Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-01-15

last years sulIerings. were the wants and
sulTerings of this The change of the year
brought no change in her condition with H.
She was poor; her mother was widow
and an invalid, aud the child was poor
beggar
la the old and cheerless room cleaned
no bright fires of anniversary. No ever
green's, no wrealhs, no flowers, save a few
old wiihered ones, decked her time stained
walls. There was no sound of merry voices
within the door to say TO the Widow Gray,
A happy New Year to YOU Mrs. Gray -
Heaven seemed to have walled her aud her
abode out from the happiness that was all
the worlds on the festive day of the year
1t had provided To all appearances, no Joys,
no congratulations, 40 laughter, no gifts,
no flowers for them. Whyl Were they cut
castsl Had they outraged their claims on
the wide worlds charitiesl Had they vol
unfairly shut themselves out from the sun
light Of the living creatures around them
No a shame take the world that II must be
so answered for them. Mrs. Gray was
poor.
Little Elsie stopped at times and breath
ed her hot breath upon her blue and be-
HutitDtA ilbHttet utlu eAubiAtE lNi hth1 ANNt
IN their thin easements with all the force
left ia them aud then big tears stood rem-
bling in her large blue eyes for a moment,
and rolled slowly down her purple checks,
as if they would freeze To them She had
left her mother IN bed, sick, exhausted, aud
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 fully as icy and
hardened.
She would have turned back to 60 home,
but she thought again Of her poor mother
and went on, though where to 20 she knew
not She was 10 become a street beggar -
Where would street beggars GOT What
streets are LAID out aud named and number
ed for than Surely, IT not home, then
where should they 60 1t was this Thought
that brought those cbrystal tears-that start
ed those deep and lrrepress bic sobs that
choked her infant uucrance.
A Young hoy--a bught-lookine little fell
low-chanced TO pass Ter as she walked
aud wept and stopped lie caeght The gilt
ter of those tears lu the sunshine. aud the
sight smote his angel heart. lie knew nol
what want aud suffering we've. lie had
netef known them hlnselt--neyer once
heard of lhem-knew not even what rea
bsg-ar was lie stopped suddenly before
El-le, and asked her the cause Of those
tears She could make him no reply he
heart was too iuli.
Has any body hurt you ? asked the Ieel
ing ltle fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
Have YOU lost yuur way he persisted.
80, answered ,he st,,s.i .i..'.. a,dibi,.
What Is the matter, then he ASKED.
Mother is poor aud sick, and am coli
and hungry We have nothing to eat. Ga
room is quite cold, and ihlre Is uu Woo
for u.s. Oh, you do uut know al You ean
mol know a
Bu, uU,' replied the manly boy
+ Where do youINeF
D VIII you go with me p asked Elsie he
, face frightening
Yes; let NE go with You, said he
show me the way
Through street, lane and alley, she guic
ed hm. They reached the door of he
/, howell The cold breath of the wind whis
4. led ln at She cracks aud creyices and kei
% hole before them, az # inviting them IN
S They entered. a sick woman ieeby RAISE
. her nead irora the pillow, aud gave her
. swee, smie Elsie, have You come I! sh
, family said
Yes, mother, answered the child an
j. have brought this boy with me | do NJ
y know who he Is, but he sald he wanted I
d come and see where we lived Did d
C wrong lo bring hlm, mother p
No, my child, sa,d the mother, Il !
+ knows how II ply YOU from his littIe hear
but he cannot Puy me yei-he Is rot OF
p enough
n The bright faced, unny-hearted boy ga
T. ell IA establishment upon tie mother al
u child. lie wondered If this was what the
d called porcrty. HIS eyes looked sadly up,
~ the wasting mother, but they glttered wi
~ wonder when towards Elsie. Sudden
T. they flied with tears. The want, The wo
81 the barrenuess, the desnlauou, we're all It
much for him. lie shuddered at the col
pc uncovered floor. He gazcd mournlully 4
y to the empty fireplace His eyes wandc
% ed wonderngly over the naked walls, loo
st ing SO uninvuugly aud cherries PualI
ls his hand into hls pocket, he grasped Il
coin his mother had that very morn give
= him. and drew II forth. You may ha
that ? saId he, holding IL out to the child.
On, YOU are too goodl You are Il
generous | fear . broke ia the mother,
If she ought not 10 take \: from him.
Mother val give me another If wan
said he; II Will do yoa grea; deal OF goo
j." aud know | don't need IT. Take It, Ia
At, you shall take III and he was instant
gone.
u Ia was gold coin OF the value of fl
- dollars
y Tine mother and chld wepI together
Ip Then they talked of The good boy who
ut heart had opened f1r them on this new ca
u day. Then they leI their fancles rua a
~ grow wild aud reyel as they chose Tn
=, hooked at the glIslen'ug piece. There W
SIS bread, and fuel, and clothIug, and eve
other comfort Ia II. They continued to "a
81 upon H. Now they saw wllhin It's rim pc
H. ufes Of delight aud joy; visions of 10
IL rooms, all wreathed aud decorated vi
of evergreen and flowers; visions of smIli
y faces aud happy children sights Of u'er
re sleigh rides; aud the clustering of brig
9, runners over the smool-worn snow, tn