Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-12-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
LFrom Paterson "a Magazine.J
THE ORPHANS CHRISTMAS-EVE.
BY MARY a. DENIsoN.


1t had been showing heavily all day, but
toward night 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 in the streets, although it was
Christmas-eye. Usually, at this hour, on the
night before the great holiday, the pavements
were crowded with people; happy children
going, hand.in-hand, with their parents, to
buy toys gay lookers-on; maskers in gro
tesque garments and boys blowing horns /;
everything and everybody jubilant with joy
and merriment. But now the streets were
almost deserted. for the snow lay foot deep.
In vain the shop windows blazed with gas
and exhibited their very choicest stores
Here and there "a news boy, STOPPING to face
the blast, cried the evening papers and now
and then solitary cab drove almost noise-
lessly 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 desolate a winters night as you
ever saw.
Suddenly, bare footed little girl, thinly
clad and shivering with cold, turned corner,
and came face to face with one of the most
brilliantly lighted toy>shops in that quarter
of the town. She had evidently been abroad
to gather fuel for scanty fire, for she car
ried 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 a moment she for
got the want and misery at home--the fire.
less room, the empty cupboard, the sick
mother-and could think of nothing but tn g
lovely things the window contained. Oh !!
that doll, that glorious, gorgeous creature j;
the spahgled dresses that seemed covered
with diamonds the funny, funny MASKS
She had never had Christmas-tree herself !;
but she had heard of such things, and she
grasped, breathlessly, gazing at the doll.
"Where will it go, l wonder To some
one who lives in beautiful house, expect,
and has everything she wants, even to pies
and turkeys for Christmas" she added, in
longing little voice. "Oh, dear J"
That sigh reached the ear of tall, dark
man who was passing, leaning upon the arm
of another gentleman. He looked down, at
first stwith wonder, and then with pity, upon the
sweet face and eyes upon the little red
hands that were grasping the basket; the poor,
little hands that should have been white and
dimpled; upon the chips with snow melting
about their edges; upon the cleanly though
thin garments; upon the bare feet and then
again into the deep, wistful eyes.
"Wbat pretty child I' he thought. "Poor
little thing p And he asked, stopping, his
voice softened to tenderness, "What is your
name, little one 2"
The child, reused from her absorption,
looked up, startled, but, seeing kindly face,
she answered, dropping courtesy,
"Lucy. sir H'
Lucy! 1t was the name of his only sister,
whom he had not seen for many long year !;
not since he had gone away, after the death
of their parents, and the sale of the old home
stead up in New England, determined to
make his way in the world. What train
of memories it called up! He thought of
the happy old days, and of sweet Hetty Moss,
and then of the utter despair that followed,
when his father died a bankrupt, and his
mother followed of broken heart, and some
far-away relatives came and took his sister
out of charity, and old Deacon Moss shut his
doors against him. The shame and anguish
of it all returned on him as sharply as when
he had first felt it, lad of twenty; but back
also came the memory of his sister, and he
almost persuaded himself, for moment, that
the child before him looked like his "little
Lucy" had looked at her age. There was a
tremor of expectation in his voice, as he said,
'Lucy what, dear ?"
"Lucy Pettigrew."
All it was name he had never heard
But, remembering that his sisters child would
not bear her mothers maiden name, he asked
again,
"And have you always lived here ?"
"Always. AS long as can remember
Father was soldier, you know, and was kill
ed in the war. Now there's nobody but
mother and me-"
He looked again at the child. The fancied
resemblance to his sister had faded The
"little Lucy of long ago had blue eyes and
faxen hair; both hair and eyes here we're
brown.
There was an end of the dream, then -
He gave sigh at the thought. But he put
his hand in his pocket, took out greenback
and offered it to the child, saying,
"Don't you want some toys, my dear 2"
The child looked down. Her face was yery
red. Suddenly she seemed to take a resolu-
tion-she looked up and said,
''Oh, sir! it's five dollars It would buy
mamma everything. She is sick, you know,
and Io1ght to be home this minute it was
so wrong of me to stop here. If you please,
sir, I'd much rather spend it for her" she
said, rapidly and iucoberently.
$50 you shall, dear. Hurry home now,
at any rate but first tell me where you live ?"
ave live in Carpenter street, No. 10. And