Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-04-29
QlSGRl lANRODS, D
THE GOLDEN COIN :
OIt,
THE LITTLE STREET BEGG3R.

!
had just 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 joyfulIy
upon the listener in the street. The air
was cold, though not piercing; bracing,
though not biting; just cold enough, in
truth, to difuse life and elasticity into
every one that moved.
There was little girl-a child of pov.
erty-on that New Year morning, waking
in the streets with the gay crowd that
swept past. Her little feet had grown so
numb, encased onl ly in thin shoes, and those
badly worn, that she could but with diff
Guilty move one before the other Her
checks shook at every step she took, and
her lips looked truly purple Alas! poor
Elsie Gray She was little beggar
Just like the old year was the new year
to her. Just like the last years sufierings
were the wants and sufierings 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 a poor beggar In the old
and cherries room cleaned no bright fires
ofanniversary. Nocvergreens, no wreaths,
no flowers, save few old withered ones,
decked the tme-stained walls There was
no sound of merry voices within the door
TO say to the widow Gray, \ happy New
\ lear 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 pro-
vided to all appearances, no congratula-
tions, 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 sunlight of
living creatures around them Mrs Gray
was poor.
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 lett in them,
and then big tears stood trembling in her
large blue eyes for moment, and rolled
slowly down her purple checks as if they
would freeze to them. She had left her
mother in bed, sick, exhausted, and fam
ishing. What wonder that she cried, even
though those hot tears only dripped on the
cold pavement. They might as we'll fall
there as elsewhere; and many human hearts
that passed her were full as icy and hard
ened She would have turned back to 90
home had she not thought again of her
poor mother; and she went on, though
where to go she knew not. She was to
become a street beesar Where should
street beggars go? Surely if not home,
then where should they go? 1t was this
thought that brought those crystal tears,
that started those deep and irrcpressible
sobs that checked her instant utteranccs
A little boy-a bright looking fellow
chanced to pass her as she walked and wept
and sobbcd. lie caught the glitter of those
tears in the sunshine, and the sight smote
his heart. lie knew not what want and
suffering were He had never known them
himsef-never once heard of them-knew
not what real beggar was He stopped
suddenly before Elsie, and asked the cause
OF her tears She could make no reply,
her heart was too full.
Has anybody hurt youZ' asked the feel
ing little fellow.
She shook her head
Have you lost your way = he persisted.
No. answered the child.
+ What is the matter then 2 he asked
Mother is poor and sick, and am cold
and hungry. We have nothing to eat
Our room is qui,c cold and there is no
wood for us. @, you do not know all
But | WILL replied the manly boy J;
where do you live?'
will you go with me 2 asked Elsie, her
face frightening.
yes, 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 keyhole before them,
as if inviting them in. A sick woman
feebly raised her head from the pillow, and
gave her a sweet smile Elsie, have you
come" she family said.
Yes, mother, answered the child, and [
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 lido wrong
to bring him mother?
No, my child said the mother II
he knows how to pity you from his little
heart; but he cannot pity me yet; he is not
old enough. The bright faced, ,sunny-heart-
ed boy gazed in establishment upon 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 ghttered with
wonder when turned towards Elsie, Sud
denly they were filed with tears. The
want and woe, the barrenness, the desola-
ton, were all too much for him He shud-
dered at the cold uncovered floor. He