, 1863-01-01

its top. Sundry fancy dishes then took their
places upon the little round table; then, last oi
oil, came the cooked turkey. Her table was SET
and loaded with delicacies which perhaps no
other table Of her neighboTs around could afford.
And she stood up and gazed upon her loaded ia
bic, not thinking, perhaps, Of bow many Of the
suffering poor had no Christmas dinner ct all.
Seating herself at the table, she commenced the
slow operation Of carving. Her sharp knife had
barely touched the turkeys wing, when a low,
delicate knock at the door reached her ear Drop
ping her knife and fork, she brushed the curls
from her face, and hastened to answer the sum.
mons.
"Please, ma'am will you give me some cold
victuals 2" asked small, delicate little girl; as
Lilly hastily drew open her door.
"WhO sent you here" asked Lilly, as she
gazed upon the shivering child.
"My father"
"Your atherH"
%Yes, ma'am."
"But why did he send you heref"
because he is sick; dear lady, and we have
had nothing to eat but . small crust Of bread
since yesterday"
"Are you telling me the TRUTH" said Lilly, as
she looked in the child's fair, open cOuntsnance.
"Yes, maam; indeed an."
"Tben come with me, and will see what /
can find y0u."
Lilly drew wide open the door; and the little
cold creature followed her into the nice; comfor-
table kitchen. A chair was soon placed near the
stove, and the shiVering child seated in It. Lilly
drew off the little ones shoes and stockings and
chafed her cold little feet in her own soft hands,
In half an hour the child felt quite comfortable,
and did ample justice to the turkey and pudding
Lilly sat and watched the child with peculiar in
terest as she devoured the tempting dinner which
was placed before her. Twas many day since
little child had crossed her threshold. Atlength
the little one had eaten her ii, and arising from
her chair, she thanked her kind hostess; then,
drawing on her coarse cloak, she moved towards
the door, while she longed to ask for food for
her sick parent
j." Are you going, little girIs" asked Lilly, in
kind, afsctiOnate tone, as she arose from the
table.
"Yes ma'am."
"But would you not like to take something
home to your fathers" asked Lily, as she aP'
preached the child.
"If you please" replied the chlld, while her
eyes sparkled with delight
"Then wait awhile, until get something
NICE"
Opening. closet, she took from It . small
basket; then, approaching the table, she placed
dozen Of the best slices Of the turkey 10 it,
besides bread and fresh butter, small bottle Of
wine, and many other little delicacies for the
sick man. Then, placing the heavy basket upon
the child's arm, she sent her home, not forget
ting to tell her to come soon again for more.
With q light heart and fearless eyes the little
child quickly ran along the frozen road, and then
turned down A narrow lane and entered a low.
hroLen. down IooI<in0 tenement house Pushing
the door aside, she entered the cold, cherries
room with her heavy load.
"What have you got, Clara" asked the sick
- n ssther s1cb nice tbin0sIn
"Why. where did you Qot them 2" asked the
s;cl, man in snrnrise.
"A Kind adv gaye than to me. and Il"
"A ADV :"
UYes Sthern
UTsII ma whsre aha Iives and bov sha lools
said The invalid in an impatient manner.
Little Clara gave as good description Is she
possibly could Of her kind beneIactress, to which
her father listened with interest, and, when she
had concluded, he exclaimed
"'Tis her-yes, It's her,"
We m;0bt sSv bore that tho sicl. man was nons
o,hor ,h"5 or- Sormsr fr;snS lame Rarn"rd
Heo. y" "a i.c ~. I,,Ia viIl.os ~ D. - "
ra;oc,od IoS"r % % he rent 70 ,hs Nest ,vhsro he
oSSOsJ |. I.Sr. .,hoIsss,s s,ors "nS 6;s husiDsSS
SI"s pS Ss,v nreS,"hIS Two vssrS aIlsrwsrd be
msrr;s5 an s%travscant WiIs Who Sonandered
he money in Sav s5naroI and in ! shoTt lime he
became 5snkrS6t, Since thSt time, mislortunes
came quickly upon him. Il was while in this
condition that his wife died, and, after following
her to the grave, he resolved to return with his
motherless child to the village where be dWelt in
his youth. On arriving at his native village, be
learned that his parents had both died while he
resided in the West. His money was now al.
most exhausted, and be was forced to seek .