Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-12-22
And have you always lived here p

He looked again at the child. The fan
cied resemblance to his sister had faded. The
little Lucy of long ago had blue eyes and
fiaxen hair; both hair and eyes here were
brown.
There was an end OF the dream, then. He
gave a sigh at the thought. But he put his
hard in his pocket, took out greenback
and offered it to the child, saying,
Don't you want to buy some toys, my
dear ?''
The child looked down. Her face was
very red. Suddenly she seemed to take a
resoiuuon--she looked up and said,
''Oh, sir, it's FIVE dollars! 1t would buy
mamma everything. She is sick, You know,
and | ought to be home this minute it was
so wrong of me to stop here. If you please,
sir, much rather spend it for her, she
said rapidly.
$50 you shall, dear Hurry home now,
at any rate bat first tell me where you
live p
I'VE live in Carpenter street. No. TO-
And may keep the FIVE iollars-may l.,
sir?'
Certainly. And you shall have a doll,
too | will bring it to you myself, to omor-
Tow
oh! will you sir" she interrupted, her
eyes dancing.
With these words she gathered her shawl
about her and hurried away.
The gentleman who had carried on this
conversation with Lucy took the arm of his
companion again, and said,
How all this brings back the past to me !!
You have often heard me speak of Hetty
Moss. | suppose she is dead long ago. he
added, with sigh, 'or married, which, for
me, is worse. But at sixteen she was the
lovliest creature [ have ever seen. | never
shall forget the day, after my father ard
mother had been buried, that | went TO see
her, intending even then, to go away and
try MY fortune, but expecting that she would
bid me God speed. and that her father, who
had always been kind to ne, would do the
same All, Charley, we must ali, sooner, or
later, learn hard lessons and learned my
tirst cruel one that afternoon. The old man
met me himself Well, won't dwell on it.
He declined to let me see IIetty; called me
a beggar' brat; worse, the child Of bank
rupt, and bade me begone, Ever since then
| have had less faith in human nature"
mo. you haven't, answered his friend
b'uDtly. You think you have But, old
fellow, ycu are too good to talk such non
sense, aud, please God, you Il be happy yet,
though not with Hetty."
My first task, now that am rich, and
home at last" answered the other, will be
70 get on the track, if can. of poor Lucy.
After | left America | continued to write
for years, but never getting any answers, L
finally gave it mp. Christmas once over, |
skall start tor the old homestead but | fear
that all clue to her is lost. "
Meantime, Lucy was hurrving home, feel
ing herself a new being. In spite Of the
snow, her bare feet, her cold numb fingers,
We question if there was a happier child i'll
the city.
See, mother, Oh, sect" she cried. when
she got home with a great sob of happiness,
we shall have soI,ie Christmas after all a
gentleman gave it to me and said it was FIVE
dollars. Oh, mother mother, I'm so hap
by, five whole dollars to spend for Christ,
mas! Why, never heard Of such thing, y
and her face fairly glowed. Isn't it IA
miracle, mammal"
My dear child, it seems ike one, said
her mother, holding out her wasted hand
and regarding the money.
The sad sweet face lighted up with glow
OF thankfulness as She listened to the littl'
narrative.
"Oh, my darling, she cried, ''it was sen
/ for shoes and stockings for your poor feet
/ | cried to see you go cut in the snow to-da!
! and prayed in agony 10 the dear Lord t.
! help us, aud this is the answer,
| But don't want the shoes, mamma,
want Christmas, said Lucy, with disap
/ pointed face. He tod me to go in and bu.
toys. We never did have Christmas, anc
! | wanted to see how it seems.
Very soon there was loud knock at tn
door, aud when it was opened in came tw'
stout men with an enormous basket between
them, which they set down and there it sa
! looking up into the widow face, great rount
potatoes and squashes, and bulging packa
ges that told of plenty.
Who is this for?" asked Lucy 5 mother
quite pale.
Its for widow by the name of Petit
grew.
But who sent it ~
/ II don't know who sent 1t; it's paid for
| that's all care for. -
The door shut, the men had vanished.
''Oh, mother, we're dreaming-just
sure as you live, we are dreaming, erie
the delighted child, dancing about the basket
why, there everything there. The Lor
keeps working miracles, don't He?
Call Hetty Moss, child, " said her moth
er, sinking back in her chair, quite ovel
come; and presently Hetty came in, stat
sweet. looking woman, not over thirty, wit
soft, dewy blue eyes, and lips that alway
looked smiling.
Why, Lucy, you've been your mother
good angel to- day" said Hetty, stoopin