The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-01-01
From the Flower Basket.
TIE COLD COIN.
A STORY OF Thu "HAPPY NEW YEAR"
ny GEORGE CANNING HILL.


Il was on the morning Of new year
thu, had Just set in, bright. golden, ano
beautiful, The snow gi,,eIcd like jswcl-
ell raucn, in the cloud dcss sun. The
chimin. of the silseIy sounds OF the bel
struck ioyfuiis on ibe listener OF ever.
street. The air was cold though no'
piercing; braciog, ,lsengh not biting -jns'
cold enough, ia irn,h IL infasc lie ans
e'aslnuy ln,n every ono that moved.
There was a little girl child ofpoverty
OF The beslIifal new years morning, walk
iGg the streets with the gay crowds that
swept pas, her. Her little Zee; had grown
SO numb. encased oniy in thin shoes, md
thc Sc badly worn, that she could but with
officially move one before The other. Her
checks shook al every step she took, und
her lips looked truly purple. Alas, patr
Elsie Gray! sho was linlc beggdr.
jas, like the old year was the new year
10 her. Just like the last years wants and
the last years sutferings, were the wants Of
this! The change OF the gear brought nc
change in her condition With it. She was
pot, her mother WIS a widow aud an invn
lid. and The child wns a poor beggat!
IN tho old aud chccrlcss room CLEANED
no bright fires Of anniversary. No ever
green's, no wreaths, no flowers. save te"
old wi,hcred ones, dcctcd her tirne-s,ainec
walls. There was no sound OF merry voices
within the door to say to the Widow Grav
"a happy New Year TO you, Mrs. Gray!
Henven seemed 20 have walled her and
her abode cut from the happiness that was
all the worlds on the festive year. J, had
provided, to all appearances, no Joys, M
congratulations, no laughter, no gifts, no
flowers for them. Why? We're they ont.
cas,s9 Had they outraged their claims on
the vide worlds charities? Had they vol.
pn,sr;ly shut themselves out from the sun
light Of the living creatures around them
NJ! shame take the world that i must be
50 answered for them. Mrs. Grny was
poor!
Little Elsie stopped a, times md breath
ed her HIT breath npon her blue and be
numed fingers, and stamping her tiny iee'
in their thin easements with all the iorcs
left in them! and then big tears stood trem
bling in her large blue eyes for moment
and rolled slowly down her purple cheeks
as they would freeze 10 them. She hae
lelt her mother in bed. SICK, exhausted anr
iamshing g!-what wonder ihnt she cried
even though those hot tears only droppet
on thoicy pavement. They might MS well
iaI there as else where; the many human
hearts that passed her were foil as icy ane
hardened.
She would have turned bnck to GO home
but she thought again Of her poor mother
and went on, though where to 60 she knew
net. She wna 10 become street beggar
Where would street beggars GO! Wha,
streets are laid out and named and mum
bered for them? Surely, if not home. thcr
where should they go? It was this thought
That brought those crystal tcars-'ha'
started those deep and inexpressible sob'
"M chokcd her infant u,tcrance.
A!oang boy-n brisht.!ooking little Tel
'ow-chanced to pass her ns che walked
ana wep, and stopped. He caught ,h'
gutter OF those tears in The sunshine, AM
Inc sight smote his angel heart. lie knew
no. what want and suffering were. III
nad never known them himself; never ones
neard OF them-kncw not even what rea
popsnr was. lie stopped suddenly before
Elsie, and asked her the cause Of thos,
,ear'. She could make him no reply-he
henrt wns too full.
"Has any body hurt you9" asked th'
feeling little fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
Shave YOU lost your ways" he persist
ed.
No. answered the child, quite audihly
What is the matter. ,hen" he asked