The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-02
a Story of Happy New Year.


set in, bright, golden and beautiful The sun
glistened like jeweled raiment in the cloudless
sky. The Ginning of the silvery sounds of the
bells struck joyfully upon the listener in every
street. The air was cold, though not piercing
bracing, though not biting, Just cold enough,
in truth, to diffuse life and elasticity into every
one that moved.
There was little girl-a child of poverty,
on that New Years morning-walking in the
streets with the gay crowd that swept past her
Her little feet had grown so numb, encased only
in thin shoes, and those badly worn, that she
could but with difficulty move one before the
other. Her cheeks shook at every step she
took and her lips looked truly purple. Alas!
poor Elsie Gray, she was little beggar! =.
Just like the new year was the old year to
her. Just like the last years wants, and last
years sufferings, were the Wants and suffering
of this! the change Of the year brought no
change of her condition with it. She was poor
her mother was widow and an invalid, and
the child was poorbeggar! :.-. ..-- .
In the old and cheerless room cleaned no
bright fires of anniversary. No evergreens, no
wreaths, no flowers save a few old withered
ones, decked her time stained walls There
was no sound of merry voices within the door,
to say to the widow Gray: "a happy new year
to you, Mrs Gray
Heaven seemed to have walled her and her
abode out from the happiness that all the
worlds on that festive day of the year. 1t had
provlded,t to all appearances no congratulations,
no laughter no gifts, no flowers for them. Why?
Were they outcasts? Had they outraged their
claims on the wide worlds charity? Had they
voluntarily shut themselves out from the sun
light Of the living creatures around them? No!
Shame take the world that it must be so an
swered for them! Mrs. Gray was poor!
Little Elsie stopped at times. and breathed
fingers. and stamped her tiny feet in their case
ments with all the force left in them, and then
big tears stood trembling in her large blue eyes
for a moment, and rolled slowly down her pur
pie cheeks. as if they would freeze to them
She had left her mother in bed, sick, exhausted,
and famishing! What wonder that she cried,
even though those hat tears only dripped on
the cold pavement. They might fall there as
elsewhere, the many hearts that passed her
were full as icy and hardened.
She would have turned back to 60 home had
she not thought again for her poor mother, and
she went on. though where to go she knew not.
She was to become street beggar. Where
should street beggars 60? What streets are
laid out, and named and numbered for them?
Surely if not home, then where should they 60?
1t was this thought that brought those crystal
tears, that startled those deep and irrepressible
sobs that checked her instant utterance.
A young boy-a bright little fellow--chanced
to pass her as she walked, and wept, and
sobbed He caught the glitter of those tears
in the sunshine, and the site smote his angel
heart. &He knew not what want and suffering
were He had never known them himself
never once heard of them-knew not even
what real beggar was. He stopped suddenly
before Elsie, and asked her the cause of those
tears. She could make no reply ly-her heart
was too full.
HAS any one hurt you?" asked the feeling
little fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
''Have you lost your way?" he persisted.
No." answered the child quite audibly.
What is the matter then?" he asked.
"Mother is poor and sick, and l am cold and
hungry. We have nothing to eat Our room
is quite cold, and there is no wood forus. Oh!
you do not know ALL
"But WILL; replied the manly boy. "Where
do you lve?"
''Will you 60 with me?'' asked Elsie, her face
frightening.
Eyes, let me go with you," said he, "show
me the way
Through street, lane and alley she guided him.
They reached the door of the hovel. The cold
breath of the wind whistled in the cracks and
crevices and keyholes before them, as if inviting
them in. They entered. A sick woman feebly
raised her head from the pillow, and gave her
a sweet smile. "Elsie, have you have Gomez"
she family said.
eyes, mother" answered the child, "and I
have brought this boy with me. do not know
who he is, but he said he wanted to come and
see where we live. Did do wrong to bring
him mother?"
"No, my child" said the mother, eff he
knows how to pity you from his little heart, but
he cannot pity me yet he is not old enough
The tight faced, sunny hearted boy gazed
in astonishment upon the mother and child.
The scene was new to him. He wondered if
this was what they called poverty. His eyes
looked sadly upon the wasting mother, but they
turned towards Elsie Suddenly they filled
with tears The want and woe and barrenness,
the desolation were too much for him. He
shuddered at the cold uncovered floor. He
gazed mournfully into the fireplace. His eyes
wandered wonderingly over the naked walls
looking so uninvitingly and cheeress Putting
his hands into his pocket, he grasped the coin
that his mother had that very morning given
him, and drew it forth "Y ou may have that, :"
said he, holding it out to the child.
"Oh, you are too good! You are too generous
fear!" as if she oug gbt not to take it from him.
''Mother will give me another, if want
said he, "take it-take it-you shall take it!'
and he was instantly gone. ...r
1t was a gold coin, of the value of five dol
Mother and child wept together Then they
talked of the good boy whose heart had opened
for them on this New Years day. Then they
let thoir fancies run and grew wild, and reve as
they choose. They looked at the glistenng
piece. There was bread, and fuel, and cloth
ing, and every comfort in its depths. They
continued to gaze upon it. Now they saw
within its rim pictures of delight and joy, Wis,
ons of long rooms, all wreathed and decorated
with visions Of evergreens and flowers, visions
r Il. z.a1.@. III