Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-16
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g. 1t was the morning OF new year that had just
Set, bright, golden aud beautiful. The glstcn-
ed like jewelled raiment the coudiess sum- 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
bting-just cold enough, in truth, to duse life and
elasticity into every that -in0yed.
There was little girl-a child of poverty-on
that new years morning, walking 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 pur
pie. Alas poor Elsie Gray! She was little
beggar.
Just like the old year was the new year to her.
just like the last years wants and last years suffer-
ings were the wants and sutferings of this The
change OF the year brought change in her condi-
ton with it. She was poor, her mother was
widow and an aid, and the child poor
beggar.
In the old and cherries room cleaned no bright
fires of anniversary. No evcrgrecns, no wreatLs,
no flowers, save few old withcred ones decked
her time stained walls. There 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 provided to all
appearances, congratulations laughter,
casts! Had they outraged their claims on the wide
worlds charities! Had they voluntarily shut them
selves out from the Sunlight of the living creatures
around them? No. SHANE take the world that
it must be answered for them Mrs Gray
poor!
Little Else stopped at times and breathed her hot
breath upon her bue and benumbcd fingers, and
stamped her tiny feet i'll their easements with all the
force left in them and then big tears stood treiib
ling i'll her large blue eyes for moment, and rolled
ola
freeze to them. She had left her mother in bed,
sick, exhausted and furnishing! What wonder that
she cried, even though those bot tears only dripped
Oh the cold pavement. They nigh, well fall there
as elsewhere; the many human hearts that passed
her were full as icy and hardened.
She would have turned back 20 home, but she
thought again Of her poor mother, and went on,
though where 10 g, she knew not. She was to be-
Como street bcygar. Where you'll street beggars
go? What streets laid out and named and num-
bc,ed for THEN: Surely, if not hoilr, then where
should they go: IL was this Thought that brought
those crystal tears, that started those deep and IT.
rcressiule sobs that checked her instant uterancc.
y young boy-a bright looking little fellow
CHANGED TO pass her, she walked and wcDt and
so3bcd He caught the glitter of those tears al the
sunshine and the sig IT SinOte hts angel heart tic
knew not what want and suffering were. lie had
never known them hiu.scit-ucvcr once heard of
them-kiew not what real bes,ar was. He
stopped suddenly before Elsie, and asked her the
cause OF those tears She could make no reply
her heart too full.
Has any one hurt you:" asked the feeling little
fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
Have you lost your way" he persisted.
Ma" answered the child quite audib!y.
hat is the matter, them: he asked.
Mother is poor aud sick, ana am cod and hun
cry. We have nothing to eat. Our room is quite
cold, aud l':crc is 10 wood for Oh! you do not
know all
But "W," replied the manly boy. "Wherc
do you l!ve?'
Twill you so with me:' asked Elsie, her face
Frightening
"lcs--vt he 80 with you," said he; " show me
the way"
Through street, lane and alley she guided him.
They reached the door of the hovcl. The cold
Lreaths of the wind whstIc, in the cracks and
crevces and key holes before them, as if inviting
them i'll. They entered. \ sick woman fecby
raised her head from the pillow and gave her sweet
smc. Else, have you Gomez" she family said
Yes, mo,her,'' answered the child land have
brought this boy with l Go not know who he
is but he said he wanted to come and see where
live Did do wrong to bring him, mothcr!"
mo, my child" said the mother, " if he knows
how to pity you from his little heart; but he cannot
pity ye,-he is not cd enou Oh
The bright faced, sunny hearted boy gazed in as
Punishment upon the mother and child. The scene
was new to Inn. He wondered ii this what
they called poverty. His eyes looked sad upon the
wasting mother, but they eiit,ered with wonder,
when they turned towards Elsie. Suddenly they
filled with tears. The want, the woe, the barren
ness, the deso.a,ion all much for him. lie
shuddcred ut the cold uncovered floor. He gaZcd
mourniuiiy into the empty fireplace. His eyes wan-
dcrcd wonderingly over the naked walls, looking SO
uninvitingly and cherries. Putting his hand into
his pocket he grasped the coin that his mother had
that very morning given him, and drew it FORTH
Y,a,n hay at he ont n
the child
'Oh, you are too good-you are too generous, l
fear ~ broke in the mother, if she ought not to
take it from him.
he. " 1t will do you great deal of goot-and |
don't need it. Take it, take you shall take it!'
and he WAS instantly gone
1t was gold coin of the value of five dollars
Mother and child wept together. Then they talk
cd of the good boy whose heart had opened for them
on this new years day. Then they let their fancies
run and grow wild and rcvel as they chose. They
looked at the gistening piece. There was bread
and fuel and clothing and every comfort in its depth.
They continued to gaze upon ii. Now they
within its pictures Of delight and joy visions Of
long rooms all wreathed and decorated with ever
greens and flowers; visions of smiling faces and
happy children; sights of merry Voices and the
Ginning music bells, the accent of innocent tongues
and the laugh of gladstone hearts.
All! what philosophers stone was that coin -
How it turned everything first into gold and then
into happincss How it spread them ladened ia
BILE, and crowded it with merry guests-and those
guests too, all satisfied and happy! ., what bright
rays shone forth from that rifiing coin of gold!-
Could it have been so bright in the childs or mans
dark pocket? No; else it had before then burned
its very way through and lent its radiance to others
Could it have shone with such visions in the rich
mans hand No; else his avarice would have van
ished at once, and his heart have flowed with gem
erosity No, not was only to such as the widow
ora hor oh;ld that II vnre Sucn shine and emitted