Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-03-21

fled N the cracks and crevices and key
hoIss before them, as If inviting them IN.
They entered. A sick woman teebly raised
her head from the pillow, and gave htr -,
sweet smile. "Elsie, have you come
she family SAID. .,ua ..na
| have brought this boy with me. do NOT
know who he is, but he said he wanted 10
come and see where we live. Did DO
wrong to bring him, mother" .,
mo, my child" said the mother, III ne
knows how to pity you from his little heart;;
but he cannot pity me yet-he Is not ola
enough"
The bright-faced, sunny-hearted boy
gazed in astonishment upon the mother and
child. The scene was new to him. lie
wondered if this was what they called pow
ertv. His eyes looked sad upon the vast
inc mother, but they glittered with wonder
when turned towards Elsie. Suddenly they
filled with tears. The want and woe, the
harrenness the desolaton, were all 100
much for him. He shuddered at the cold,
uncovered floor. He gazed mourniully M
to the fire. place. His eyes wandered Won
deringly over the naked walls locking so
unmvltinglv and cheerless. Putting his
hand into his pocket he grasped the coin
that his mother had that very morn gwen
him, and drew it forth.
"You may have that" said he, holding
it out to the child.
ooh you are too good You are very
cererops 7 fearlp as if she ought not 10
take u from him.
Mother will give me another if | want,
said he. 1T will do you a great deal OF
good, and | do not need it. Take it, take
it, you shall take it, and he was instantly
gone.
1t was gold coin of the value of FIVE
dollars
Mother and child wept together. Their
they talked of :he good boy whose hear
had opened for them on this new years
day. Then they let their fancies run ano
grow wild and revel as they chose. They
looked at the gistening piece. There was
bread, and fuel, and clothing, and every
comfort in its depths. They continued tt
gaze upon it. Now they saw within its rim
pictures Of delight and joy; visions of long
rooms, all wreathedland decorated with ev
ergreens and flowers; visions OF smiling
faces and happy children sights of mer
Iry voices, and the Ginning music bell:
the accent of innocent tongues, and the
laugh of gladsome hearts. Ah what
philosopher stone was that coin !! How /
turned everything first into gold and then
into happiness How 1t grouped around
kind and cheerful friends, & filled their ears
with kind voices How it garlanded all
hours OF that day with evergreens and full
blown roses. How it spread them lader
table and crowded it with merry guests
and those guests, too, all satisfied and hap
py! Oh, what bright rays shone forth from
that trilng coin of gold. Could it have
been so bright in the child's or mans dark
pocket. No; else 1t had before then burnt
| its very way through and lent its radiance
to others. Could it have shone with such
visions in the rich mans hands i? No; else
his avarice would have vanished at once,
and his heart have flowed with generosity
No. no il was only to the widow and hel
child that it wore such shine. and emitted
such brilliant rays, and revealed such sweet
and welcome visions! Only for such as
they.
That night returned this angel boy TO the
bleak house filled with happiness and light
ed with Joy but he was not alone, his mo-
tber was with him. Blessed boy. He
passed the whole of New Years day in
making others happy. And how much
HAMMER was he himself? How his little
heart warmed and glowed to see the chllo
uncover the basket he had brought with
him, and take out, one by one, the gifts
which were slowed there; and how over
loved was he to see his mother offer the
sick woman work and new home, and to
see the sick woman grow suddenly strong
and almost well, under the influence OF klno
oilers. He wondered if their haPpines;
could possibly be as deep as his own, Il
their New Year was as bright to them as
his was to him. He knew not how one
could be happier than he was at that mo-
ment.
Years have rolled away into the silen
past. That little girl-Elsie Gray-is la
DIV. Not lady only in name, but one IN
very deed, in heart and conduct. She
lwells in a suburban cottage, and her nus
band is devoted only to her. The husband
is no other than the generous boy who on
the New Years festival accosted her SC
tenderly in the street and went home with
her. Her poor mother sleeps quietly in the
church ward; vet she lived to know thai
God had provided for her child. She died
resigned and happy. -,
Are there coins either Of gold or silver
that must be locked away from sight at the
beginning of the New Year?