The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-01-11
Nothing. TO Eat.

The snow has been falling slowly and
serenely, writes q New York correspon-
dent. 1t used to make me gleeful and
rosy. but it cannot do that any more in
this city. 1 suppose the change is of
time upon myself as well as circumstan-
ces upon the proud island. No, it is not
all because of the individual difference
between the now and the then which is
within, because to-day, when L opened
my door to look up and down the beauti-
full white street when the glalior of the
snow should have made it seem pure and
enchanting, l saw nothing that did not
make me heavy hearted. L tried to turn
my face upward to meet the melting stars
that were falling from the gray clouds,
just for the sake of that childish habit
which clings to the most of us, no matter
how severely dignity scorns and
tramples upon such petty tricks OF sim
plicity. but the clnmor before my vesti-
bule was too sorrowful and imploring
for such sentiment.
"For Gods sake let me shovel away
the snow" said strong man 81 have
wife and little children, and they are
very hungry and very cold"
"My mother can get no work at all ;
can't ] do it, please ?" piped shivering
little boy.
eff L only had shovel OF broom
may be We would let me have. the job to
/ do" said a low voiced old woman. whose
/ features were not those OF one who had
| spent almost an entire life i'll struggling
( Tor bread.
/ "Why do come out in the storm ?"
asked OF her.
because must" she said. last
winter hoped might be dead before
! the winter came again, but when the
summer was here, | somewhat liked tc
live, but I don't want to be here very
long, even if was to be warm. l don't
seem to be wanted much anywhere, OF
perhaps I might get to die and be com.
Portable" she added, after pausing tc
reflect between the last sentence and
what she had said before. 'Come IL
and get warm, - said to her.
81 don't go to no soup houses, nor to
no charity committees, ma'am, and
don't want anything don't earn, if yor
please. If You give Inc the sweeping tc
10 and lend me broom I might bt
thankful for the taste OF Il warm stove
ma'am. for I've been starving with the
cold"
Three imploring faces, and but one
sidewalk to sweep.
To feed the child, and send loaf K
the other children is not much in thi
great hungry city, but the h1miliatint
Influences of the unearned bread Wht
may know but that never a snowflake
shall fall again upon either the childs o
the mans forehead to melt upon gloy
of self-respect. y
Never did IL Christmas week pass il
New York when the rich and the poo
We're so far apart either in sympathy o
circumstances. The shops are file
with the rarest of beautiful things fror
the geniuses of both the artist and tn
artisan. Philadelphia has drifted up t.
New York. The beautiful array G
things sent by all the civilized nations c
the earth, which could be purchase
only at fabulous prices when on exhibi
ton, can be bought at less expense tha
anything that is beautiful OF our ow
country's handiwork. 1t is claimed thG
the merchants i'll the various parts of til
world, notably in China and japan
France and England, procured duplicate,
or close copies OF the articles that wei
rewarded with medals or parchment al
prevails, and they are now making TO
, tunes out of the late enthusiasm of OF
citizens. A tiny cup and saucer, daintil
! painted, and rs frail rs it is beautiful
was sold at auction for $40. while ii
pale faced woman at my door says
"Pray lend me broom, that ! ma
! earn scanty bit of bread, and respe'
myself.