The Democratic advocate., 1878-12-28
Select Story,
NORAH'S NEW YEAR.

NORAH'S NEW YEAR.
Tt was New Years Eve. The streets
were thronged with pedestrians, the jingle
of sleigh bells was ever and anon heard,
and ali the world seemed to have forgotten
care and taken a holiday. But not so.
There were sad faces amid the merry ones;
the poor and wretched jostled against the
CAV and happy; and this life-picture, like
ali others, had it's dark background.
Looking in at the brilliantly-lighted
window of confectioner's stood little
girl her face blue with cold and hunger,
her eyes wistful and pathetic. She had
on light calico dress, shoes that were too
large for her, and strange kind of gar
ment-haIf shawl, half cloak, SO worn and
patched that one could not tell its original
shape or color Her age was not over
nine or ten, yet she seemed more like a
little old woman than child. There was
an air of wisdom in the way she turned
her head, and wrinkled up her forehead
and pressed her lips together, as she gazed
at the confectioner's candies and cakes, as
if she thought them all very pretty, but at
the same time rather unsubstantial. Once
or twice the child nature showed itself In
her eyes, but it was quickly followed by
an expression of gravity and sorrow, touch
ing in one so young
Finally she turned away with sigh,
and at that instant the confectionery door
opened. and lady, richly dressed, came
ont. Something ia the child's face or look
attracted her attention. She stopped, drew
the slivering little figure towards the light
and scanned it curiously.
"What is your name, dear?" she asked
kindly.
"Norah," was the answer, givea in
low voice, and with look of wonder at
the questioner.
"Norah p echoed the lady, turning pale.
-"Norah what"
"Norah Brady, ma am"
4Ohr' and an expression, partly OF re-
lief, partly of Disappointment, swept, over
the listeners face. Then she slipped some
money into the child's hand, and whisper
ed, "Spend it as you please, dear, 1t Is
New Years gift.
Norahs cheeks flushed, and she drew
back little proudly.
"I cannot take it, ma'am," she answer
ed, in even, steady tones. "Papa would
be angry if l did" u,
"Angry that you accept gift? Why
so?"
"Because we're poor, and when people
give VI things, he says it's out of charity"
"But is that any reason for refusing
them ?"
ayes, for papa and I are Independent,
and had rather earn our own money"
The little figure Strengthened itself with
an air of dignity-almost womanly.
AsYou are strange child" was the re-
ply, and the lady looked interested and
amused. 'sTell me where you live p
The street and number were named,
and then Norah raised her honest blue
ewes. aad said softly, "Please don't think
me ungrateful, ma'am. You are very kind
indeed. Only that papa has seen better
days, and that it hurts him go now to be
poor, might perhaps keep it." And she
handed back the money with wistful lit
tile glance that spoke volumes.
"Have you mother, dearY questioned
the other.
The blue eyes filled with tears. "No,
ma'am," she answered, in a quivering
voice. "Mamma died three years ago"
Why was it that throb Of pain stirred
the listeners heart at these words? What
was Norahs mother to her? She felt
drawn towards the child, she hardly knew
why; drawn, too, toward the dead mother
and the strange, proud father, Norah's
ewes. Norah's name, were like those of a
little sister she had loved and lost-not by
a death, but by separation that was al
most worse, She had never forgotten it,
and tonight the memory of that olden
time softened her heart, and made her
pitiful towards the griefs of others. But
all this while her carriage stood waiting,
with a white-haired old gentleman inside,
and the coachman impatiently stamping
his feet
II must leave you, she whispered to
Norah at last, longing to clasp the little
figure to her breast ri shall come and
see you soon, may not?" Then, seeing
the child hesitated to reply, she added,
"Are you afraid papa will object? Tell
him charity has nothing to do with it, but
that it is for my own sake, and because
you remind me of some one loved years
ago, that | wish to come"
Norah was hospitable little soul, and
the beautiful lady had completely won her
heart. "Papa will be glad to see you"
che cold c;mplv ttond I ton ~
"Thank you, DEAR" Then, moved by
sudden impulse, the lady stopped down
and kissed her. The coachman, looking
on, rubbed his eyes, and thought that per
haps NOrah was some little princess in dis
guise. SO she was, and by right more
royal than that of blood or money.
"What child was that 2" questioned the
white haired old gentleman, as the lady
took her seat in the carriage and babe the
coachman drive on. "Some beggar, with
tale Of distress that touched your sym
pathy 2" He looked at her fondly, and
in a manner that showed she was the Some
w0man Of the world" to him.
"Nota beggar, and the lady smiled, and
told how Norah had refused the money.
-sBut the child interested me strangely.
She has eyes like those Of little Norah L
left in Ireland, and for minute I had a
faint hope that my search was at last end
ed. But her fathers name is Bradv.''
"And yours was O'ConneII, said the
gentleman. "And It was not here, but to
France, that he migrated"