The daily gazette., 1878-03-27
THE NEWSBOY.s LUCK.
BY q. T..

bundle of plain sewing which she had
been engaged to do, aud seated herself
before the scanty fire, which, however
often she stirred it, persisted in smolder-
ing away slulenly refusing to give light
or warmth TO the chesrless room. Little
Willie, her boy, crOuched on the bare
floor at her feet, listening 10 the wind as
1t swept around the shabby tenement,
rattling the widows, and moaning as if a
most OF unseen spirits sought entrance To
their mean abode.
judging from his gloomy aspect, VII
lie was very much disguised with the
manner in which fate dealt with the IN.
murmuring, in childish impatlence, al
the : years that came and passed
away, bringing only an increase of cares,
with never change for the better. NJ
word OF complaint fell from him his lips.
however, as he gazed first j,no the fire
with his bright blue eyes, tl.a wistfully
up into his mothers face.
Such a sweet face as it was, too, with
its calm, patient mouth and broad white
brow, above which the soft brown hair
was smoothed so plainly, and gathered
into shining coil at the back of the
shapely head. II was New Years eve
and she was thinking tonight Gas she
had done so often before), of a New
Years eve in the past, when she had
left the old farm to adorn poor mans
home in the city.
A pleasant home it had proven, too,
| until William went OIL to seek his for
tune In the far West, and never came
back again. New years were born,
and old years " lifted the latch of eter
nity's door," and tottered, like aged
pilgrims, into the great unknown, with
out bringing a word from the absent
one. So hope died out in her bosom
and she ceased 10 watch for his coming
1t had been tedious Winter for the
POI r, and small as her family was, Mrs
Goldbro found It difficult task at times
TO keep the "wolffrom the door" Bu
she was brave little woman, toiling OF
from week TO week, ende avored to dc
her best, however feeble it might be.
She hated TO take her boy from hi,
nook by the fire, and sleet and snow to
deliver the bundle Of sewing; but sh,
was soon forced TO do SO, as the nome Mt
passed swiftly, and she must have the
money next day.
in half an hot r he returned with
sorrowful countenance, informing he
that the lady was displeased with he
work, and had sent it back, refusing t,
pay for anything so poorly done. Thi
was certainly an unpromising state O
affairs but something told the little seam
stress hot TO despair, and so she trusted
in an all-wise Providence to bring he
out of her dilemma.
The glad New Year bought nor jo
to the widows heart, as, drawing he
scanty shawl closely about her, she wen
forth to seek for work. Willie, she kney
would make something that day by sell
ing The Carriers Address, for he was
newsboy, but she shivered at the though
of the little bare feet pattering throug
the snow and how soon his meager earn
ings would go TO pay their debls.
j Very cheerful and warm the Office Q
the Grand Hotel appeared to Willie a
he went out after calling upon bis pal
irons that New Years morn. A strange
who had arrived the evening befor
arose as the door closed upon the sleI
der, shiverng form, and inquired of th
clerk whom the lad might be.
"Willie Goldbro, the son of widow
he replied, and "a bright little fellow b
is to.
"Goldbro? Goldbro, did you say?" g,
claimed the gentleman, laying both hanl
upon the small mans shoulders, as
, afraid that lie might escape before a
swering his question. "And can y6
direct me where to find them?" he co
tinued, fairly shaking the little clerk
his excitement, to the great amuseme
sf the bystanders, and utter disgust
the young gentleman himself.
Obtaining the desired information,
called a carriage, and was soon on b
way to their shabby home.
, The widow returned with a hea,
heart, for her efforts to obtain work b;
brought only disappointment, and 81
seated herself by the dreary hearth
wait for Willie's return. While sittil
thus, a carriage drew up before the hou
and gentleman, wrapped in gre
overcOat, sprang out, and ran up q
totterIng steps, that creaked and jarr,
beneath his heavy tread. With kno'
that nearly shook the door from its rus
, hinges, the bearded stranger enter
without even giving her time to answ
his summons. And such a greeting
4 he received--the wealthy Californi;
who returned to her-a5 unlike q
: youthful husband who went away
could be, but her "Willie," still, althoul
grown older, and improved by time.
The little newsboy could scarce
realize it when he found himself seat
besides his parents in the elegant CT
riage, and whirled away to the "Gra
Hotel" never again to tramp, hung
and cold, through the city's streets. A
so it was "happy New Year." after
and their joy seemed all the brighter
the cloud that came before.