Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-14

do not be frightened, little creature
you shall have happy life with me, and
sleep by my side at night, and we will not
hurt each other
Christmas mother was very much
afraid Christmas S story might not be true
for it seemed strange to her that the chick
en- should come in that way, and she fear
ed the child might have got it from some
neighbor, and exhorted her strenuously to
tell the exact truth about it. But the lit
tie girl declared her story was true, and
played merrily with her chicken until bed
time, and when she was in bed, the little
creature, which she had laid upon her bo-
som, spread out its wings as if to keep her
warm, and slept there quietly the whole
night.
Next morning the weaver's wife sent
Fouhd the village to all her neighbors, ask
ing # anybody had lost white chicken
with speckled top,knot. But none of
them had any white hens or chickens, nor
hed they heard of anybody losing one
When the messenger came back, Christina
danced for JOY that she might now keep
her chicken and her mother was still more
joyful, for her heart had ached at the
thoughtaof the bare possibility that Chris
tina might have taken the chicken from
somewhere, and told her lie besides.
There was soon the greatest friendship that
ever was known between those two young
creatures, helittle girl and chicken. Chris
lima Massnowhere to be seen without her
little chicken, only when she went with
her mother to church, and some even
tbought che little girl was sorry then to be
obliged to leave Snowtlp (for so she called
the chlcken,) behind And poor little
Snowtlp was never happy when Christina
wis out of her sight, but ran restless here
and there, chirping as if she would have
chlrped her heart oIt. But as soon as
ever she saw the child coming back, she
twisted round and round upon her little
yellow legs and futtered her tiny wings for
joy. They were usually to be seen both
together IN the garden, where Christina
sat reading or knitting, and sometimes had
to weed The beds or water the flowers In
this garden stood an old cherry tree, with
q large fat stone near It's roots Christina
now always went to sit upon this stone, be-
cause SnoWtip liked to scratch and nestle
ii the sandy earth round it, shaking the
dust over her wings and feathers. There
the child Instantly went, though her moth
er sometimes asked her why she never sat
upon the nice seat of green turf which her
brothers had made on purpose for her.
But sbe would answer that Snowtip could
not bear the place, and always ran to the
old tree as soon as they came into the gar
dc =, e EOlffowed it, because.
never liked to be far away from Snowtip
when she could help it.
Thus, then, these two lived through the
summer and spring in great fondness, and
Snowtip had wanted nothing more than a
few crumbs which Christina had always
saved off her own piece Of bread for her
though she could have done without them
even, as In summer there is plenty O
scratching and picking for chickens out o
| doors But when autumn came, and toof
every leaf from the trees. and the winter.
snow hid almost every berry and seed from
the poor little birds, then our two friend
were obliged to remain in doors, and cam
into sad trouble. For O .e day Christina
mother took her little girl aside, and sai
to her.
my child, you are very good and ODE
dient, and therefore [ am sorry to tax
.Snowtip from you but so it must be-
The chicken must not be starved and W
have neither corn nor bread to spare
Therefore do not cry, but put on your ne,
Sunday frock and go to the clergyman
i lady, who is your godmother, with you
chicken under your arm. [ am sure sh
will take care of it for your sake, and it wi
be much better off at the parsonage than
is at our poor cottage
When the little maiden heard thes
words she began to sob and weep SO bitterl
that it grieved her mother to the heart
, and Christina said
'Oh, no no my mother, l pray yo
not to make me do that, for shall u
know what to do when Snowtip is gone
Oh, why cannot we keep the chicken Fl
it will soon be a hen, and will then lay eg
for US ?
, The poor child cried so much and be
ged so hard that at last her mother sal
'Well, then | must consent, and you shs
keep Snowtip; for | trust that the goc
God who has fed US hitherto, will continl
so to support us in our poverty, that v
o may always have a crumb or two left
. Snowtip.'
: So Snowtip remained an inhabitant
e the cottage and garden, never leayi1
) Christina for a moment, and sleeping
}, her arms at night. One thing seemed cd
e and that was that Snowtip ran every d
s. in the garden to the stone near which
Y used to nestle in the cold earth in SUNNI
e time. When easter was past, and the da
got longer, Snowtip laid her first egg, viii
v Christina took in great triumph to /
'e mother. And from that day forth Snowt
e laid an egg every day for seven whole ye
| which was as long as it lived-and v
! perfect treasure to the house. The
,e was always faithful to Christina, and WI
she was grown great girl, and had to DIR
70 the COWS, or work in the fields, SEoW
4 always ran or flew by her side; or e
70 Christina carried her upon her wrist, as
to sometimes see in pictures knights and g
~ tleuen used to do their falcons. Eve
Il BODY wondered at those two, and she
- women laid their heads together, and S
:. if it had not laid eggs they would ne
~ have believed it was really common h
~ - Still, though Christina and Snowtipc &C
no not now sit and play in the garden, as t
i, di1 When they were both young, yet Sn
ed tin continued to go aud scratch consta