, 1863-01-01


CHANGED to pass ber, as she walked and wept,
and sobbed He caught the glitter Of those tears
In the sunshine, and the sight smote bis angel
heart. He knew not what want and suffering
were. He had never known them himself
never once heard Of them-knew not even what
q real beggar was He stopped suddenly before
Elsie, and asked her the cause Of those tears.
Has any one hurt your" asked the feeling
little fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
" Have you lost your way" be persisted.
emo" answered the child quite qudibly.
"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 us Obi
you do not know all"
"BOt will" replied the manly boy. "Whsre
do you live" ..--..
SWil you go with ne'" asksdElsis, her face
Frightening.
SYsa, lst me go with yOu'" said hsi "Sh0w
Through street, lane, and alley, she guided
him. They reached the door Of the howell The
cold breath of the wind Ghistled In the cracks
and crevices and key.holes before them; as Il
inviting them in. They entered. A sick woman
feebly raised her head from the pillow, and gave
q sweet smile. ,,-...-. q
Elsie, have you come I" 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, mother2"
"No, my child, "said the mother, /" Il be knows
how to pity you from bis little heart; but be
cannot pity me yet-he is not old enough
The bright-iaced, sunny hearted boy gazed in
astonishment upon the mother and child. The
scene was new to him. He wondered II this
was what they called poverty. His eyes looked
sad upon the wasting mother, but they glittered
with wonder when turned toward Elsie. Sud-
denly they filed with tears The want and woe
/ the baroness, the desolation, were all too
much for him. He shuddered at the cold, un-
covered floor. He gased mournfnlly into the
fireplace. His eyes wandered wonderingly over
the naked walls, looking so uninvitngly and
cheerless
Putting his hand into bis pocket be grasped
the coin bis mother that morn had given him,
and drew It forth, 81. j5a
10 the child.
Gus, fear" as II she ought not to take Il from
him. ,,.
"Mother win give mo another IL want it."
he said. b" II win do you great deal Of good,
and do not need Il" and he was instantly gone.
| II was gold coin Of the value Of Eve 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 fancies run and grow Wild and revel as they
chose. They looked dt the glistening piece.
There was bread and fuel, and every comfort in
its depths.
They continued to gaze upon Il Now they
saw, within its rim, pictures Of delight and joy
visions Of long rooms, all wreathed and decorated
with visions Of evergreens and flowers; visions
Of smiling hces and happy children sights Of
merry voices and The Ginning music bells the
accent Of innocent tongues, and the laugh Of
gladsome hearts. All, what philosophers stone
/ was that coin. How Il turned everything first
into gold, and then into happiness. How Il
grouped around kind and cheerful friends, and
| filed their ears with kind voices. How II gar
landed all hours Of that day with eyergreens,
and full blown roses, How il spread them q
laden table and crowded It with merry guests.
and those guests, too, all satisfied and happy.
| Oh; what bright rays shone forth from that
trihing coin Of go'di Gould Il have been as
bright 10 the child's or mans dark pocketf No
else It had before then burnt its way through,
and lent its radiance to others Could i have
shone with such visions in the rich mans hands :
No; else bis avarice would have vanished at
once, and bis heart have glowed with generosity.
No, no; It was only to the widow and her child,
that Il wore such shine, and emitted such bril-
liant rays, and revealed such sweet and welcome
visions: Only for such as they.
| That night returned this angel boy 10 the
bleak house; filed with happiness and lighted
with Joy; but he was not alone, bis mother was
with him. Blessed boyl He passed the whole
Of New Years day In making others hdppy.
And how much happier wds he 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 oveEjoyed was he
to see bis mother offer the sick woman work,
new home, and to see the sick woman grow sud-
denly strong, and almost well under the infiu-
ence Of kind offers. ss...
He wondered Il their happinass could possibly
be as deep as bis own, II their New Year was as
bright to them as bis was to him. He knew not
how any one could be happier than be was At
that moment.
Years have rolled away into the silent past.
That little girl-Elsie Gray--is lady. Not a
lady only in name, but one in every deed, IN
heart and conduct She dwells in suburban
cottage, and her husband is devoted only 70 her.
The husband Is no other than the generous
boy, who, on the New Years festival, aecosted
her 40 tenderly on the street, and went home
with her. Her poor mother sleeps quietly in the
church.yard, vet she lived to know that God had
provided for her child. She died resigned and
happy.
must be locked away from sight 1t the beginning
Of the New Yeari
At Antietam, blaclnmiths tools, hammers, CHS
ala ate were fired af nr troona from rebel cannon.