Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-02-02

THE LITTLE MtTCH.GIRL.

1t was the last night of the year, bitterly
cold, showing fast, and nearly dark In the
cold and darkness poor little girl, with bare
head and feet, was passing downs the street.
She had slippers on when she left home-but
what was the good Of them2 They were
very big, big enough for her mother, who
used to wear them She lost them as she
ran across the street in front oftwo carriages,
which came tearing along at a fearful pace.
One Of them she could not find again, and
the other boy snatched up and ran of with
he thought it might do for a cradle when he
had children Of his own some day.
And there went the little girl with her
little bare feet all blue and red with the cold.
She had lot Of luciler matches in an old
apron, and bundle Of them in her hand -
That whole long day she had sold none, and
no one had given her penny. She crept
along, shiyering with cold and hunger, the
picture Of misery-poor little soul
The suowhakes lay thick on her long, fair
hair, which fell on her shoulders in beautiful
curs, but she never thought Of them. All
the windows were bright with lights, and
there was glorious smell Of roast goose, for
it was New Years Eve. She did think of
that. In niche formed by two houses, one
Of which stood a little more forward than
the other, she crouched down with her feet
under her but it only made her colder. And
yet she did not dare to .gohome she had sold
40 matches, and had not penny her father
would he sure to beat her, and at home it was
cold too, for there she had nothing over her
head but the roof and the wind came whist
ling 10 through it, though the biggest rents
were stopped up with straw and rags
Her little hands were almost numbed Oh
what comfort it would be to pull one match
out Of the bundle, strike it on the wall, aud
warm her fingers at it She did so. S-s-h-t
how it splutters and flashes, as she holds her
hands oyert Such a warm, clear flame, lik e
a Candida wonderful flame 1t really
seemed to the little girl as if she were sitting
before big iron stove with polished brass
edges and feet The fire burned so glorious
ly, and sent out such heat. The child
stretched out her feet to warm them too but
suddenly the flame was gone, the stove had
vanished, and she had nothing but the little
burned stick Of the lucifer in her hand.
Then a second was struck on the yall; il
il,' anu Jus' "no'o l'S i'snt lVh 'he wall seem
gu 20 Oe'ou'o u"uSP'ion' ''Ao q .on' anu sue
coulu see in'o tue ROOM Pul'o pam snow
"h'tc v'o'n was spfeau On 'ue ''pie al 'ne
Dr'ght CANA uiuuer-serN''o s,Do1 snlhlns upon
IT, ana lne roast goose stunea WIN apples
ana urieu plums' was senuing iortn me most
heavenly , odors' Ana whlt was sun more
u. leiiguuui' 'pe goose jumper uo"h from 'ne
llsh win kniie ana lork IN It's breast ana
came wadulng across the room towards 'he
poor chlld put al tnat moment tae maten
wen. OUT ana .nere was hothihg leit ou' the
hard' damp cola wall
enc III ano'her' Ana now she was sltt'ng
lnder 'he most splenuiu Ohristmas-'ree, mueh
1'eger anu nuer thali 'he one sue hau seen
through glass door IN the great shop oil the
pace thousands oi lLue tapers burned on
lhe green pranches' ana pright pictures IKE
lhose IN the shop WINDOWS looked aoWn al
ler' she stretched opt her hands towards
lhem' out just then the maten went OUT the
Iights rose higher ana hlgher' tlll she saw
them IKE stars III the SKY ana then one ieli'
leaving long tran ol glory behind 1t, "oome-
body Is dying sald the niue girl Tor her
'ld grandmother, the only being who mad ever
owed her' ana VINO was dead now used TO tell
ler that when a star iaiis' a soul goes up to
'ou' one struck anotner na'9n on 'he wall
'uu asa'u gre" orign'' anu III Tue or'gnt,