The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1868-12-11
geleet Storv.
THE ORPHANS CHRIsTMAS-EVE,
BY MARY A. DENISON.

It had been showing heavily all day, but
towards n;ght had cleared off, and now
keen, bitter wind was blowing; that cut to
the very bone. 1t was so cold indeed, that |
but few persons were seen on the streets, al
though it was Chrstmas-eve. Usually, at
this hour, on the night before the great lioi-
iday, the pavemeuts were crowded with peo-
pie; happy children going, hand'in-hand with
their parents, to buy toys; gay lookerS-oni
maskers in grotesque garments; and boys
blowing horns; everything and everybody ju-
blant with Joy aid merrlment But now
the streets were almost deserted, for the snow
Law foot deep. In vain the shop windows
blazed with gus and exhibited their very
choicest stores Here and there a newsbOy,
stopping to face the blast, cried the evening
papers; and now and then solitary cab
drove almost noiSelessly through the white
streets. The gale roared through the trees OF
the public square, and the icicles ratified
down from the caves. 1t was as desolute
winters night as you ever saw.
Suddenly barGiooted little girl, thinly
clad, and shiyering with cold, turned cor
ner, and came face to face with one of the
most brlliautly-light ghted toy shops in that
quarter of the town. She had evidently
been abroad to gather fuel for a scanty fire,
for she carried an old, torn basket ON her
arm, in which were chips and other bits Of
refuse wood, which had been picked up
anywhere and everywhere.
At sight of the dazzling window and of the
glories it revealed, the poor little thing
stopped. Her eyes sparkled with JOY. Her
breath came short. For moment she for
got the want and misery at home-the iire-
less room, the empty cupboard, the sick
mother-and could think of nothing but the
lovely things the window contained. Oh
that doll, that glorious, gorgeous creature;
the spangled dress that seemed covered with
diamonds; the funny, funny masks. She had
never had a Christmas tree herself, but she
had heard of such things aud she gasped,
breathlessly, gazing at the doll
"Where will it go wonder? To some
one who lives in beautiful house, L expect,
and has everything she wants, even to pies
and turkeys for Christmas" she added, In {
longing little voice. "Oh, dear|
That sigh reached the ear of tall, dart
man passing, leaning upon the arm of auoth
er gentleman He looked down, at first will
wonder, and then with pity, upon the swee
face and eyes; upon the little red hands tina
were grasping the basket the poor littl
hands that should have been white and dim
pled; upon the chips with snow melting
about their edges; upon the cleanly thong
thin garments; upon the bare feet; AM
then again into the deep wistful eye.
"What pretty child" he thought; POO
little thing!" And he asked, stopping hi
voice so(tened to tenderness, "What is you
name, little oDe?"
The little child, reused from her absorl
ton, looked up, startled but, seeing
kindly face, she answered, dropping cou
tesy-
''Lucy, sir!'
Lucy! 1t was the name of his only siste
whom he had not seen for many long yea
not since be had gone away, after the deal
of their parents, and the sale Of the ol
homestead up in New England, determine
to make his way in the world. What
train of memories it called up. He thoug
Of the happy old days. and of sweet Het
Moss, and then of the utter despair tn
! followed. when his father died bankrup