, 1858-12-31

He knew not what want and suffering were
He had never known them himself-neyer once
heard Of them-knew not even what real beg
gar was. He stopped suddenly before Elsie, and
asked her the cause Of those tears. She could
make no reply, her heart was TOO full
Has any one hurt your" asked the feeling
She shook her head negatively. .a-s
"Haye you lost your ways" he persisted.
"No," answered the child, quite audibly.
"What is the matter thenI" he asked.
"MOther is poor and sick, and am cold and
hungry We have nothing to eat. Our room is
quite cold, and there is no wood for Us. Oh you
do not know ALL"
bot Il will" replied the manly boy. "where
do you livei" ....r-.
"Will you go with me ?" asked Elsie. her face
Frightening.
"Yes, let me 50 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
breaths Of the wind whistled in at the cracks
and crevices and key-holes before them, as Il
inviting them in. They entered. A sick woman
ferbly raised her head from the pillow, and gave
her sweet smile. "Elsie, have you come 2" she
family said. ..... .-..
"Yes, mother" answered the child, "and
have brought this boy with me. do not know
who he is, but he said be wanted to come and
see where we live. Did l do wrong to bring him,
mother?"
"No, my child" said the mother, "if he
knows how to pity you from his little heart
but he cannot pity you yet--he is not old
enough"
The bright-aced sunny.hearted boy gazed in
astonishment upon the mother and child. The
scene was new to him. lie wondered il this
was what they call poverty. His eyes looked
sad upon the wasting mother, but they glittered
with wonder when turned towards Elsie. Sud-
denly they filed with tears. The want the
woe, the barrenness, the desolation, were all too
much for him. He shuddered at TIE cold, uncov.
cred floor. He gazed mOurnfully into the empty
fireplace. His eyes wandered wonderingly over
the naked walls, looking so uninviting and cheer
less. Putting bis hand in his pocket he grasped
the coin that his mother had that very morning
given him, and drew it forth. = s1faaog
"You may have that said he, holding Il out
to the child. i f p a7it
"0h you are too good You arc too gener-
Gus, fear!" broke in the mother, as Il she ought
not to take it from him. .aA = 2"a
"Mother will give me another il want II,
said he. at will do you great deal Of good /;
don't need it Take it, take it you shall take
i'll" and he was instantly gone.
It was gold coin Of the value Of five dollars,
Mother and child wept together. Then they
talked Of the good boy whose heart had opened
for them on this new years day. Then they let
their tancies grow wild and revel as they chose.
They looked at the glistening piece. There was
bread. and fuel, and clothing, and every comfort
in its depths. They continued to gaze upon ii.
Now they saw within its rim pictures Of delight
and Joy; visions Of long rooms all wreathsd and
decorated with evergreens and flowers; visions
of smiling faces aud happy children; sights Of
merry voices and the Ginning music bells, the
accent Of innocent tongues, and the laugh Of
gladsOme hearts. Ahl what q philosophers
stone was that coini How it turned everything
first into gold and then into happinessl How
il grouped around kind and cheerful friends, and
filled their ears with kind voices2 How Ii gar
landed all hours Of that day with evergreens
and full blown roscsi How II spread them a
laden table, and crowded il with merry guests
and those guests, too, all satisfied and happy
o, what bright rays shone forth from that tri-
fling coin Of gold Could il have been as bright
in the child's or mans dark pocket? No; else
it had before then burned its very way through
and lent It's radiance TO others. Could Il have
shone with such visions in the rich mans hands 7
No; else his avarice would have vanished at
once, and his heart have flowed with generosity
No, no; il was only to such as the widow and
her child that it wore such shine and emitted
such brilliant rays, and revealed such sweet and
welcome visions! Only for such as theml
That night returned this angel boy to the
bleak house, then filed with happiness and light.
I'd with joy but he was not alone-his mother
was with him. Blessed boy He passed the
whole Of new years day In making others hap.
Py. And how much happier was be himself !
How his little heart warmed and glOwed to see
the child uncover the basket he had brought
with him, and take out one by one the gifts
which were slowed there! and how overjoyed
was he to see his mother offer the sick woman
work and new home, and to see the sick wO.
man grow suddenly strong and almost well un'
der the influence Of kind oifersi lie wondered
II their happiness could possibly DO as deep as
his own il their now year was as bright to
Ahn-n a. lie ....n A liz. IL, Lnnrr ma hnrr anY