The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-12-25

the fire, and how good It locked to his eager
"Ob, I am SO hungry. and it's Christmas
Eve; might have bit OF supper, please ne
laid. trembling. and timidiy.
uf,u Cnristmas Eve you, II you talk that
nonsense. If you don't earn supper. you can't
have it. 90 up stairs"
SO meehly and quietly he went, with such
lock OF hunger in his pale face, that tho mans
heart must have been harder than iron as IL
was when he returned to his comfortable
supper after driving Bernie up TO his garrett,
he seemed to try TO satisfy his own conscience
hv eaying-
Those boys are so idle, one must be sharp
with them" a.
"You need not starye hi.n, II yoa are sharp"
said the mother, "he LOOKS bad enough now,
without sending him hungry and cold to bed.
Put the man went on eating, and the ola
woman burst not offer to take the child any
thing while he was about.
Wearily, YEARLY the poor boy mounted the
staen stairs until he came to his room. Ana
what q room it was. so cold and so dirty, with
a small iron beds tead, and straw mattress
with one blanket, nothing else, not cven cnair.
Rernfe nut his dear organ safe In enc corner
of the room, said hts players, aud then lay
down, faint and huHgry and co!d, on MS
miserable bed. Then, when he was q ute alone,
aud he burst cry, he hid his little race III the
htanket and cried oh, such Jear2f Even there
he could smell the nice supper below, and
every time the dosr opened he thought BHssy
was coming 10 bring him some, out she never
came ; and then his poor heart SAM again;
An well might the angel think he heard the
rfnnle of the stream louder and more pitiful
a strange feeling came over Bernie, his head
seemed to be lighter and yet all on hIe, MS
hands were burning hot, and his eyes so nrasy
he could not keep them open, aud every iimb
ached as though he had been earthly beaten.
'Oh. father, father" cried the lonely child,
"do . lrue to me- or else fetch me TO Heaven
do Won know how i'll ano hungry am ~
The angel could bear it no longer, he drew
near and held the light close 10 BerhIe's heart;
there could not be a more miserable child
NDtnit O could be worse than this; poor, lonely,
cold hungry atone and no one To love him OF
csra for him; no one even 10 speak kIud word
to him; no one had ever kissed him since his
father died.
side tor a moment and then stood by Bernie;
he laid his cool, soft hand upon MS not brow
and flushed fax =: the boy opene d MS eyes, aud
there in place OF he cold dirty room, he saW
most pea liful angel, wi h bright, "eet face,
and kind, loving eyes, and SOFT wnite wings
and upon ole finger there WAS something mat
looked like u large diamond. Bernie was not
afraid; no--those were the nrsteyes thaI looked
kindly on him for so long.
bernie" said the angel, in sweet, low
voice, my poor little boy, You are very mise
TabIe "
Il am, dear angel, the most miserable child
in the world
II I'm come to help you. Bernie"
"Oa, angel, will y0u help me-! Oh, then,
please do take me to my Ia Iher.'
Il will take you 10 God and your father.
too; and yOu shall see your dear mother
again, EarnIe.'
"rhauK you, dear angel, now / am happy"
Then The angel took Berhie's hands, and
folded them in his own; he bredthed upon his
face, aud he felt 40 more cold or heat; he only
saw the golden glory round the angels head,
and heard faint distant sound of music; and
some thine seemed floating through the room
like fragrant Incense.
Elf hpY 10
Now say after ne-'Dedr Jesus, who vert
once a child, like me, take pity upon me- for
have known cold and misery, and hunger and
thirst, and loneliness and sorrow. | am sorry
with all my hear, for all my many sins;
repent m,st bitterly of them. / wish hid
been q better boy. / Offer 10 Thee all my
troubles and l beg OF Tnee, dear Lord, if it
be Thy will. 10 let me come home to Thee -
Are You willing to die dear Bernie =
Yes l an very willing"
E@u wish II 60 To HeaVen!"
Yes; with all my heart"
But If God wiied tor you 20 live much
longer, aud TO suffer much more, would you
be - willing -
Yes; for the love of Him, dear angel"
Then the angel drew nearer, and he laid
Beruies head upon his kind heart. Whether
he lay there moments or hours, the boy never
knew he only Nv the glory bright and the
music sTeeter. He felt NO pain, no care, only
a dreamy longing TO SEE something more glO-
riOuS than he saw there.
Then the glory became so dazzling and
bright, he could no longer bear it; aud then
the music, SD 6 weet and near, he could distin-
gnish the word ''H0sanna."
"Cioer your eyes, Bernie" said the angel.
ne did So the angel gently pressed his hand
upon them, something futtered at Bernies
heart aud on his lips, the ilght aud music as
ceuded. and the boy aud the angel together
Joined he ''HosaHua" in Heaven.
TGere was great sensation on the morrow.
when the child WAS found dead. They held
au inquest. but me doctors could scarcely
agree Is 10 now he died, or what was his dis
ease. But they ala wondered al the fair, mar
BILE face, with It's angelical smile, aud the white
hands crossed upon the little heart.
The poor old woman cried very much, and
was very grieyed for little Bernie; aud the
cruel man never forgot that pIutul pleading
voice.
Dear young friends, perhaps you think such
tales are scarcely true. When you are Older
and can read the papers, you will sec stranger
things than these; cruelty TO little helpless
children is not rare. Will you little ones do
ali you can 10 atoue for it, particularly this
happy Christmas time, when you have such
Abundance Of good things and kind friends =
ThInk OF the poor and the helpless, and give
some hing to comfort and cheer them.