Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-12-24

you.-ED.
1t was the morning Of new year that had
Just set in, bright, golden, and beautiful
The snow gittered like jewelled ralment in
the cloudless sun. The Ginning fthe sill
very sounds of the bells struck joyfully up
on the listener in every street. The air was
cold, through not piercing; bracing, though
not biting-just cold enough, in truth, to in
fuse lie and elasticity into every one that
moved.
There was little girl, a child of poverty,
on that beautiful new years morning walk
ing the streets with the gay Gro wds that
swept past her. Her little feet had grown
so numb, encased only 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 a lille 6eggeri
Just like the old year was the new year to
her. Just like the last years wants, and
and last years suferngs, were the wants
and sufferings of this The change of the
year brought no change in her condition
with 1t. She was poor; her mother was
widow and an invalid, and the child was
poor beggar
In the old and cheerless room cleaned no
bright fires of anniversary. No evergreens,
no wreaths, no flowers, save few old with
cred ones, decked her time stained wallis
There was no sound of merry voices within
the door to say to the Widow Gray, GA
happy New Year to you, Mrs. Gray !''-
Heaven seemed to have walled her and her
abode out from the happiness that was all
the worlds on that festive day Of the year.
1t had provided to all appearances. no joy,
no congratulations, no laughter no gifts,
flowers, for them. Why? Were they out
casts Had they outraged their claimes on
the wide worlds charities5 Had they vol
unfairly shut themselves out from the sun
| light of the living creatures around them?-
No shame take the world that it must be
so answered for them. Mrs. Gray was
poor!
Little Elsie stopped at times and breathed
her hot breath upon her blue and benumb-
ed fingers, and Stamping her tiny feet in
in them and then big tears stood trembling
in her large blue eyes for moment and
rolled slowly down her purple cheeks, 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 only dropped
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 go home,
but she thought again of her poor mother &
went on, though where to go she knew not.
She was to become street beggar! Where
would street beggars go? What streets are
laid out and named and numbered for Mem9
Surely, if not home, then where should they
go? 1t was this though! brought those crys-
tai tears-that started those deep and i'm
pressibe sobs that choked her infant utter
ance.
A young boy-a bright looking little fel-
low-chanced 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 himsell-never once heard Of
them--knew not even what real teggar
was. He stopped suddenly before Elsie, &
asked her the cause of those tears. She could
make him no reply--her heart was toe
full.
''Has anybody hurt you'" asked the feel.
ing little fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
"Have you lost your way'" he persist.
ed
"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. Oul
room is quite cold and there is no wood fol
us. Oh you do not know all-you canno
know ALL
"But wHl," replied the manly boy
"Where do you live"
"Will you go with me 7" asked Elsie, hel
face brightning.
"Yes; let me go with you," said he
"show me the way!
Through street, lane, and alley,she guild
ed him. They reached the door Of her how
! ell 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. A sick woman feebly raised hel
head from the pillow, and gave her sweet
smile. "Elsie, have you come ?" she faint
ly said.
eyes, MOTHER" answered the child; "and
| have brought this boy with me. do not
know who he is, but he wanted to come and
see where we lived. Did do wrong tc
bring him, mother'"
"No my child" said the mother, eff 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 gaz-
ed in astonishment upon the mother and
child. The scene was new to him. He
wondered if this was what they called por-
frty. His eyes looked sadly upon the vast
ingmother, but they glittered with wonder
when turned towards Elsie. Suddenly they
filed with tears. The want. the woe, the
barrenness, the desolation, were all too much
for him. He shuddered at the cold, uncov-
cred floor. He gazed mournlully into the
empty fireplace. His eyes wandered Won
deringly over the naked walls, looking so
uninyitngly and cheerless. Putting his
hand into his pocket, he grasped the coin
! his mother had that very morning given him,
and drew it forth. "You may have thatP p
SAID he, holding it out to the child.