Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-09-16
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
yet the long icicles hung from the caves
OF the houses, and the wheels rumbled
loudly as they passed over the ground.
Ihere was a clear. bright look, and a
cold, bracing feeling in the air, and q
keen, northwest wind, which quickened
every step. Just then little child ca me
running along--a poor. ill-clad child ;
her CLONES were scant and thread bare ;
She had no cloak and no shawl, and her
lltile bare feet looked red and suffering
one could not have been more than eigb,
years old. She carried a bundle in her
hand Poor little shivering child |,
even !, who could do nothing else, pit
led 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 limped sadly, endeavored
to run on as before.
"Stop, little girl, STOP" said sweet
voice; and beautiful woman, wrapped
In huge shawl, and with furs all
around her, came out of jewelers. 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!
"Oh cannot, said the child II cannot
wait am in such a hurry. have Jus,
been TO the shoemaker's and mother must
finish this work tonight, or she will
never get any wore shoes to bind"
ITO ight?" said the beautiful woman
TO night 20
eyes" said the child-fer the stran gers
kind manner had made her bold-..yes,
for the great ball tonight; and these
satin slippers must be spangled; and"
The beautiful woman took the bundle
from the child S hand md 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 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
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 sometimes
they were very cold, and that her mother
sometimes cried. because she had no
money to buy milk for her sick brother.
And then saw the lady's eyes were full
OF tears; and she rolled up the bundle
quickly, and gave it back to the little
giel but she gave her nothing else--no,
not even one sixpence, and, turning
away. wen. back into the store from
which she had just come out. As she
went away, l saw the glitter of a dia-
mond pin. Presently she came back,
and stepping into handsome carriage,
rolled off. The little girl looked after
her for moment. and then, with her
little bare feet, ran quickly away. +
went with the little girl, and saw her
90 to narrow, damp street, and into q
small. dark room and | saw her mother,
her sad, faded mother, but with face
SO sweet, SO patient, hushing and sooth
ing sick baby. And the baby slept,
and the mother laid it on her lap, and
the bundle was unrollsd; and . dim
candle helped her with her work, for,
though it was not night, yet her room
was very dark. Then, after q while,
she kissed her little girl, and babe her
warm her little frozen feet over the
scanty fire in the CRATE, and gave her
lille piece of bread, for she had no more;
and then heard her say her evening
pray eI, and, folding her tenderly to her
bosom, blessed her, and told her that the
angels would take care of her. And the
little child sept, and dreamed-oh, such
pleasant dreams -of warm stockings,
and new shoes ; but the mother sewed
on, alone. And as the bright spangles
glit.ered on the satin slipper, came
there no repinings in her heart? When
she though, Of her little child's bare, cold
feet. and Of the scant morsel of dry
bread, which had not satisfied her hun
ger, came there no visions Of a bright
room and gorgeous clothing and table
loaded with all that is good and nice
one little portion Of which spared to her
would send warmth and comfort 10 her
humble dwelling?
If such thoughts came. and o,hers-of
"A pleasant cottage, and one who had
dearly loved her, and whose strong
arm had kept wan; and trouble from
her and her babes, but who could
never come back-if these thoughts did
come repiningly, there came also
another; and the widows. hands were
clasped, aud her head bowed low, in
deep coutr.tion, as | heard her say,
ia ther, forgive me, for thou doest all
things we'll, and ] will trust in thee.
Just then the door opened softly, and
some one entered. Was ii an angel /?
Her dress was Of spotless white, and she
moved with noiseless step. She went
TO the bed " here the sleeping child lay,
and covered it with soft, warm blankets
Then presently fire sparkled and bIazed
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 un.
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