Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-08-17
BETTER THAN DIAMONDS.
A Beautiful Story.

I was standing in the broad, crowded
street Of large city. It was cold winters
day. There had been rain; and although
the sun was shining brightly, yet the long
icicles hung from the caves of the houses,
and the wheels rumoled loudly as they passed
over the ground. There was clear, bright
look, and cold winter which quickened every
step. Just then, a little child came run
ming along--a poor ill-clad child !; her clothes
were scant and threadbare she had no cloak
and no shawl, and her little bare feet looked
red and suffering. She could not have been
more than eight years old. She carried a
bundle in her hand. Poor little shivering
child I, even I, who could do nothing else,
pitied her. AS she passed me, her foot
Slipped upon the ice. and she fell, with cry
of pain; but she held the bundle tightly in
her hand, and jumping up, although she
was limping sadly, endeavored to run on as
before.
"Stop, little girl, stop; )" said sweet voice;
and beautiful woman, wrapped in huge
shawl, and with furs all around her, came
out of aieweler's store close by. "Poor lit
tie child" she said are you hurt ? Sit down
on this step and tell me" How loved her,
and how beautiful she looked ooh, I can
not" said the child Il cannot watt am
in hurry. I have been to the shocmaker's,
and mother must finish this work to tonight,
or she will never get any more shoes to bind. .
Tonight said the beautiful woman &C.
to. night" Eyes" said the child-for the
strangers kind manner had made her bold
Eyes, for the great ball tonight; and
these satin slippers must be spangled; and
-" The beautiful woman took the bundle
from the child's hand and unrolled it, You
do not know why her face flushed and then
turned pale; but I, yes I, looked into the
bundle, and on the inside of a slipper | saw
a name-a lady's name written, butt
shall not tell it.
'And where does your mother live, little
girl p
So the child told her where, and then she
told her that her father was dead. and that
the little baby was sick, and that her moth
er bound shoes that they might have bread
but that sometimes they we're very cold and
that her mother sometimes cried, because she
had no money to buy milk for her little sick
brother And then l saw the lady's eyes
were full OF tears and she rolled up the bum
die quickly, and gave it back to the little girl,
but she gave her nothing else--no not even
one sixpence, and turning away, went back
into the store from which she had just come
out AS she went away, / saw the glitter
Of diamond pin. Presently she came back
and stepping into handsome carriage, rolled
off. The little girl looked after her for 8
moment, and then, with her little bare fee
colder than they were before, ran quickly
away I went with the little girl, and I saw
her 20 to narrow, damp, street, and into :
small, dark room and saw her mother
her sad, faded mother, but with a face Sc
sweet, so patient, hushing and soothing {
sick baby. And the baby slept, and the
/. mother laid it Oh herlap, and the bundle waS
unrolled; and dim candle helped her with
her work, for, though it was not night, ye
! her room was very dark.
i Then, after while, she kissed her little
girl, and babe her warm her poor little fro
zen feet over the fire in the CRATE, and gave
her little piece of bread, for she had nc
more: and then she heard her say bel
evening PRAYER, and, folding her tenderly te
her bosom, blessed her, and told her that the
angels would take care Of her. And the lit
tie child slept, and dreamed-oh, such pleas
ant dreams-of warm stockings and new
shoes, but the mother sewed on, alone. And
as the bright spangles glittered on the satr
slippers came there no repinings in her heart
| When she thought Of her little child's bare
cold feet, and of the scant morsel Of dry
bread, which had not satisfied her hunger
came no visions of bright room and gorge.
GUS clothing, and table loaded with all thai
was good and nice, and little portion o.
which spared to her would send warmth ano
comfort to her humble dwelling?