Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-12-25

tnoSe deep ana Impressive SOUS ina
choked her infant utterance.
A young boy--a bright-looking lit
tie lellow-chanced TO pass her a;
she walked and wept and stopped
He caught the glitter Of those tear.
in the sunshine, and the sight smott
+ his angel heart. He knew not what
want and suffering were. He had
never known them himself-neveI
once heard of them-knew not even
what real beggar was. He stopped
suddenly before Elsie, and asked heI
the cause OF those tears. She'could
make him no reply-her heart was
too full.
"Has anybody hurt you?" asked
the feeling little fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
"Have you lost your wayl" he per-
sisted.
"No," answered the child, quite
audibly.
"What is the matter, thenr' he
asked.
"Mother is poor and sick, and |
am cold and hungry. We have
nothing to eat. Our room is quite
cold, and there is no wood for u.s.
Oh, you do not know all-you can
not kaow ALL"
"But / ,oiH," replied the manly
boy. "Where do you liver'
"WiIl you go with mel" asked
Elsie, her face Frightening.
"Yes; let me go with you said
he; "show me the way"
Through street, lane, and alley,
she guided him. They reached the
door oI her bovel. The cold breaths
of the wind whistled in at the cracks
and crevices and key hole before
them, as if inviting them in. They
entered. Asick woman feebly raised
her head from the pillow, and gave
her a sweet smile. "Elsie, have you
comer' she family said.
ayes, MOTHER" answered the
child; sand | 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, nv child" said the mother,
"if he knows how TO pity you from
his little heart; but he cannot pity
me yet-he is not old enough"
The bright-faced, sunny-hearted
boy gazed in astonishment upon the
mother and child. He wondered il
this was what they called poverty.
His eyes looked sadly upon the vast
ing mother, but they glittered with
wonder when turned towards Elsie.
Suddenly they filled with tears
The want, the woe, the barrenness,
the desoIation, we're all too much for
him. He shuddered at the cold, un-
covered floor. He gazed mournfully
into the empty fireplace. His eyes
wandered wonderingly over the ma
ked walls, looking so uninvitingly
and cherries. Putting his hand
into bis pocket, he grasped the coin
his mother had that very morning
given him, and drew it forth. "You
may have that" said he holding it
out TO the child.
"Oh, you are too goodl You are
too generous, fearI' broke in the
mother, as if she ought not to take it
from him.
"Molher will give me another If |
want" said he; sit will do you a
great deal Of good, and | know |
don't need it. Take it. take it! you
shall take itl'' and he was instantly
gone.
II was a gold coin of the value of
five dollars.
The mother and child wept to-
gether. Then they talked of the
good boy whose heart had been
opened 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 glisten-
ing piece. There was bread, and
fuel, and clothing, and every other
comfort, in it. Now they saw with
in its rim pictures of delight and
Joy; visions Of long rooms, all
wreathed and decorated with ever
green and flowers; visions Of smiling
faces and happy children; sights Of
merry sleigh rides; and the glisten-
ing of bright runners over the
smooth-worn snow. They listened;
they heard the mingled sounds oI
merry voices and the Ginning music
bells, the accents of innocent tongues,
and the laugh of gladstone hearts.
Ali what philosophers stone was
that coinl How it turned every
thing first into gold, and then into
happinessl How it grouped around
them kind and cheerful friends, and
filled their ears with kind voicesl
How it garlanded all hours of that
day with evergreen and full blown
rosesl How it spread them a laden
table, and crowded it with merry