Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-17
From the Flower Basket.
"Tke Gold COin:'' Or the Little
street BE g.ar A story Of CLAP
ny new Year,
BY GEORGE CLAIMING HILL,

The following story is jewel. We ask for
it careful pcrusal from all our young friends
What can candies. cakes, or any other entce-
ment of the confectionery, do towards giving
calm happy tenn erament of mind, when com
pared with that produced by affordng relief t.
family blasted with poverty. Young frinds
read the story,ac out its suggestions, and God
will bless you--ED,
1t was the morning Of a new year that had
just set in, bright golden, aud Leautiful The
snow glittered like jewrllcd riament in the
c'oudless sun. The Ginning OF the si!yevy
sounds of the be Is struck joyfuiiy upon The
listener in every street. The air was cold
though not.picrcing, bracing, though not biting
Just could enough, in truth, to infuse life
and elasticity into every one that moved.
There was little girl, Il child of poverty on
that beautiful new years morning walking the
streets with the gay crowds that swept past her.
Her little feet had grown So numb, encased on
ly in thin shoes, and those badly worn, that
she could but with difficulty move one before
the other Her cheeks shook at every step she
took, and her lips looked truly purple. Alas.
poor Elsie Gray. She was title beggar.
Just like the old year, was the new year to
her. Just like the last years wants, and last
years sufferings, Were the wants and sufferings
of this The change of the year brought no
change in her condition with it. She was poor;
her mother was a widow and an invalid and
the child was a poor bcggar.
In the old and cheerless room CLEANED 10
bright fires of anniversary No evergreens, no
wreaths no flowers save a few old witherd ones
decked her time stained walls. There was no
sound of merry voices within the door to say
to the Widow Gray, "A Apply New Year to
you, Mrs, GrayI' Heaven seemed to have
walled her and her abode out from the happi-
ness that was all the worlds on that festive day
of the year. 1t had provided, to all appearan,
ces, no joys, no congratulations, no laughter
no gifts, no flowers, for them Why? Were
they outeast? Had they outraged their claims
on the wide worlds charities? Had they vol
unfairly shut themselves out from the sunlight
of the living creatures around them? No! a
shame take the world that it must be so an
swered for them. Mrs Gray was poor!
Little Elsie stopped at times and breathed
her hot breath upon her blue and benumbed
fingers, and stamping her tiny feet in their
thin easements with all the force left in them
and then big tears stood trembling in her large
blue eyes for moment, and rolled slowly dow n
her purple checks, as if they would freeze to
them. She had left her mother in bed sick
exhausted and furnishing. What wonder that
she cried, even though those hot tears onl,
dropped on the icy pavement They might a:
well fall there AS elsewhere; the many human
hearts that passed her We're full as icy and har
dencd.
She would have turned back to go home blu
she thought again other poor mother and wen
on, though where to go she knew not. Sh,
was to become a street beggar Where woulc
street beggars go? What streets are laid ou
and named and numbered for hem2 Surely, il
not home, where should they go? 1t was thi.
thought that brought those crystal tears-tha
started those deep and impressible sobs thai
choked her infant utterance
a young boy-a bright looking little fellow
--chanccd to pass her as she walked and wcp
and stopped. He caught the glitter of thos,
tears i. the sunshine, and the sight smote hi!
angel heart. He knew not what want and suf
fcring were. He had never known them him,
self-never once heard of them-knew no
what real beggar was. He stopped suddenly
before Elsie, and asked her the cause of thos,
tears. She could make him no rePly-her hear
was too full.
Has anybody hurt !ou?' asked the feeling
little fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
"Have you lost your way?' he PERSISTED
NO" answered the chill quite audlbly.
What is the matter, them" he asked
."Mo,he- is poor and sick, and am cold
and .i.7ssy. w hare nothinst3 cat oar