Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-01-01
NoRAH'S NEW YEAR.
BY MRS. ELLEN N. MITCHELL.


lt was New Y ears Eve. The streets
. were thronged with pedestrians, the
jingle OF sleigli-bells was ever and anon
heard, and all the world seemed to have
forgotten care, and taken a holiday.
But not so. There were sad faces amid
4 the merry ones; the poor and wretched
q jostled against the gay and happy; and
r this life-picture, like all others, had its
dark background.
Looking in at the brilliantly-lighted
window of confectioner's stood a lit
tie girl, her face blue with cold and
hunger, her eyes wistful and pathetic.
She had on light calico dress, shoes
that were too large for her, and a
strange Kind of garment-half shawl,
half cloak-so worn and patched that
one could not tell its original shape or
/ color, Her age was not over nine or
ten, yet she seemed more like little
old woman than child. There was an
air of wisdom iu the way she turned
her head, and wrinkled up her forehead,
and pressed her lips together, as she
gazed at the confectioner's candies and
cakes, as if she thought them all very
pretty, but at the same time rather un-
substantial. Once or twice the child
nature showed itself in her eyes, but
was quickly followed by an expression
of gravity and sorrow, touching in one
so young.
Finally she turned away with sigh,
and at that instant the confectioner's
door opened, and lady, richly dressed,
came out. Something in the child's
face or look attracted her attention.
She stopped, drew the shivering little
figure towards the light, and scanned it
curiously.
"What is your name, dear?" she
asked, kindly.
"Norah," was the answer, given in a
low voice, and with look of wonder at
the questioner.
"Norah." echoed the lady, turning
pale. "Norah what?"
"Norah Brady, ma'am."
"Oh!" and an expression, partly OF
relief, partly of disappointment, swept
over the listeners face. Then she slipped
some money into the child's hand, and
whispered, "Spend it as you please,
dear. 1t is New Years gift"
Norah's cheeks flushed, and she drew
back little proudly.
81 cannot take it, ma'am," she an
swered, in even, steady tones. "Papa
would be angry if 1 did.
''Angry that you accept a gift? Why
so?o
because we're poor, and when peo-
pie give us things, he says it's out of
charity"
"But is that any reason for refusing
them? ?''
"Yes, for papa and are Independent
and had rather earn our own money"
The little figure Strengthened itself with
an air of dignity-almost womanly.
"You are a strange child,' was the
reply, and the lady looked interested
and amused 'sTell me where you
i've"
The street and number were named,
and then Norah raised her honest blue
eyes, and said, softly, "Please don't
think me ungrateful, ma'am. You are
very kind, indeed. Only that papa has
seen better days, and that it hurts him
SO now to be poor, 1 might perhaps
keep it." And she handed back the
money with a wistful glance that spoke
volumes.
"Haye you mother, dear?" question
ed the other.
The blue eyes filled with tears. "No,
ma'am," she answered, in q qnivering
voice. "Mamma died three years ago."
Why was it that throb Of pain stir
red the listeners heart at these words?
What was Norah's mother to her? She
felt drawn toward the child, she hardly
knew why; drawn, too, toward the
dead mother, and the strange, proud
father. Norah's eyes, Norah's name,
were like those of little sister she had
loved and lost-not by death, but by a
separation that was almost worse. She
had never forgotten it, and tonight the
memory of that olden time softened her
heart, and made her pitiful toward the
griefs of others. But all this while her
carriage stood waiting, with a white
haired old gentleman inside, and the
coachman impatiently stamping his feet.
81 must leave you," she whispered to
Norah at last, longing to clasp the little
figure to her breast. 81 shall come and |
see you soon, may not?" Then, see
ing that the child hesitated to reply, |
she added, "Are you afraid papa VIII
object? Tell him charity has nothing
to do with it, but that it is for my own
sake, and because you remind me of
some one loved years ago, that wish |
to come"
Norah was a hospitable little soul,
and the beautiful lady had completely
won her heart. "Papa will be glad to
see you," she said, simply; "and I,
too"
"Thank you, DEAR" Then, moved by
sudden impulse, the lady stopped
down and kissed her. The coachman,
looking on, rubbed his eyes, and thought
that perhaps Norah was some little
princess in disguise. So she was, and
by right more royal than that of blood |
or money.
"What child was that?" questioned |
the white-haired old gentleman, as the
lady took her seat in the carriage and
babe the coachman drive on. "Some |
beggar, with tale of distress that
touched your sympathy?" He looked |
at her fondly, and in a manner that
showed she was the GOne woman of the |
world' to him.
'fNot beggar," and the lady smiled,
and told how Norah had refused the
money. "But the child interested me
strangely. She has eyes like those of
the little Norah l left in Ireland, and |
for minute had a faint hope that my
search was at last ended. But her fa-
theirs name is Brady"
| 0Apd vonrs vas O,ConnelI - said tba