Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-31


g>9 From the Flower Basket.
" HTHE GOLD COIN;:
Or, The Little Street Beggar.--A Story
of Happy New Year"
BY GEORGE oANHNe HILL.
The following story is a jewel. We
ask for it a careful perusal from all oui
young friends. What can candies, cakes,
or any other enticement of the confec'
tionary, do towards giving calm, happy
temperament of mind, when compared
with that produced by affording relief tc
a family blasted with poverty. Young
friends read the story, act out its sugges.
tons, and God will bless you.-ED.
1t was the morning of new year that
had Just set in. bright, golden, and beau
tiful. The snow glittering like jewelled
raiment in the cloudless sun. The chi
ming of the silvery sounds of the bells
struck ioyfully upon the listener in every
street. The air was cold, though not
piercing bracing, though not biting
just cold enough, in truth, to infuse life
and elasticity into every one that moved
There was little girl, child of pow
erty, on that beautiful new years morn
ing, walking the streets with the gay
crowds that swept past her. Her little
feet had grown so numb, encased only in
thin shoes 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 beggar
Just like the old year, was the new
year to her. Just like the last years
wants, and the 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, hel
mother was widow and an invalid, and
the child was poor beggar
In the old and cherries, room CLEANED
no bright fires of anniversary, mo ever
greens, no wreaths, no flowers, save {
few old withered ones decked1the tins
stained walls. There was no sound O
merry voices within the doorito say to the
Widow Gray, "a happyr Now Year t
you, Mrs. Gray" HeaseRd seemed %
have shut her and her abode out IRON
happiness that was all the worlds on thai
festive day of the year. II had provided
to all appearances, no joys, no congratu
lations, no laughter, no gifts, no flowers
for them. Why? Were they outcasts
Had they outraged their claims on tn,
wide worlds charities? Had they vol
unfairly shut themselves out from tn,
sunlight of the living creatures around
them? No shame take the world tina
it must be so answered for them. Mrs
Gray was poor
Little Elsie stopped at times and brea
thed 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 the big tear,
stood in her large blue eyes for moment
and rolled slowly down her purple checks
as they would freeze to them. She had
left her mother in bed, sick, exhausted
and furnishing! What wonder that she
cried, even though her tears only dropped
ON the icy pavement. AS well fall there
as elsewhere the many human hearts
that passed her were full as icy and hsr-
dened.
She would have turned back to &c
home, but she thought again of her poor
mother, and went on, though where to 20
she knew not. She was to become a
street beggarl Where would street beg
gars go What streets are laid out and
named and numbered for them? Surely,
if not home, then where should they 90
It was this thought that brought those
crystal tears-that started those deep and
impossible sobs that choked her infant
utterance.
A young boy-a bright looking little
fellow-chanced to meet her as she walk
ed and wept and sobbed. 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-neYer
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 heart was too full.
Has any body hurt your asked the
feeling little fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
Have you lost your way" he Persis-
ted.
NO. answered the child quite audi
bly,.
What is the matter. then? he asked.
Mother is poor and sick, and am cold
and hungry. We have nothing to eat
Our room is quite cold, and there indeed,
is no wood for us. oh. you do not know
all-yoti cannot know all.
tBut / WILL replied the manly boy
Where do you live?
VIII you 90 with me p asked Elsie,
her face Frightening
i" ..