Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-12-31

I'VE request the following story :
careful perusal. Especially woulc
we haze our young friends read it
that they may initiate its example
1t is seldom we meet with such I
jewel in the world of fiction. The
public are so liable to be imposed
upon by the numerous beggars con
stantlv thronging our streets, that
we disconntenancc the practice OfeX
tending to them the hand of charity
until we repair to their homes: then
should we find them in want of the
comforts of life, it is duty incum-
bent upon us to render such assist
ance as their necessities require
EDS.
1t was the morning Of n new year
that had Just set in, bright, golden,
and beautiful. The snow glittered
like jeweled raiment in the cloudless
sun. The Ginning Of the silvery
sounds of the bells struck joyfully
upon the listener in every street.
The air was cold, thought not pierre
ing; bracing, though not biting
Just cold enough, in truth, to infuse
life and elasticity in every one that
moved.
There was little girl. child of
poverty, on that beautiful new years
morning, walking the streets with the
gay crowds that swept past her.
Her little feet had grown numb, en-
easetl only in thin shoes, and these
badly worn, that she could but with
difficulty move one before the other.
Her cheeks shook at every step she
took, and her lips looked truly pur-
pie. Alas, poor Elsie Gray! She
was a little 5eggar!
Just like the old year was the
new wear to her. just like the last
years wants, and last years suffer
ings, were the wants and sutferlngs
of this. The change Of the year
brought no change in her condition
with it. She was poor; her mother
was widow and an invalid, and the
child was poor beggar!
In the old and cheerless room
cleaned no bright fires Of anniver-
sarv. No ever-greens, no wreaths,
no flowers, save few old withered
ones, decked her time stained walls.
There was no sound of merry voices
within the door to say to the Widow
Gray, "a happy New Year to you,
Mrs. Gray" Heaven seemed to
have walled her and her abode out
from the happiness that was all the
worlds on the festive day of the year.
1t had provided, to all appearances
no JOYS, no congratulations no laugh
ter, no gifts, no flowers, for them.
Why? Were they outcasts? Had
they outraged their claims on the
wide worlds charities? Had they
voluntarily shut themselves out from
the sunlight of the living creatures
around them? No! a shame take the
world that it must be so answered for
them: Mrs. Gray was poor!
Little Elsie stopped at times and
breathed her breath upon her blue
and benumbed fingers, and stamp
ping her tiny feet in their thin case
ments with all the force left in them
and then big tears stood trembling
in her large blue eyes for a moment,
and rolled slowly down her purple
cheeks, as if they would freeze to
them. She had left her mother in
bed, sick. exhausted, and furnishing
What wonder that she cried, even
though those hot tears only dropped
on the icy pavement. They might
as well fall there as elsewhere; the
many human hearts that passed her
were fully as icy and hardened.
She would have turned back to GO
home, but she thought again of her
poor mother and went on, though
where to 90 she knew not. She was
to become a street beggar! Where
would street beggars go? What
streets are laid out and named and
numbered for MemP Surely, if not
home, then where should they goi
1t was this thought that brought
those crystal tears-that started
those deep and impressive sobs that
chOked her infant utterance.
A young boy-a bright-looking lit
tie fellow-chanced to pass her as she
walked and wept and stopped. He
caught the glitter of those tears in
the sunshine, and the sight smote his
angel heart. He knew not what wan
and suffering were. He had never
known them himself-never once
heard of them-knew not what {
real beggar was. He stopped sud
denly before Elsie, and asked her thu
cause of those tears. She coult
make him no reply-her heart wa
too full.
"Has anybody hurt your" asket
the feeling little fellow.
She shook her head negatively.
''Have you lost your way? ne pei
sisted. .
NO." answered the child quit
audibly.
: "What is the matter, then?' b
lasked.