The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-30
SPECIAL PROVIDENCE.

" inged angels, of whom you have so
often read. Our own good thoughts ana
our own good deeds are the angels which
He sends abroad over the world.
But TO the little story: I
1t was a sharply cold Christmas Eve.
The sun had gone down in glory OF
crimson and gold. 1t was warm, ten
der sky to look at from the windows oil
comfortable, 1ire-llghted rooms; but, to |
those hurrying up ana down the streets, |
it was N cpld, hard sky--a sky bitterly, |
nitIlessly bright, like some radiant blue
eve out Of which looks d cruel ana un-
LOVING spirit.
Little Johnny and Katy Morris, hurry
ing nome from gathering their baskets
of chiDs and STICKS out OF the streets ana
alleys, did not admire the sky at all.
They thought only of their cold noses
and their colder ears, their aching toes,
and the great holes in their mittens, ana
of what they were gong to have for sup
per when they should reach the poor,
shabby little house which they called
home.
"Baked potatoes would be so good"
said Johnny.
"Beelstedk and-and-some butter on
the bread Wouli be good, tOoV salo
Katy, smacklng her blue lips.
| ppm awful tired Of bread and 'Iasses,
ain'C your" asked Jonuuy.
Yes, and Pm awful tired OF every
thing, Look up there through those
windows! See how the fire blazesl Ana
there's part OF II Christmas tree III sight!
And look at that girl i'll her white dress
and blue sash! o, dear! Come alongV
1--WE never had Il Christmas tree, ala
wew asked Johnny.
81 should think not! It's as much as
"a H.,,X
tkeep us from freezing. Let's hurry up,
or wu'll freeze anynoW!'
The shaUb, little house was almos
opposite the large, pleasant windows at
which they mad stopped to look, ana sc
Lhey were soon WlInln their own gate
and at home. But such cherries home
| lust a lutte warmer than the ar OF tht
street, tnat was all. The mother, pale
) slckly woman, sat sewing Ny the a!mos'
empty stove. She looked at their baskets
of fuel eagerly. you've got precious
: little this timew she SAID.
, "Well, we're nearly frozen getting
even this MUCH" saiu Katy, Glowing heI
: red fingers.
t "Tnere's real chunk OF oak, or bick
= ory. or something, in my basAet," SAT-
Iohunv, proudly. II found IL i'll LL
t middle of the street." You would hay
S thought that he brought home bag .
e gold or some equally great prize.
= $50 there is 1t wi!l boil The mush FOL
e YOU, Johnny, and you can have WhoI'
: cup OF miik-boIh OF you, lPs ChIlsl
= mas-eve, you know"
y "And then we can sit up half an houl
= can't we, motherT said Katy, coaA
q ingly.
e and can'G have the wood wasted"
h The mother spoke very patiently. Sh
II was used to this plncAlnS and scriml
S ing, She thanked Heaven she was II
g poorer-that she was still able to kee
+ the shabby roof over their heads, an
l. starvation away from the door. oh
Il herself was cold, and tired, and hungry
e but she could noC speak OF her own su
n tering. She kindled the fire. The merr
ii blaze cracked ana rOared, as II IL wei
of the right lire in the right place; and tn
L. two children held tnelr cola hands on
t. 10 it. and chuckled softly and cp
ID tpntedly, as II nothing could be pleasan
III er.
By and by the little round table, viii
n, it's three bowls and spoons, the sma
Lh pltcher OF milk, and the plate of smOkil
A. tsAasty pudding" stood reauy.
II "On! and u candle, tool' eXclaime
IL Johnnny, as his mother took cand
III nom the she and liguted IL at The fir
G IU seemed like too much happiness
ia having cup of milA, ana light TO arm
IL it by. ...r
Eyes. because it is Christmas Eve
e, said his mother, with SAD smile. 81
L WAS thinking OF oJher Chris mas Eve
oy nOn, it's TOO jolly" SAID johnny.
But all pleasures pass away; and
ne and by the mush and milk was cate
OF and Katy and Johnny were tucked aWi
he in he'd. 1t wasn't IL nice bed, viii
rd counterpane and rufied pillows. III W
lat Tothpr hard. and me blankets we
IL Matched. But it was clean bed, al
ihe hearts of the children who sic
gi- there we're clean. II you had seen the
gathering sticks out of gu ters and
.ch leys, YOU might not have no lced jon
In, lny's frank Dlue eyes, or haty's seflo'
ry- intelligent face; but the lrank plne ey
nd ana intelligent face were there, new
yes rheless. and tue two children were bI
ter children than you sometimes find
re; Lhe most splendid MONIES.
And there they We're, put in bed
I'D save wood, just as some vi the people
,he paris stalu i'll beu during the gre
APP Siege for the same reason; and SUI
ill., was only u'clock-the time when y
Sc, are iuet gathering about your comlor
sm- h 1iuner-Uables. Only O'Clock, a
tney were very, very wide awake.
llQ tIhaG CnflS lin u.s. tIe@--Na aSh y AZ 5pl
CT! did thougn?' said Katy, thinklng
ing what they mad seen IN the neig1bo
window.
mt, Yes! Oranges and candies, an
the and-.itlle gold stars hung all OVER
'om wasn't Lhere!'
my IL will Lake the shirts home nov
,rp- said the mother, after sne had careful
ing, coyered the 1ire and eXtinguisneu
lse- candle. she drew the WIndow-aurta
me- aside so that The light from the strt
the lamps over the way might come dane
es- in like gleeLul playmate TO Keep
.du- children company, aud pat on her III
'ols lhin guosG of II shawl. "Il be Dact
all very lew minutes,' she said.
ng- After she was Aone the Chrlstm
tlry tree came up again.
'Elf we cOuid only have one! s
.Johnny, in Il trembling voice, as ii afr
of tne terrible happiness That sugges
lLselt. ..
I..'d go gathering sticks in the sno
Eno' whole year." sad Katy impressiV
run s,If we could only have one Real Ire
MS will it be any use TO hang up Sit
UNI ings, you thlnk?' asked Johuny. -
MaU Nv could do that much, you know"
nser 20 pshaM! we nung ZEN up last y
. th the ana the year before tnat; ana all We
sshe was a little pincushron ana some
'lhs; corn. and you got your mlttens--
,p,ad ttna What you'd mad dnyaody, you know