The Democratic advocate., 1878-12-28
[ guess she's flesh and blood like the rest,

OILY duu luUlC
1t was toward, wretched quarter of the
city that Norah bent her step, and the
tenement where she stopped was old and
diIapidatcd and crowded with human be-
ings. She ascended the stairs and found
her way to a room dimly lighted by tai
low candle. The door stood open and she
entered softly. Then shading her eyes
with her hand she looked around. There
was bed in one corner, and upon that
lay man asleep.
'"Poor papa," she thought, she is tired
out. The doctor says he ought not to
work, but he will, and I can't help it. |
almost wish I'd taken the money. 1t
would have bought chicken, and l could
have made him some broth tomorrow,
But he wouldn't have eaten it if he knew
how [ got it. Oh, dear oh, dear it
is so hard to be poor and have a sick
father"
She hustled about little, setting the
room to rights and tried to look cheerful,
though she felt down-hearted. But the
tears came in spite of her when she went
to the cupboard and looked in to see what
there was for breakfast. Only few dry
crusts and small piece of bacon. 1t it
had not been New Years Eve, their pow
erty would not have seemed so bitter. She
had gone hungry before, and never COM
planned, but now, looking at her pale, worn
father, and remembering the sad Christmas
they had spent, her heart rebelled, and she
almost doubted the goodness of God, who
let poor people suffer thus. Then her
mothers sweet face rose up before her as
if in reproach, and she folded her hands
together and breathed a prayer for help
and comfort Poor Norah child in
years, but weighed down with woman's
cares, old in trouble and the wisdom born
of it, it was we'll that she had early learned
where to look for guidance when sore and
distressed and buffeted by the world.
Her father did not awake, and she
finally took up the bit of candle, and re-
tired to an inner room, hardly larger than
closet Its only furniture was little
cot-bed. Into that she crept after undres-
sing herself, and soon fell asleep, She
dreamed of an angel with the face of her
mother, and of the beautiful lady who in
some magical way had been changed into
fairy, all gold spangles and lace.
The sun was nearly an hour high when
she awoke the next morning, though her
room was still dark, for it had but one lit
tie window high up that opened on brick
wall. But she rubbed her eyes and looked
around as if bewildered, for surely some
one bent over her and whispered softly,
"Little sister! Little sister p She sat up
in bed, and then felt two arms clasp her
close, and warm kisses rained down on
brow and lips and cheeks. She was not
afraid, only wondered what it all meant,
and whether she was really in her own lit
tie room, or in fairyland, or in heaven.
"Dress quickly, dear, said the voice
she had heard first. "There is a gentle
man waiting to see you.
The voice was that of the beautiful lady,
and SO was the form that she recognized
by the dim light. Half believing it
dream still, Norah slipped on her clothes,
and with her hand clasped in that of her
companion, opened the door of the other
room. There sat her father and the white
haired old gentleman she remembered so
well, talking costly together; and if she
had been puzzled and bewildered before,
she was even more SO now. "Come here,
daughter" said Mr. Brady, or O'Connell,
as he was called thereafter. "The New
Year has brought you sister.
"What DO yo4 mean, papa?" Norah
stammered.
"Tell her, Kate" whispered the white
haired old gentleman.
Mr. O'Connell had heard the story be-
fore, but he listened again as the sweet
voice trembled in its narration, and once
wiped a tear furtively from his eye.
"My sister My own, own sister !"
cried Norah, joyfully, clasping Kate close.
Then in low voice she added, "the last
word mama spoke was your name"
At this tears came in the eyes of both,
and Mr.. Hilliard, seeing them, rose has
tily and said, 4Come, come, Kate, it is
time we were going Your father is ready,
and so is Norah. You can talk all you
want afterWard,"
Mr.. O'Co4pell's reluctance to accept
his daughters hospitality was finally over
come, and he consented that Norah and
himself should make part ofher household
His pride was great, and had led him to
assume a false name, and almost make
martyr of Norah, but she began to have
faint perception that great deal of error
and selfshness were mingled with it, and
was ready to make amends.
lie soon afterward recovered his health,
and thorugh Mr. Hilliard' S instrumentality
obtained employment at once lucrative
and honorable, so that he was enabled to
support both himself and Norah independ-
emily.
Norah grew more like q child, and less
like woman, under the new influences by
which she was surrounded. But she was
none the less true and honest, and her
sister rejoiced to see the signs of care
fade out of the young face that had once
been so sadly mature.
But neither Norah, nor Kate, nor Mr..
O'Connell ever forgot the day that usher
ed in their new-found happiness, and to
them the New Year brings greater joy
than any other holiday,