Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-09-07
Cbuirt IitRraturf.
A Beautiful Story.
BETTER THAN DIAMONDS.

a 0SduIAbA 0IO1y'
BETTER THAN DIAMONDS.
was standing in the broad, crowded street
Of large city 1t was cold winters day.
There had been rain and, although the sun
was shining brightly, Jet the long icicles hung
from the caves of the houses, and the wheels
rumbled loudly as they passed over the
ground. There was clear, bright look, and
a cold wind, which quickened every step
Just then, a little child came running along
"a poor, clad child; her clothes were
scant and thread-bare; she had no cloak
and no shawl, and her little batefeet looked
red and sufgsif She could Tot have been
more than eight years old. She carried a
bundle in her hand. Poor little shivering
child l, even |, who could do nothing else,
pitied her. As she passed me, her foot slip
ped 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 sweet voice;
and beautiful woman, wrapped in huge
shawl, ard with furs all around her, came
out of a jewelers. store close by. Poor lit
tie child she said; are you hurt? Sit
down on this step and tell me- How
loved her, and how beautiful she looked -
Oh, cannot said the child; L cannot
watt am in such hurry. have been
TO the shoemaker's, and mother must finish
this work tonight, Or she will never get any
more shoes to bind Tonight said the
beautiful woman-to-night! Yes said the
child-for the, strangers kind manner had
made her boid-yes, for the great ball to-
night; 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 I,
looked into the bundle, and on the inside of
a slipper | saw name-a lady's name
written butt shall not tell 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 was SICK and that 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. And then / saw that
the lady's eyes were full Of tears; and she
rolled up the bundle quickly, and gave i
back to the little girl, but she gave her moth
ing else-no, not even one sixpence, and
turning away, vent back into the store from
-wn1cn She naos just come out. AS size wen
away, saw the glitter of diamond PIN
Presently she came back, and stepping int
a handsome carriage rolled off. The lttl,
girl looked after her moment, and then
with her little bare feet colder than they
were before, ran quickly away. [ went will
the little girl, and I saw her 90 to mar
row, damp street, and into a small, darl
! room; and saw her mother-her sad, ia
| ded mother, but with face so sweet, so pa
: tlent, hushing and soothing a sick baby
2 And the baby slept, and the mother laid
S on her lap, and the bundle was unrolIed
a and dim candle helped her with her WORK
r for, though it was not night yet her room
= was very dark. Then. after awhile, sh
}, kissed her little girl, and bade her warn
K her poor little frozen feet over the scanty fir
e in the CRATE, and gave her a little piece c
e bread, for she had no more; and then sh
e heard her say her evening prayer, and, folc
g ing her tenderly to her bosom, blessed hel
), and told her that the angels would take car
t Of her. And The iftttle child slept, an
e dreamed-oh, such pleasant dreams
r warm stockings and new shoes, but the !nt
!, ther sewed on, alone And, as the brig}
10 spangles glittered on the satin slippers, cam
d there no repinings in her heart When ST
], thought of her little chiId's bare, cold fee
k and of the scant morsel Of dry bread, whiC
,e had Tot satisfied her hunger, come there I
ID visions Of bright room and gorgeous clot
Sc ing, and table loaded with all that was goe
I'd and nice, one little portion of which spare
10 to her would send warmth and comfort
her humble dwelling
If such thoughts came, and others-of
pleasant cottage, and Of one who had dear
loved her, and whose strong arm had ke
Nv want and trouble from her and her babt
but who could never come back-if the
he thoughts did come, repiningly, there cal
&c also another; and the widows hands we
ae el clasped, and her head bowed low in de
h. contrition, as { heard her say, Father, f
et- give me, for thou dost all things well, anc
re will trust thee" Just then the door open
90 softly, and some one entered. Was it
est angel? Her dress was of spotless viii
IS; and she moved with noiseless step.
vi vi went to the bed where the sleeping child l.
m o1r and covered it with soft warm blankets.
nd Then presently fire sparkled and blaz
he there, such as the little old CRATE had ne
ch known before. Then huge loaf was NJ
he the table, and fresh milk for the sick babe
nc M Then she passed gently before the moth
'od "a and drawing the unfinished slipper from
nts hand, and placed there purse of gold, a
Till said, in voice like music: bless thy G
who is the God of the fatherless and
widow and she was gone 7; only, as
"A went out, heard her say, better than q
DO moads, better than diamonds :" What co
me she mean !? / looked at the mother. "
1to " clasped hands, and streaming eyes.
il blessed her God, who had sent an anre
les, comfort her. So went too; and wen
uld bright room, where there were music,
hey dancing, and sweet flowers; and |
1ln o,,,o. loppv c., -