The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-05
THE VISIT OF AN ANGEL.

at Is cold eueugh to freeze the heart
out Of q miser and m Ike the white bear
dance for JOY" grumbled Tom Orton, as
he looked out Of the window upon the
SNOW -cumbered streets. "How l wish
| could stay at home Tonight and take
care OF you and the babies, Jennie. And
l would only fOr3
He thought of how much poverty was
pinching them, aud would not sadden
| the hearts Of those he loved by mention
| ing it.
"Ouly for what, Tomw asked his wife
from the bed, where, i'll herself, she was
taking care Of their two sick children.
"Only that they'll be wanting me-" be
replied. "You know it is Chrlstmas
Eve, and we've gotten up an extra en-
| tertainment."
"Yes, Tom, and sorry day for US,
now that am sick, and the children
wanting medicine and" she would
have said "food," but could not bear TO
| add feathers weight to his load-"and
so much depends upon YOU"
81 know" he replied, hastily brushing
the moisture. from his eyes and striving
to conceal his anxiety; "but am well
and strong, Jenny, and the winter 10
nearly over and you'll all be " ell again."
| "But if anything should happen to
youp she questioned, with heavy sigh.
"Don'G think there is much DANGER"
| he said, repressing a sob as he til, ugnt
| of how desperate would be their sltua-
IJion-of the rent due, the scanty store
Iof provisions, the little OF fuel remain
ing, the more than month of hard winter
l yet before them, the needs OF family
that q poor man learns by the most BIT
Ter OF experience.
"But there is, dear Tom. No one Is
lever safe living the life you do. There
are SO many chances for accident"
"DoHt lear, Pll take care of myself
won't run any extra risk, and as l have
lEotning to do in the latter part, Will be
home early"
He stepped to the bedside, drew the
coyer more closely about his wife and
children, kissed them, put more coal in
the stove, though every lump was as a
golden ducat to a Shylock in his then
situation, attended to verything posi-.
BILE for their comfort, and prepared to
face the cold and 60 to his nightly EN-.
ployment. Yet an uncommon spell
seemed to chain him. He fingered
ltidgeted, glanced uneasily at the Clock
'I,n't it time you were off, T0mT'
questioned his wife. "You know it il
quite walk"
"Yes, Jenny, but somehow l DOM
| leel llke ledfluB you dlOHes'
"Ol am used TO staying alone" Sc
she was, poor thingl "And you said
you would be home early"
"Yes, yes"
An active, sober man was he, and 8
skilled performer. He had been train ed
TO the profession from childho0d-kneW
no other, and under ordinary circum
stances could easily "koep his head
above Water.' But the "tenting sea-
son" had closed exceptionally early, the
winter was hard, money was "tight,''
and every place Of amusement suffered
in consequence. To these things were
added sickness, ana brave-hearted az
he was he could not suppress a sbiver
OF anxiety as the future stared him in
the face.
He passed along the narrow street,
through more pretentious ones-passed
the houses of million aires, and entered
Broadway. that, at least, was brilliant
and gay, as ii there was nothing of pow
erty or human suffering in the world
as II none in the great oity were familiar
with hunger, and cold, and sickness-ae
, if there never was 10 be any awakening
from a golden dream Of luxury and
pleasure.
"An! thoughtless wealth and fashion,
he mGrmured, bitterly, as he saw fur
: CLAD forms, and pampered steeds, anC
! richly.mounted harness, and gildeC
sleighs, and costly robes dash along
> "noW much ye will have to answer FOL
in the day of final reckoning, for neg
0 ecting your poor, toiling, suffering
brothers and sisters.'
d But no time had he to linger-tht
! clock in the window told him that, and
with sigh that his wife and little one
} | vi hoU of bo
, things of this world, he passed on.
; Suddenly a confused cry-a wilt
tumult-the drawing away of teams
upon either side, or dashing into cros
:, streets-startled him, and he knew some
thing unusual was Caklng place. Thel
came the shout of RUNAWAY! run
awayv and he felt that life or property
: or both being whirled on to destruction
"Are you mad? Do you want to b.
killedW hurriedly asked many, as the
r ran to places Of safety, and he remained
j. standing upon the curb-stone.
e He gave no heed to the warning. II
1 had Draved death far too often to shrin
| from it in any event, and most certainl
8 when at such distance. His eyes wer
Q fixed up the street upon team Of nobl
=. bays that were tearing along, mad wit
= fright, and surging the sleigh from sid
| to side-Were running at their utmos
a speed, each striving to Quito the other
4 straining every nerVe-Were runnin
q away drlverless. Had that been all b
q would not have troubled himself, dee
+ as was his affection for bloodeu steedi
, for be was not at the moment particu
larly in sympathy with wealth. 1t wa
, luuile another matter that chained him
d At the first 0utcry he had sprung t
= and half climbed lamp-post, and SO or
tanned clearer View-one that thrille
his heart to the very core, caused hi
breath 10 be more deeply drawn, and hi
pul Sc to momentarily cease to beat.
In the sleigh was young and beauti
. tul woman, pale with terror, and clasI
,, ing two lovely children to her breas
orion thought Of his Jenny and thei
!, little ones. and resolved TO save. Th
impulse was noble, but how was it to b
/, accomplished? Far beyond any huma
control were the frantic horses. To a
tempt to seize the reins as they dashe
Q past, and 70 stop them, would be IN ad
3 ness s-would be to be dragged down ant
. trampIed to death. He saw this-sa,
3 that the course Of the horses wou
bring them directly upon him, an
though the crowd furiousIy warned hir