Smyrna times., 1857-12-24

slowly up and down the room, go back to this
hour, and she wonders for the first time in her
life ii her mothers sister Mary had any chill
dren, and they have such kind grandfather,
and are happy as she is.
Suddenly the little girl walks to the window,
looking out on the street she sees two children
standing in front of the house.
They are very poor she divinRs this at once
by the boys old straw hat, and threadbare coat,
and the little girls faded calico dress, and old
pink hood.
The boy is about Eva's age, the girl must be
several years younger, and she is crying, and
he is seeking to comfort her, and evidently en-
deavoring to 90 on further
Somehow Eva's heart, (always tender one,) }
is strangely sottened tonight, and she longs to
do something for that sorrowtuI- looking little
boy and girl. She is an mpulsive child, too
and so, without stopping to consider the matter
she rushes down stairs, and out the front door.
They are lighting the lamps up the street,
and the cold wind sends a shudder through
Eva'S frame, she bounds Is the pavement.
Sc What ails the little girl !" she asks Of the
boy, in her soft voice.
He looks up in startled surprise, but so,e-
thing he finds in Eva'S face, makes him answer:
" Little sister Is tired and cold, We have walk
ed long way, and she says she can't 20 any
further"
"Well, come right into the house and get
warm, and let her rrst," answers Eva. "TEen
we can send somebody home with you''
ave havn't got any home now," says ths.
boy, sadly.
Not got any Aome = Eva stands still mo-
ment, with surprise and pity, then taking hold
of the little girls hand, she leads her into the
house. without speaking another word, and the
boy follows.
They go into The sitting room, in the centre
Of which 3tards the Christmas tree with all its
load of gifts, and the bright gas-lighi giving to
every object in the luXurluusy furnished room
a new brittany, and the children stare rounG
them, bewlGcred and overwhelmed, and the
little gal is evidently cute alarmed, for she
shrinks up close Uu her brother, and hardly dares
to take the low chnlr that Eva offers her.
At thIs momcnt GRANDFATHER Hughes comes
into the ROOM. He cannot be far from his sew
eDteth birth-&uy, for his hair is very white
and his brow is deeply turrowed, but his tall
figure is erect, and he has stately air and pre-.
sence.
"Well, daughter, how is the Christmas tree
coming on ~ he asks in CHEEKY voice, then he
starts, aud asks, Eva, how came these chill.
dren here ~
"Why, you sec, Grandpa, | asked them to
come in and rest, aud get warm, because they
havn't any home"
"Well, my child, you should have sent them
down into the Kitchen"
And now the little girl lifts up her head, and
looks at the old man. She has pale, wislfuI
face, with soft blue eyes and sunny hair and
somehow it troubles the old man, and his
thoughts go back to the time when Just such
face as that sat on his knee, and sometimes
nestled itself against his heart He stands still,
looking at the child until the tears come into
her eyes, for she has a little coward heart.
"What is your name, little girl !" the voice
of Grandfather Hughes is usually gentle.
"Mary Neal"
The old man starts as though the words
struck him. His face grows very pale, and he
opens his lips two or three times to speak, and
then pauses as though it cost him painful eff.
fort to do this.
! AT a ct ha nats NNbaro
Willard can tell you," and the little girl
turns TO her brother.
He looks like his sister, but his hair and eyes
are several shades darker, and he te Is his story
in a simple, straightforward way, which does
not leave doubt in your mind of its truth.
"Our father died four years ago, in Illinois
We lived there until Mamma began to grow
sick, and then, about six months ago, we came
to the city. Mamma took in sewing and sup
ported US, bat she grew worse all the time, ant
last week she died. Then they buried her
and Miss Watson, who lives in the chambers
kept us till to-day, but her husband drinks, a nt
he swore we shouldn't stay any longer. Bu
just before Mamma died, she called me to her
and told me there was gentleman, living OF
this street who was our grandfather, and mus
! 20 to him with little sister, and tell him Mar
was dead, and this was all she had 10 leave him
; I've been all the afternoon trying to find th
place, but can't"
"What was your Grandfather's ame, boy
The old man leaned forward, and his breat
painted through his lips as he asked the que'
tion.
"Joseph Hughes; have you ever heard {
= him, sir o. ~ete
> The old man bowed his head moment o
his hands, and a sob shook his frame; the four
tains, the long frozen fountains in his heal
. leaped up once more. "Mary, my little Mary!
and his STONES we're foil .of tenderness and =,
morse, but alas alas they could not wake th