The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-07-21
"A AREAUTIFJL STORY
BETTER THAN DIAMONDS.

o1E 4EsS HAN D1AMONDS.
] was standing in the broad, crowded street of
. large city. 1t was cold winters day There
haa oeeii rain and, although the sun was shin
ing brightly, yet the long icices hung from the
caves OF the houses, and the wheels rumbled
loudly So they passed the ground. There
Was IL clear, bright look, and cold, bracing
Ieeling IN the air, and teen, northwest wind
winch auickened every step. Just then, a little
child came running aong-a poor, i'll clad child !:
her Clothes were scant and rhreadt are; she had
no cloak aud no shawl and her little bare feet
looked red and suffering She could not have
been more than eight years old She carried
bundle IN her hand-Poor little shiyering child :
l.eveu i, who could do nothing else, pitied her.
As she passed me, ner foot slipped upJn the ice,
and sue fell. with cry Of pain but she held
the bundle tightly in her hand, and jumping up,
although she hnped sadly, endeavorei to run
as before.
''Stop. little girl. stop" said sweet voice !;
and - beautiful woman, wrapped in q huge
shawl. and with furs all around her came COT Of
jewelers. store close by. '.Poor little child {"
she said. "are you hurt Sit down On this step
and tell me"-hOT loved her. and how be4uti
ful she ioOked oh, cannot" said the child !;
Il cannot wsit-i atn Ia such hurry. | have
been - the shOeInaksr's. and mother must finish
this work To- night. or she will never get any
more shoes TO bind" 80 night" said the beau
tIful womaB--'.to- night :" .'fes." said the
her bold-''yes, Tor the great b IL to night /;
and these satin slippers must be spangled and
- The beautiful woman took the bundle from
the chid's hand and unIolled it. You do not
know why her face flushed and then turned
pale but l, yes l, looked into the bundle, and
OH the inside OF slipper l saw name H.
dy's name-written +; but Il shall not tel! it.
And where does your mother live, little
girl :" SO the child told her where, and then
she told her that her father was dead, and that
her little baby brother sick, and thai her
mother bound shoes that they might have bread !;
but that sometimes they were very cold and that
her mother sometimes cried. because she had no
money to buy milk for her little sick brother
Aud then l saw that the lady's eyes were full of
tears /; and she rolled up the bundle quickly, and
gave it back to the little girl; but she gave her
nothing eise-ho, not even one sixpence. aod,
turning away, went back into the store from
which she had just come ont. AS she went away
l saw the glitter OF diamond pin. Presently
she came back, and stepping into handsome
carriage rolled off. The little girl looked after
her for q moment, and then with her little bare
feet, colder than they were before, ran quickly
away. went with the little girl. and saw her
60 to narrow, damp street, and into a small dark
room and saw her mother, her sad, faded
mother but with face sweet, 80 patient,
bushing and soothing sick baby. And the
babe slept /; AMI the mott er laid it on her own
lap, and the bundle was unrolled; and dim
was not night. yet her room was very dark
Then after awhile, she kissed her little girl,
and bade her warm her poor little frozen feet
over the scanty fire i'll the CRATE. and gave her
little piece of bread, for she had no more and
then she heard her say her evening prayer, and,
folding her tenderiy to her bosom, blessed her,
and told her that the angels would take care of
her. And the little child slept, ahd dreamed
oh, such pleasant dreams-of warm stockings
and new shoes but the mother sewed on, alone.
And as the bright spangles glittered on the satin
slipper, came there repinings into the heart
When she thought of her little child's bare, cold
feet, and OF the scant morsel of dry bread, which
had not satisfied her hunger, came there no Wis
ions of bright room and gorgeous clothing. and
q table loaded with all that wIs go ,d and nice,
one little portion of which spared to her would
send warmth and comfort ~ her humble dwell
ling
Ii such thoughts came, and others-of a plea
SAINT cottage, and of one who had dearly loved
her, and whose strong arm had kept want AM
trouble from her anu her babes, but who could
never come back-if these thoughts did come, re-
pinipgly, there came also another and the wi
dow's hands were clasped, and her head bowed
low, IN deep contrItion, as i heard her say.
Father, forgive me, for thou dost all things well,
and will trust thee" Just then the door open
ed softly, and some one entered. Was it an an
gel? Her dress was of spotiess white, and she
moved With nOiseless step. She went to the
bed where the sleeping child lay, and covered 1t
with soft, warm blankets. Then presently a hre
sparkled and blazed there, such as the little OLD
CRATE had never known before. Then huge
loaf was upon the table, and fresh milk for the
sick babe. Then she passed gently before the
mother and drawing the unfinished slipper from
her hand placed there purse of god and said
in a voice like music, "Bless thy God. who is
the God of the fatherless and the widow"-and
she was gone; ohly, as she went out. l heard
her say, better than diamonds-better than d.
Almonds J" What could she mean LOOKED at
the mother. With clasped hands and streaming
eyes, she blessed her God, who had sent an an
gelsto comfort her. So went away too and
l went to bright room, where there was music
and dancing, and sweet flowers and saw
young happy faces, and beautiful women, richly
dressed, and sparkling with jewels but none
that knew, until one passed me whose dress
was OF simple white, with only rose bud On her
bosom, and whose voice was like the sweet
sound of silver lute. No spangled slipper
glittered upon her foot but she moved as one
that treadeth upon the air. and the divine beau
ty of holiness had so giorifed her face, that l
felt, as ! gazed upon her, that she was indeed an
angel of God.
krsDo you see any thing ridiculous IN this
wig ?' said . brother Judge to Curran-