Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-03-02
Kate and Ellen.

What difference there is in children ~
thought |.
was on my way to Brooklyn, with my
two little cousins, Kate and Ellen. Soon
after we were seated in the omnibus a poor
woman entered, first lifting in little girl
and then leading little boy, whom we soon
discovered to be blind He was about four
years old, with soft white curls and blue
eyes, into which. alas, the glad light entered
not, His sister, some years older, was u
bright, merry looking girl 1t was very
pleasant to see her care for her little blind
brother.
The woman seated herself with her little
boy in her lap, and the little girl by her side
between herself and my little friend Kate
Now Kate was very nicely dressed she
sat down could not easily avoid sitting on
Kate's cloak. My little lady drew herself
up very haughtily, and snatched her cloak
away, as if it was quite too nice to be touched
by II " bcggar, as she called the child. My
attention was arrested by this movement, and
| watched Kate closely Not look did she
give the little group, after her first glance of
curiosity. She had nothing to do with them :
She was the daughter Of Mr. Emmons, and
lived in IA beautiful house, and had on vel
vet cloak, and a white satin hat, and nice
chincillas, at which she glanced with evident
complacency.
There are some little faces, which are writ
ten all over with satin hats, and velvet
cloaks, which makes one forget all about such
things. Kate moved away as far as possible
from her little neighbor, aud what she thought
about cannot tell, but she looked as if she
were thinking. " am altogether above hav-
ing anything to do with you !"
Ellen was sitting next to her sister, SO that
saw both / was interested in watching the
changes Of her face. Her first glance at the
poor children settled into look of tender IN
tercst. She turned to me and whispered
" Cousin Mary, that little boy is blind = 1t
was not long before she was exchanging
smiles with his sister, whose bright blue
eyes shone with delight.
Ellen had beautiful bunch of roses from
the greenhouse, which she was carrying tC
! her little cousin Jane. noticed her repeat
ed glances at it, at last with sudden reso'
luton she whispered to me
" Cousin Mary, wouldn't you give your
roses to that little boy you know Jennie
can have some any time.
Certainly. dear, if you wish to.
So Ellen slipped down rom her seat anu
carefully placed her beautiful and fragrant
mowers in the hand of the little blind boy
| His sister SAID to him:
" lady gives you the flowers, Willy
How pleased and happy he looked and
how swcetly he said, d" thank you ~
! lie could not see their delicate colors. but
he had not always been blind, as / learned
| from his mother, and their sweet fragrance
brought back the memory of their beauty.
And was not Ellen happy too 1t wa
something Kate could not understand. |
Ellen had received beautiful roses or kline
look,s they would not have made her half st
happy as she always was when she thought o
those poor children
MY little sunbeam" | called her, 70
| like sumbeams her kind feelings went out
gladdening, Frightening, beautifying al
around her. so that she found gladness
brightness and beauty everywhere, not know
ing how much of it came from her own Low
ing heart.