Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-12-23


Presently she had performed her crrand
to the lady, and had received the money
due TO her mother in one coin, fiveshii.
! ling piece. This she carried in her hand
being afraid to trust so precious sum in
| her pocket, for fear Of being operated upon
| by pickpockcts, Of whom she had heard
dreadful tales.
! Her checks glowcd with health aud cx-
crcisc as she trlpped along through the
snow, glad IN the possession of the crown
| piece, and in the anticipation of going up.
town with her mother on Christmas Eve.
But, alas Just us heavy clouds often rise
TO darkcn sunnicst skies, circumstance
hap ened which shroudcd all her gladncss
! and her bright imaginings, and filled her
childish heart with sorrow. AS she was
I shipping round the corner of street. she
would have Knocked roughly against cos
termongcr, carrying a huge basket on each
arm if she had not simply sprung aside (;
but IN so doing she encountcd a curbstonc.
and fell heavily into the snow road. Heed
less Of how much she was hurt, she sprang
up with frightened air, for the crown
piece had fallen from her hand and rolled
away somewhere.
Eth my little lass y said the coster-
mongcr, kindly, are any bones broken =
on said Faith, with starting tears,
u have lost my money IL fell on: Of my
hand y
How much p said the man.
a crown-piece,' said Faith, STOPPING
and pecring about in the snow aud mire.
We'll now, that's a bad job,' said the
man, setting down his basket, and stoop-
ing to assist the child in her search. But
their efforts were iruitlcss the crown was
not to be found
i wish / was rich now, my little DEAR
said the man, with sorry attempt to
comfort her, 'and I'd give you another
crown as sure rs my name amt King Cole.
There now, don't take on so il makes me
feel quite quccrish. Your mother won't
beat yc, will she =
oh, no. But she can't afford to lose
that money sobbcd Faith.
A little group had gathered round while
the scarch had been going on, and home
ly woman said, DO 90 home, my dear.
See, now, your cloak and irOCk are dirticd.
It's no use standing about in the cold.'
What's thisY said Il mans voice. why,
it's little what's-her-namc, i declare
What's the mattcrp
Faith looked up and encountered Mr..
Morgan's astonishcd gaze. The costermOn-
ger answered his question by explaining
about the child's loss; and then Mr. Nor
gan took her hand and said he would tell
her mother all about it. Like many other
drunkards, Mr. Morgan was II very kind
man when he was sober and this morning
he was sober, though how long he would
have remained 50 if he had not met with
Faith is Il question, considering that he
was Just on his way to publIc.hOusc TO
get something "to steady his nerves, rs he
phrascd it; for they were sadly out Of or
der, after his dcbauch Of the previous day.
The band which had held little Faiths was
was unnaturully hot aud trcmulOus.
Five shil.iugs = said Mr.. Morgan as
they walked along that's good sum to
Lose
Yes, and il was all in one piece such Il
beautiful CROWN said Faith, her chin
quycring with sorrow.
WAS il now y said Mr.. Morgan invol-
unfairly putting his hand TO his waistcoat
pocket, for ii held II similar coin, which his
wife had supplied him with before he lett
home that morning.
Yes answered Faith; 'and ! wAs
thinking how pleased mother would be
with it. And now | can't take her any
money, and my new cloak is dirticd, and
p'r'aps we shan't be able to have even
bread and butter Mt Christmas ; oh yes, we
shall, though We shall bc sure 10 haze
pray, Give us this day our daily bread ;
but mother won't be able to buy any
Christmas things
Give us this day is in 'Our Father
ISN'T it p said Mr., Morgan, aluaing to the
Lords Prayer. DO you say that every
morning p | used to know it hy heart
when | was boy, years and years ago /
used to say il every morning regularly with
my mother
For moment Faith forgot her sorrow in
the extreme interest which size felt in which
Mr. Morgan WAS saying. She looked up
at him through her tears and said, Don't
you say II now, sir =
Say IL now = he echoed, | haven't
and then he abruptly stopped and turned
away. "L0Ok here, little One,' he sail,
after silence, would you like to come with
mo aud let Mrs. Morgan clean your cloak II
bit Perhaps your mother win be cross To
see il 50 dirted and then III walk over
aud explain to her all about the money
At this allusiOn 10 her loss the sad eN-
preston came back into Faiths face,
As they drew near 10 Mr.. MorSan's S
house, she looked up anXiously to her
mothers window, but no one was looking
out,
Mrs Morgan was sitting on the sofa in
. wv iNlhS H'AA'liS' %h'''''NFN''
the furniture was good, the place looked rs
unhOme-like rs houses always do when neg
| lectcd through drink, Mrs, Morgan was
nstonishel to sec her husband return 81
soon, aud with Faith Harley, too, She was
sober rs yet, 50 Faith WAS addressed as
/ little dear = and when the fat old lady had
/ heard the story of her loss, she utteled any
| number of Calculations, reused herself u
/ call her maid 20 bring u flannel aud hot
/ water for Faiths cloak, When these were
/ brought, she took the cloak of Faiths
/ shoulders aud began cleaning II, while
/ Faith sat ny the lire on low chair, which
Mr., Morgan had put for her, lilo told his
wife what the child hal been saying about
buinI suro of having bread at Christmas
aud Of har disappointed hopes of having
'rpal Christmas thiugs : aud then, 10 divert
the child's attention, lac sald,-
'Sn, youI name ia Faith r
/ 'Nes, sir said Faith, resting her fI.Aod
hands Ou her knee,
4 wonder what made your mother cal
YOU that y he said, mqulsltlyely,
4 know said Faith, with q degrea o
hesitation, Mother told me all about u
ono day, aud eau toll ynu, II YOU like, liu