The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-10-05
A BEAUTIFUL STORY.
BETTER THAN DIAMONDS.

though the sun was shining brightly yet the
long icicles hung from the caves of the
houses, and the wheels rumbled loudly as
| they passed over the ground. There YVES
clear. bright look and cold wind, which
quickened every, step. Just then, little
child came running along-a poor. ill-clad
bare; she had no cloak and no shawl, and
her little bare feet looked red and suffer-
ing. She could not have been more than
eight years old. She carried bundle in
her hand Poor little shivering child! l..
even |, who could Go nothing else, pitied
her. AS she passed me. her foot slipped
upon the ice, and she fell, with cry Of
pain; but she held the bundle tightly in her
hand, and. jumping up, although she was
limping sadly, endeavored to run on as be-
fore.
"Stop, little girl. stop" said a sweet
voice; and beautiful woman, wrapped In
a huge shawl. and with furs all around her.
came out ofa jewellers store close by
Poor little child, )" she said; "are you hurt!
Sit down on this step and tell me-
How loved her, and how beautiful she
looked! '''i
.Oh.s / cannot" said the child, 81 can
not watt am in such hurry. am in
such hurry. | have been to the shoe
makers, and mother must finish this work
tonight. or she will never get any more
shoes TO bind.'
"To.right," said the beautiful woman
TO -night!'' .,
"Yes,' said the child--for the stranger $
hor hold
for the great ball tonight; and these satin
slippers must be spangled. and"
The beautiful woman took the bundle
from the child's hand and unrolled it.
You do not know why her face flushed and
then turned pale; but |. yes |, looked into
the bundle, and on the inside OF slipper
| saw a name-a lady's name written, but
Il shall not tell it.
i .'And where does your mother live, lit
tie girl?"
So the child told her where, and then she
told her that her father was dead, and that
her little baby brother was sick, and thai
her mother bound shoes that they might
have bread; but that sometimes they were
cold; and that her mother sometimes cried,
because she had no money to buy milk for
|her little sick brother. And then saw
that the lady's eyes were fall oftears;. and
/ she rolled up the bundle quickly, and gave
Fit back to the girl. but she gave her moth
i ing else-sno not even one sixpence, and,
turning away. went back into the store
from which she had just come out. As
she went away. saw the glitter of dia.
mond pin. Presently she came back, and
:. stepping into handsome carriage, rolled
off, The little girl looked after her for a
moment. and then. with her little bare fee
colder than they were before. ran quickly
away | went with the little girl. and
saw her go into narrow, damp street, aDt
; Into small, dark room; and | saw hel
mother-her sad, faded mother. but witt
face so sweet, so patient. hushing ane
soothing sick baby. And the baby slept
and the mother laid it on her lap, and ths
bundle was unrolled: dim candle helped
, her with her work, for. though it was no
, night. yet her room was very dark. Ther
after while, she kissed her little girl, ant
babe her warm her poor little frozen fee
e over the scanty fire in the CRATE. and gav
4 her little piece of bread, for she had nj
more; and then she heard her say her even
e ing prayer. and, folding her tenderly to he
4 bosom, blessed her. and told her that tn
angels would take care of her. And tn
!. little child slept, and dreamed-oh, sue
e pleasant dreams-of warm stockings an
: new shoes. but the mother sewed on. alone
n And. as the bright spangles gliitered o.
the satin slippers. came there no rePinng
a in her. heart. When she thought of he
q little child's bare, cold feet, and of scan
;. morsel of dry bread, which had not salts
e fed her hunger, came there no visions {
n bright room and gorgeous clothing. an
i table loaded with all that is good an
d nice, one little portion of which spared I
3 her would send warmth and comfort to he
D humble dwelling?
Ifsuch thoughts came, and o,hers-of
e pleasan: cottage, and of one who had deal
! liy loved her, and whose strong arm ma
e kept want and trouble from her and he
d babes. but who could never come back
is 1ilthese thoughts did come, repiningly, ther
is came also another. and the widows hand
e. were clasped. and her head bowed low
e deep .contrition, as heard her say. '.Fati
S, er. forgive me, for thou dost all things vel
n and will trust thee'' Just then the doc
re opened softly. and some one entered. VIZ
d, it an angel? Her dress was OF spotle.
rsI white, and she moved with noiseless steI
She went to the bed where the sleepin
child lay, and covered it with soft war
blankets. Then presently fire sparkle
= and blazed there. such as the little o.
- crate had never known before. Then
: huge loaf was on the table, and fresh mi
e for the sick babe Then she passed gel
= tly before the mother. and drawing the u
=, ~ finished slipper from her hand. and place
:, Il there purse Of gold, and said, in vol,
- ;" like music: .Bless thy God, who is q
God of the fatherless and the widow
3 and she was gone; only. as she went OF
:, heard her say. better than diamonds
=. better than diamonds!' What could g
)" mean? l looked at the mother. Wi
:. :. clasped hands, and streaming eyes, s.
=, blessed her God, who had sent an ang
. = to comfort her. So | went too; and we
II to bright room, where there were mus
IL and dancing and sweet flowers. and 81
~ yonng. happy faces, and beautiful wome
trichly dressed, and sparkling jewels; 3
M lnone that T knew, until one passed Z
Il 80. - -Hra- .~~ys