Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-12-22
THE ORPHANS CHRIsTMAs-BVE.

II had been showing heavily all day, but
towards night had cleared off, and now a
keen. bitter was blowing, that cut to the
very bone. 1t was so cold indeed, that but
few persons weIe seen on the streets, although
it was Christmas eve. Usually at this hour,
on the night before the great Holiday, the
pavements were crowded with people hap
nv children going, hand inh hand with their
parents, TO buy toys; gay lockers on; mask
ers Ia groteSque garments, and boys blowing
horns; everything and everybody jubiiant
with JOY and merriment. But now the
streets were almost deserted, for the srow
lay foot deep. In vain the st op windows
blazed with gas and exhibited their very
choicest stores Here and there z nawsboy,
stopping to face the blast cried the evening
papers and now and then a Soli' ury cab
drove almost noiselessly through the white
streets. The wind roared through the trees
Of the public square, aud 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 a cor
ner, and came face to face with ore Of the
mos, brilliantly lighted Toy shops in that
quarter Of the town. She had evidently
been abroad TO gather fuel for 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 eve
rywhcre and anywhere.
At sight Of the dazzling window aud of
the glnrcs ii revealed. the poor little thing
stopped Her eyes sparked with Joy. For
a moment she forgot the want and misery at
home-the ireiess room, the empty cup
board, the sick mother and could think of
nothing but the lovely things the window
contained. Oh that doll, that glorious,
gorgeous creature; the spunsle9 dress that
seemed covered with diamonds; the funny,
funny masks. She had never had Christ
mas tree herself but she had heard of such
things, and She gasped, breathlessly, gazing
at the doll Where will it ga, | wonder
To some one who lives in beautiful house,
! expect, and has everything she wants, even
to pies and turkeys for Christmas, she ad
ded in longing little voice. ''Oh, dear
That sigh reached the ear of q tall, dark
man passing, leaning upon the arm of anoth-
or gentleman. He looked down, at first in
wonder, and then with pity, upon the sweet
face and eyes; upon the little rcd hands that
we're grasping the basket, the poor little
hands fh.r Il, l., ,,,l .t,,,,
Pied; upon the chips with snow melting
about their edges; upon the cleaniy though
thin garments; upon the bare feet, and ther
again into the deep wisftul eye.
wv hat 4 pretty child" he thought
Poor little thing!'' And he asked, hi
voice softened to tenderness, w hat is YOU
name, little one?''
The little child, reused from her absorb
t'on, looked up, startled, but seeing kiudl,
iaSe, iZSe, she answered, dropping courtesy
Lucy. sir."
Lucy Ii vas the name of his only sister
whom he had not seen for many long year
not since he had goae away, after the deatI
o. their parents, and the sale of the ole
up III nc" BIuEidiU. uStGl inlHt
70 make his way in the world What a trait
OF memories it called up. He thought o
the happy old DAYS, and OF sweet Hetty
Moss, and then of the utter despair tha
followed, when his father died bankrupt
and his mother followed OF broken heart
and some tar-away relatives came and tool
MS sister out of charity, and old Deacon
Moss shut his doors against him. The shame
and anguish Of it all returned on him a
sharply as when he had first felt it, lad o
twenty; but back also came the memory o
MS sister, and he almost persuaded himself
ior moment that the child before him look
ea Ike his little Lucy had looked at her age
mere was tremor of expectation in hi
voice, as he said,
Lnch what, dear ~
Lucy Pettigrew.
All, 1t was name he had never heard
nnt, remembering that his sisters chill
you'd not bear his mothers maiden name
ne asked again,