The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-11

real beggar was. He stopped suddenly before
Elsie, and asked the cause Of the tears. She
could make no reply, her heart was too full.
sHas anybody hurt your" asked the feeling
little fellow.
She shook her head.
"Havs you lost your ways" he persisted.
"No," answered the child,
"what Is the matter, then?'' 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 u.s.
o! you don't know ALL"
"But I will" replied the manly boy
"where do you lives"
"Will you 20 with me?, asked Elsie, her
face Frightening.
eyes, let me go with you," said he; ashow
me the way"
Through street, lane and alley she guided
him. They reached the door Of the howell
The cold breath Of the wind whistlsd in the
cracks and crevices and keyholes before them,
as if inviting them in. A sick woman feebly
raised her head from the pillow, and gave her
sweet smile.
"Elsie, have you Gomez" she family said.
eyes, mother,n answered the child, ssand
have brought this boy with me. donot know
who he is, but he said he wanted to come and
see where we live. Did 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 me yet; he is not old
enongh."
The bright.faced, sunny hearted boy gazed
in astonishment upon mother and child. The
scene was new to him. He wondered il this
was what they called poverty. Hiseyes look
ed sadly upon the wasting mother, but they
glittered with wonder when turned towards
Elsie. Suddenly they were filled with tears
The want and woe, the barrenness, the DESC
lation, were all too much for hiEa. He shud-
dered At the cold, uncovered floor. He gazed
mournfully into the fireplace. His eyes wan
dsred wonderingiy over the naked walls,
looking 20 uninviting and eheerless.-
Putting his hand in his pocket, he grssped the
coin that his mother had that very morning
given him, and drew il forth. "You may have
that" !" sAd he, holding it out to the child.
go, you are too good! You are too gener-
ous, fearp' as il she ought not to take il
| from him.
"Mother will give me another. il went, !"
said he. ssTake it-take it--you shall take it!'
and he was instantly gone.
It was gold coin Of the value Of FIVE dol
lars.
Mother and child wept together. Then
they talked Of the good bov wi ose heart had
opened for them on that New Years. Day.
Then they let their fancies run and grow
wild, and reAel as they chose. They looked
at the glittering piece. There was bread, and
fuel, and clothing, and every comfort in its
depths. Now they saw, within its rim, pic
lures Of delight and joy, visions Of long rooms.
all wreathed and decorated with visions of
evergreens and flowers; visions Of smiling
faces and happy children; sounds of merry
voices, and the Ginning music of bells; the
accent Of innocent tongues, and the langh of
gladstone hearts.
All! what philosophers stone was that
coinl How it turned everything first into
gold, and then into happiness! How il groop-
ed around kind and cheerful friends, and filled
their ears with kind voices! How it garland
ed all hours Of that day with evergreeas and
full blown roses! How it spread them laden
table, and crowded it with merry guests and
those guests, too. all satisfied and happy! Oh,
what bright rays shone forth from that triflng
coin Of gold! Could II have been so bright in
the child's orman's dark pocketY No; else
it had before then burnt its way through, and
lent its radiance to others. Could it have
shone with such visions in the rich msn's
hands? No, else his syarice would have van.
ished at once. and his heart would have flowed
with generosity. No, no; il was only to the
widow and her child that it wore such q
sheen, and emitted such brillian rays, an re-
vealed such sweet and welcome visions! Only
for such as they.
The night returned this angel boy to the
bleak house filled with happines, and lighted
with joy but he was not alone-his mother
was with him. Blessed boyi He had passed
the whole Of New Years Day in making 9TH
ers happy. And how much happier was he
himself How his little heart warmed and
and glowed to see that little child uncover the
basket he had brought with him, and take
out, one BY one, the gifts that wore slowed
there; and how ovsrjoyed was he to zee his
mothe. offer the sick woman work and new
home, and to sec the sick woman sdddenly
strong and almost well, under the influence Of
kind Offices. He wondered II their happiness
could be possibly ~ deep a. his own--if their
New Year was ~ bright to them a. It was to
him. He knsw not how any one could be
happier than he was Il that moment.
Years have rolled away into the silent past.
That little sirl-Elsis Gray-is lady. Not
. lady only In nams, but one in deed, in heart
and conduct. She dwells in suburban cot
tage, and her husband u wholly devoted to
her. The husband Il no other than the gem
sroas boy who, on the New Years. festival,
accosted her 90 tendsriy in ths STREET, and
went home with her. Her poor mother sleeps
quietly b the chureb-yard, ~ she lived TO
know that God had provided Tor her ehild.--
She died resiSnad and hannv-r provineisl