart. He
knew not what want and suffering were. He had
never known them himself never once heard of
them knew not even what real beggar was He
stopped suddenly before Elsie, and asked her the
cause of those tears She could make him no re-
ply; her little heart was to- full
Has anybody hurt you % asked the feeling little
elbow
The girl shook her head negatively
"H Have you lost your way'' he persisted.
NO. answered the child, quite audiby
What is the matter, then 70 asked be-
Mother is poor and sick, and am cold and hun
cry. We have nothing to eat. Our room is quite
cold, an there is no wood for us. o, YOU do not
all you cannot know all %
" But wii1" replied the manly boy. "yVhere
do you live 20
evil you go with mel J" asked Elsie, her face
Frightening.
Yes let me go with you, said he &C show me
the way'
Through street, land and alley she guided him.
They reached the door of their howell The cold
breaths of the wind whstled in at the cracks and
crevlces and the key-hole before them as if invit
ing them in They entered. sick woman feeby
raised her head from her pillow, and gave her child
a sweet s:ne. "Elsie, have you come :" she faint
ly said.
" Yes, mother,' answered the child, "and |
have brought this boy with me- | do not know who
ne IS, but ne said he wanted TO come and see where
we lived. Did do wrong to bring him. mother?,
:" No, no, my child,'' said the mother, {" if he
knows how to pity you, from his little heart; but he
cannot pity me yet lie is not old enough''
The bfight-faced, sunny hearted boy gazed in as
constituent upon the mother and child The scene
was new to him. lie wondered if this was what
they called poverty. His eyes looked sadly upon
the wasting mother, but they glittered with wonder
when turned towards Elsie. Suddenly thew filled
with tears. The want, the woe, the barrenness, the
desoation, were all too much for him. He shud-
dered at the cold, uncovered floor. lie gazed mourn
fully into lhe empty fireplace His eyes wandered
wondering y over the naked wills, looking so unin
vliingly and cecrless. Putting his hand into bis
pocket he grasped the coin that his mother had thnt
very morn given him, and drew il forth. "You
may have that p said he, holding it out to the
child.
30, you arc too good You nre too generous |
fear y broke in the mother, as If che ought moi 10
take it from him.
" Mother will give me another If want il ,,
said he; cit will do you great deal Of good, and I
know that don't need it, Take it take ii YOU shah
take 1t y and be was instantly gone.
1t was gold coin, Of the value of five dol
lars
Mother and child wept together. Then they talked
OF the good boy whose heart had opened for them on