The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-11-07
5l,sreAann.
TIBBY AND TOSEY.
The Cold Night Shows Up One Style of
Charity.

The Cold Wight Shows Up One Style o
Charity.
Theodore Bartlett in the Christian Register.
Kitty had been 20 the charity ball, ant
the charity ball is very fashionable; Their,
was no doubt about that. Kitty had eat
en- late supper, returned home, gone t.
bed and to sleep; there was no more doubt
abuot that. She recollected distinctly
throwing one shoe under the bed and the
other into corner. saying Goodnight
to her own figure in the looking glass
twisting the figure of butter Fly till hel
fingers ached before she discovered that i,
was the Christopher. and then laughing
sleepily at all her mistakes. She even re.
membercd the first dream of her sleep,
which was something about charity dia-
monds, chicken-salad. lancers, and ice.
cream waltzes.
No; there was no doubt that she had
gone through all this: yet there she was,
staring in at the window of the great ball
room, and the ball was Just commencing.
Could she have gone to sleep on the win
dow sill in some mysterious manner? No;
she was outside, and standing in the air.
with somebody holding on her hand,
20, dear" thought Kitty. mournfully.
Il must have drunk some wine somehow.
How strange IL Is! wonder how | came
k.are! But what cold hand holds mine;
it's not papa's, for it makes me slIiver.
He must be horrid. won't look at him.
So"
There did not seem to be much need of
the resolve, however. for the person who
held her hand did not move or seem TO
care whether she saw him or not. but Gul-
city looked in with her. So al last. like
most girls, KItty's curiosity got the better
of her, and she cautiously glanced out of
the corners of her eyes.
Beside her she saw an old man. His
beard and hair were long and white, and
1rooped about his neck and shoulders. like
falling snow. Upon his head was lightly
placed crown. as Of frost-work. so deli
cate was Its texture. Robes. long and
dark, and cold to look at, fell in broad
folds from his shoulders, and were held to
his waist by Il glrdle of twlnkling stars.
He was gazing in at the brilliant assemb
lage, with a sad, melancholy look upon
his face.
Kitty looked at his robes.
How very old-fashioned, she thought;
and aged, very aged"
Yes" murmured the old man: 'old,
vcrv old"
Kitty started. He read her thoughts.
evidently. She was sorry now she had
thought it, he looked so sad
Who are you?" asked Kitty timidly:
and why have you brought me here?"
Il am the Cold Night" said the old
man, slowly turning his eyes toward her.
His eyes were sharp and piercing, vet full
of kindness. and / have brought YOU
here that you might see ho~ great your
charity is, for heard this was charity
ball"
''Yes. said Kitty nervously
Il am afraid of the poor continued
the Cold Night; Ind love to see chart
ty." He looked back into the ballroom
as he spoke. You see all your friends
here?"
YES" said Kitty, frightening up, and
gazing inside with something of a proud
look. There's Fiorry Hall right before
the window now. She mas those bauti-
full solitaire diamonds in her ears. Oh.
dear, how bright they look wish | had
them"
but you had the handsomest dreess.
said the Cold Night. sadly
''Oh, yes, exclaimed Kitty, quickly.
1T was of the richest silk. and cost sever
al hur dred dollars. Papa was so kind"
And was it bought for charity9" asked
the Cold Night.
why, no" answered Kitty, in sur
prise. For me. of course"
But the ball is for charity?"
Kitty began to I've bewildered by so much
catechising; and she was much relieved
when he led her away.
IL
where he pointed out two little beggars, a
boy and girl, who fiddled and sang, and
asked penny of the rich people descend
ing from the carriages
.'You passed them by tonight.
Yes said Kitty. but they are horrid
beggars. The Cold Night was silent.
and Kitty was afraid she might have said
something wrong. so she added: And
comNon street fiddlers."
But the Cold Night said nothing.
They both watched the little duo, Tosey
and libby, the Cold Night said, and drew
nearer to hear what they would say. Peo-
pie, rich with money and great in charity,
carefully pass them by. for they were
ragged beggars, and fiddled and sang. It
was cold very cold; and Tosey PLAYED
very slowly, while the breath OF Tibbv's
quivering plaintdisappeared despairinSlv
in the frosty air. The wheels of the car
riages seemed TO creak in sympathy, as
they crushed down in the snow. Yes, it
was cold indeed, yet they fiddled and sang
untiringly, while the rich people alighted
and passed up the grand entrance, after
glanclng contemptuously at the poor little
duo, who fddled and sang as the brilliant
dresses disappeared in the distant doorway,
but finally stopped as the last carriage
drove away
II suppose We looks too awful said
Iosey. wetting his lips and feeling vacant
" IN the small pocket, which God knows
had not seen so much as dime for many
and many day.
YES" said libby, but does feel so
hungry, and l sang SO loud, and tried so
hard, and
libby slightly sobbed and silently used
a small piece other shawl to wipe away
large tear.
Don't cry" saiG Tosey. TREMENDOUSLY;
lets move on, and perhaps well find a
little somethin'. Oh, if we only had few
pennies"
Tosey took Tbby's hand and they start
ed to move away.
''Oh, Mr.. Cold Night" exclaimed Kitty
sosTowfuily. let me give them something
poor little things!''