New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-12
Chapter HI,

every house seems Illuminated, and not
half block but comes from within happy
homes the sounds of music, the dance, and
the voice of wild joyousness, mingling with
childhOod's gushing laughter. Yet Harry
walks slowly on, nor feels the happy
Christmas spirit knocking at his heart.
He reaches Broadway. The gorgeous
scene confuses his brain, and he wonders
why he lett his room upon such night. A
food of light flashes out upon street and
house as far as the eye can reach up and
down Broadway. Carriages pass and re-
pass in one dense crowd. Old and young
crowd the sidewalks. Children clap their
hands in glee of wonder and delight at
the boundless display from store and win
dow, and at old Santa Claus crawling from
out the chimney with his rich freight of
toys and good thingsfor the pretty children
lying in their white capes and gowns. The
shop windows blaze with gas, while the
tempting fruits, frosted cakes, and gaily-
colored candies sparkled in fanciful and
beautiful forms beneath its bright rays.
Yet Harry scarcely turned his eyes aside
until they were caught by strange group
at one of these windows; then he braced
himself against the wall foot or so from
the window, and watched with attentive
eye the little group. Two small girls had
dropped upon their knees to brace thcE-
selves against the crowd, and TO shield their
half clad forms from the keen frosted blast;
and with their little faces almost touching
the cold glass they gazed in upon the
tempting display with mouths agape, vora-
cious eyes glistening and staring with eager
hunger.
The little faces pressed forward until
they touched the icy glass, then started
back with a cold shiVer running through
their thin frames. The scant, tattered gar
ments were dirty, and but for the tangled,
short hair, matted in masses about their
heads and ears, their little, pinched, shriv-
eled faces might have been taken for little
old folks, SO strongly had want and ruffer-
ing marked their lines upon their almost
baby faces. But it was third one, stand
l ing exactly opposite him in the corner oi
!, the oval window, who held his scrutinizing
1 gaze with peculiar power. There were
: the piercing black eyes, the elfn looking
: locks, black and glossy as ravens wing,
o and the dark oval face of ancient Italy OIL
e Spain. 1t was the blood of the latter tina
tiDged her tiny veins.
:, The oval face was now sharp and angu,
: lar from cold, hunger, and suffering, an(
u tears had gathered in the large shining
e black eyes as she gazed in upon the sump
= tuous feast, which seemed as unattainabl
to her as the wealth of the Indies. Fo
o some moments Harry watched the it'll
,. suffering faces, then advanced a step aa
Is leaned his head low, almost to their ears;
rs "Children, come in the store, and yo
l. shall have some of those fine things
Ii The group started, but looking up say
d the kind smile upon the handsome face, an
'e dropping their heads walked in as hidden.
m "Give these children oyster soup, an
plenty of bread and butter"
as And Harry Chamberlain took up pepei
" and appeared to read, but it was to waite
with smiling face the enjoyment of tn
~ children. As the soup was placed befol
them the two fell to work as if the savoI
" odor whetted their almost famished app
tites. But the little Spanish one locke
down upon hers while the gathered tea
fell fast upon the table. She put on
re mouthful to her lips, then dropped til
it spoon back in the dish, and stepped timidl
up to the stranger.
tn "Sir, if that soup is mine, please let N
a take it to my mother. 1 will bring baC
the plate, indeed 1 will !"
o "Go and eat child, until you have plent
" You shall have whatever you wish for yol
mother"
OF A little courtesy and happy light fro
out the black eyes thanked the stranger
et no words could have done.
NJ When the plates were emptied Har
ordered birds, and turned from them, te
w ing them he would be back in one nome
le' and that they must stand there until he l
ut turned. Procuring two envelops
gh placed bill in each, then saw them pinnI
by within their tattered garments, and to-
Nv them forward, gave each large bundle
Iss sweetmeats, and told them to go home
once and give the letters to their paren
Then turned back to the little elf who
- not only excited his pity but half won
heart.
re- "Ghild, if you will come with me now
ur will go home with you and see that yo
=. mother has everything she needs"
'Oi "Oh sir, our home is not fit for you to
to. But whatever you give me for !
.ch mother l will take right to her, and v
,ed bring the plate back. For, oh sir, wa
some of that nice soup for her. ha
heard her so often wish for it since she
ne been sick in bed.'
nd "Chid, I must see your mother, and
his she is sick in such hcme will have
taken to better oRe and good nurse a
doctor who may make her well aga
eat Fer mother whose little daughter loV
tbs her so much must deserve it,"
Of "Ohl sir, come then, and GOD will bl
= you. Yes, she is a good mother, And
ns- white and pretty, sir"
me The little one had stolen out upon
it'll streets to see If some enc would not g
.as- her a few pennies with which to buy
=. sick and famishiRg mother an orange. I
lsn the crowd was teo dense and too gay
int, that Christmas night to notice the '
'oll thing jostled about among them. A
nj, but for that sad stranger who took no p
in it at all she would have glided back i