The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-02-18
Wariietp.
THE GOLD COIN.
THE LITTLE STREET BEeeAn.


tiful. The sun glisteniDg like jeweled
raiment in the cloudless sky. The
Ginning of the silver sounds of the bells
struck joyfully upon the listener in every
street.
There was q little girl-a child of
poverty, on that new gears 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
purple. Alas, poor Elsie Grayl She
was a little beggar.
Just like the old year was the new
year to her, just like the last years
wants and sufferings of this! The
change of the year brought no change
to her condition. Her mother was a
widow and an invalid, and the child a
poor beggar.
In the old and cherries room gleam-
ed nc bright fires of anniversary. No
evergIeens, no wreaths, no flowers, save
. few old withered ones, decked its
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 was all the worlds on that festive
day of the year. 1t had provided, TO
all appearance, no congratulation.-
Why? Were they outcasts Had they
outraged their claims on the wide worlds
charities /? Had they voluntarily shut
themselves out from the sunlight of the
living creatures around them No a
shame take the world that it must be SO
answered for them. Mrs. Gray was
very poorl
Little Elsie stopped at times and
breathed her hot breath upon her blue
and benumbed fingers, and stamped her
tiny feet in their easements, 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 purple cheeks, as if they would
freeze to them. She had left her moth
er in bed, sick aud famished. What
wonder that she cried, ever though
those hot tears only dripped on the cold
pavements. They might as well fall
there as elsewhere the many human
hearts that passed her were full as icy
and hardened.
A young boy-a bright looking little
fellow-chanced to pass her, as she walk
ed and wept and sobbed. He knee moi
what want and suffering were. He had
never knew them himself-knew. moi
even what a real beggar was. He stop
ped suddenly before Elsie, and asked
her the cause of those tears. She could
make 30 reply; her heart was too full.
Has any one hurt you ?" asked the
feeling little fellow.
She shook her head.
"Have you lost your way ?"
"No," answered the child audibiy.
What is the matter, then ?" he ask.
cd.
Mother is poor and and sick, and
am cold and hungry. We have nothing
to eat. Our room is quite cold, and
there is no wood for u.s."
Where do you live ?"
Will you go with me ?" asked Ellie,
her face Frightening.
Eyes," said he, Z" chow me the way
Through street, lane ard alley she
guided him. They reached the door Of
the howell. The cold breath of the wind
whistled in at the cracks and c~revices
before them. They entered. A sick
woman feebly raised her head from the
pillow, and with a kind look, said faint,
ly," Elsie, have you come?
eyes, mother, and I have brought
this boy with me. 1 do not know who
he is, but he said he wanted to come and
see where we live. Did I do wrong &c
bring him, mother ?"
No, my child" said the mother
if he knows how to pity you from his
little heart"
The bright 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 call.
ed poverty. His eyes looked sad upon
the wasting mother, but they glittered
with wonder when turned towards Elsie.
Suddenly they filed with tears. The
want, the woe, the d~esolation, were all
too much for him. He shuddered al
the cold, uncovered floor. He gazed
mournfully into the empty fireplace
His eyes wandered wonderingly over
the naked walls, looking so uninvitiDgly
and cherries. Putting his hand in his
pocket he grasped the coin that his
mother had that morning given him, and
drew it forth.
You may have that" said he, hold.
ing it out to the child.
Oh, you are too good. You are too
generous, I fear !" broke in the mother,
as If she ought not to take it from him.
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