The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-13

lie bought paper he scarcely wanted for
the sake of the ragged urchin who offered it.
Evening paper. SIR paper sir?''-the cries
were all around him, but he passed along
unconscious of them, for he had noted the
windows flied with Christmas. TOYS and this
as almost every other subject, led his mind to
MS !OSt bow and he remembered the merry
times Of the years that were gone and
thought bitterly OF tiss coming DAYS. The
SNOW and wind were binding him and he
stumbled At every corner. only avoiding rs
best ne could the people he met but
az last cry aroused and stopped
him. Please, sir. buy a paper;
am freezing and I can't find Char
lie" The little fellow that stood by his side
vas 20 small that he seemed like mere
baby. lie was sObbing, and the tears were
freezing to his thin cheeks. His little feet
were half covered by pair OF shoes. but his
ankles were bare. His jacket was torn and
ragged, and he had on no shirt His pants
hardly reached below his knees, and they
were moss OF rags and Shreds. His hat
was brimless snd it had been smashed out
OF any shape il might ever have had His
hands were 20 small they both could have
been covered by one Of your delicate blue
veiued palms, and his body was shrunken by
hunger and cold
who IS Charlie?' Mr. Byram asked as he
stopped down TO the little fellow. for the
heart. He's a boy that brought me down
town "Shall take you homer II amt
got no home; l live with an old woman.
Shell Kill me if | come back. She said 80.
and can't sell my papers and the little
naked Inn IS trembed under his slight
weight, and he fell 10 the ground, and
the cruel, mOCkiug Wind caught the
old torn nat and Tie few papers
and Wlirled them away along the
pavement The street Arab-the little waif-
had tainted. Mr. Byran lifted him in his
arms and ran rapidly home. The child was
no burden. 80 Well had poverty done its
work. and the task was an easy one. lie
dashed mp the steps. through the hall, and
never halted a moment until he laid the
freezing form bGfOre thes huge fire.
IN a little while the life came back 10 the
Nretched orphan, and the blue eyes that
had beheld only want looked out upon =
new lie. lie was bathed carefully. fed with
stimulating food, and putto sleep in a warm,
soft bed That night the mother stood by
him and smoothed the hair from his fore
head. gently tucked the blankets about him,
and after d few moments piayer bent and
kissed the thin drawn lips. Henry, rAay
do as please with Charlie clothing You
know how nucl, think Of every piece but
want 20 give everything 70 this poor child;
may ~ Ny darling. yes; do as you please
bat your kindness Is part OF your noble ma
rlTe. Henry, JheTe = nobody IN the
world 70 claim our care and
attention: LET adopt this child whom God
certainly has sent 70 Us. 1 could love him.
for he needs a mother; he said he had none
ani no father: not exactly in cur Charles
place but just a. If he was Charles brother"
Long into the night they talked of their
angel child, and then of their plans for the
little stranger sleeping so quietly and peace
fully in the bed that once had held their
darling.
Yesterday he was dressed in Charles
clothes. and Mr. Byram, finding that hc has
no relatiyes who win keep him, has deter
mined 10 give him the vacant place in the
home circle. for ne has crept far into the
vacant place in the wounded hearts.
Gods eternal arms will hold fast your
loved and lost in mis- gentle keeping. They
are blessed and secure; can not you do
some thing for the orphan and the friendless
on your streets and at your door?
The dead need no more earthly garments.
they are clothed and happy in the mansions
OF the Father; but the poor ye have, and
whatsoever you do for them you do even for
Jesus