The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-06-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE LOST BRACELET.

JuSt one penny, IL you please Ma atti
1t was the day before Christmas, and late
in the afternoon, beautiful and richly
dressed lady was walking up Broadway
with her arms laden with brown paper
parcels Hundreds Of people were hurry
ing along, jostling each other as they pass
ed up and down the crowded thoroughfare;
but her bright happy face was like a ray
of sunlight in the gathering darkness of the
winter afternoon, and the owner of the
Gathering shoes that had followed her some
distance took courage from its sweet ex-
preston, and put up its modest plea fol
lust one penny
1t was low, pleading voice, scarcely au-
dible in the noise and buste around, yet
the lady heard it, for she turned and looked
an instant at the little creature before her
Her scanty garments were apoor protection
from the frosty air, and her gloveless hand
and pale face looked blue and pinched with
cold; her miserable hood had fallen on her
shoulders, and a pair of eloquent eyes look
ed up into the lady's face, while, with her
stumpy broom she swept the crossing.
Never mind,' she said to herself, 81
can walk home-ths poor little thing needs
this more than do; and she dropped into
the open palm the only sixpence she had
left "Thcre child, a merry Christmas to
you," she said in sweet, sympathising
voice, which made the tears come into the
dark eyes of the little girl, as she tried to
thank her.
1t was a long walk that the lady had be-
fore her, and the omnibusscs ratified along
with a provoking empty seat or two inside,
but her heart was light and happy with the
little sacrifice which she had made, and just
as the jets Of gas began to blaze out Of the
windows she reached her home. She had
been married only a short time, and as she
looked around her pretty room which hei
husband had furnished for her in theii
boarding house, she felt more than ever
grateful that God had given her such hap
py home. She had not removed her hat
and cloak, when she heard her husbands
step in the hall, and with a smile and a kis:
she met him at the door.
"Why Kate, how tired you look-have
you done great deal of walking to-day?
Kate blushcd and smiled, but deception
was not part of her nature, and she re
piled:
"Yes, Henry, I walked all the wa.
home"
| Iou Silotlu uOt uuNc uOlle liislt Saiu lt'
little reproachfully, and tfen he laughed
as he confined: "Did you spend all YOU
money, so that you couldn't afford six
pence to ride home with? ~
"Well, suppose must tell" did hav'
just one siXpenca left, and was going to ride
up, when such poor little girl"
"Yes, that's it, know what's coming
Why Kate, you make the very mischic
among the poor and my pennies-they art
the most ungrateful set in the world"
But" said Kate earnestly, 'she was
such delicate, half clothed, and, | an
afraid, half starved little street sweeper
"Street sweepcry' and her husband helC
up his hands in mock horror: "Why Kate
they pick up handfuls of money in day
and did you walk home, and give one ;
whole sixpcncc? Oh? Ohg What won
your innocent little heart do neXt!''
Kate bore his quizzing very well, and wa
about to reply, when, on passing her hant
up her arm, she exclaimed suddenly "Oh
Horny, my bracelet is gone-your gift las
Christmas-whats shall do? Where can
have lost it?'
"That is too bad" said he thoughtfully
but the next moment he continued, shrug
ging up his shoulders mischievously: MAY
be some honest person has picked it up.
Seeing the tears come into his wife's eye!
at his speech, he put his ann around he
and kissed her, with, "Never mind, though
can replace it some time
Her husband, who really loved his lttl
wife, tenderly, took her hand and put some
thing in it, closing the slender fingers tight
ly over it, saying:
Don't distress yourself any more abou
bracelets and street sweeper; here is you
Christmas Gift, and the next time you g
down town, get pretty set Of furs witt
it,"
Kate's hand closed over hundred dol
lar bill
The day after Christmas she was again il
Broadway, and, as she was passing tn
identical spot where she had given ava,
the sixpence, she felt her dress gently pull
ed, and on turning around, she encountered
the same halfclad girl.
"rm so glad that you have come, ma am,
said the child; "you dropped this the othc
day, and I've been saving it for you eve
since; and, pulling something out of he1
bosom, she put it into the lady's hand -
Hastily unrolling the bit of newspaper, Kat,
Alair saw her bracelet. What triumph
for herself and Henry. "Thank you, thank
you, my child" she exclaimed, taking tht
little bare hand in hers
81 tried to find you that day." said the
little child, "but you went out of sight sc
soon that couldn't" and with bright
face she continued, 81 want to thank you,
and my mother wants to thank you, too,
for didn't get penny all that day till
saw you, and that sixpencc bought the
medicine which is oroinn 10 make mother