The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-11
The Golden COins-Or the Little
street Beggar.

II was the morning Of New Year. that had
inst set in, bright, golden and beautiful. The
sun glistened like jeweled raiment in the cloud.
less sky. The Ginning Of the silvery sounds
Of the bells struck ioyfuily upon the listener
In every street. The air was cold, though not
piercing; bracing, though not biting; just cold
enough, in truth, to diffdse life and elasticity
into every one that moved.
There was little gisl-a child Of poverty,
on that New Years morning In the
streets with the gay crowd that swept rast
her. Her little feet had grown SO numb, en-
cased 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 pnr-
pie. Alas! poor Elsie Grayi She was lit
IL beggari
Just like the old year was the new year to
her. Just like the last years wants, and last
years suferings, were the wants and suffering,
Of thisi The change Of the year brought nd
change Of her,condition with it. She was
poor, her mother was widow and an invalid
and the child was poor beggar! In the old
and cheerless room cleaned no bright fires ol
anniversary. No evergresns, no wreaths, nc
Aowers, save few old withered ones, decked
the tims-stained walls. There was no sound
Of merry voices within the door, to ssy to the
widow Gray: GA happy New Year to you
Mrs. Gray" Heaven seemed to have walled
her ard her abode out from the happiness that
Was al the worlds on that festive day Of the
year. II had provided, to all appearances, nc
congratulations. no laughter, no gifts, nc
flowers Tor them. Whya Were they outcastsa
Had they outraged their claims on the wide
wssid's charity? Had they voluntarily shut
themselves out from the sunlight OF living
creatures around themP Mrs. Gray was poorI
Little Elsie stopped at times, and breathed
her hot breath upon her blue and benambsd
fingers, and stamped her tiny feet in their case.
msnts with Ill the force left In them, and then
big tsars stood trembling In her large blue
eyes Tor . nomsnt, and rolled slowly downh
purple cheeks, y if they would freeze to them.
Che had left her mother in bed, sick, exhaust
"a, end famishingi What wonder that she
cried, even though those hot tears only drip
ped on the cold pavement. Thsy might Is
well fall there a. elsewhere, the many human
hsarts that passed her were full - Icy and
hardened.
She we.id have turned back 10 90 home,
had che not thought again Of her poor mother;
and shs went on; though where togo she knew
not She wss to bseems street bsgxar.-
Where should . street. bsggsr goa What
strsets are laid out, and named aAd numbsrsa
for shsmf Surely, IL not home, where should
they gof Itwas this thought that brought
those crystal tears, that startsd those deep and
izseprseaible sobs hat checked her instant a.
terance.
a little bey--al bright lsslring fsllow--
ehanesd 70 pass her . she walked and wspt
end scbbsd he caught tie glitter q those
tsars in the sunshins, snd he sieht smote his
heart. h ksew ~ wkai want end sa1sring
were. He ND asver kaowa tAsm hinself-
rsver once hsard of thsn-knsw net what !