The Osceola times., 1879-03-01
AN ANGELS VISIT.
BY WILLIAM II. BUSHNELL.

"It is cold enough 10 freeze the heart
out of a miser and make the white bear
dance tor JOY" grumbled Tom Orton, as
he looked out OF the window upon the
snow-covered streets. How | wish /
could stay at home TO night and take
care of you and the babies, Jenny. And
would only for"
He thought of how much poverty WAS
pinching them, and would not sadden
the hearts of those he loved by mention
ing it. "a
"Only tor what, Tom ?" 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"
he replied. "You know it is Christmas
eve, and we've gotten up an extra enter
tainment.
Yes, Tom, and sorry day for us,
now that ! am sick, and the children
wanting medicine and" che would have
said food" but could not bear 70 add a
feathers weight to his load" and 30
much depends upon you"
81 know" he replied, hastily brush.
ing the moisture from his eyes and striv.
ing to conceal his anxiety, "but l am
well and strong, Jenny, and the winter
is nearly over and you'll all be well
again"
But If anything should happen To
you ?" she questioned, with heavy sigh.
Don't think there is much danger,
he said, repressng sob as he thought oi
how desperate would be their situation
of the rent due, the scanty store o
provisions, the little of fuel remaining
the more than month of hard winter yeI
before them, the needs of n family that ,
poor man learns by the most bitter o
"But there is, dear Tom. No one il
ever safe living the lite you DO. Their
are 80 many chances for accident
Don't fear, I'll take care OF mysel
won't run any extra risk, and, rs
have nothing TO do in the latter part
will be home early"
He stepped to the bedside, drew thu
cover more closely about his wife ant
children, kissed them, put mere coal il
the stove. trough every lump was as 1
golden ducst to Shylock in his theI
situation, attended to everything posi-
| bic for their comfort, and prepared Il
lace the cold and 20 to his nightly en-
ployment. Yet an uncommon spell
seemed % chain him. He fingered
fdgeted, glanced uneasily at the cock.
Isn't it time you were off, Tom y
questioned his wife. You know it il
quite walk"
Yes, Jenny, but somehow | don'i
feel like leaving you alone
"Oh, / am used TO staying alone v
So she was, poor thing "And you
said YOU would be home early
Yes"
An active, sober man was he, and q
skilled performer. lie had been trained
to the pro ession from childhood-knew
no other, and, under ordinary circum'
stances. could easily keep his head
above water" But the 'tenting season
had closed exceptionally early, the win
tel was hard, money WAS tight" anc
every place Of amusement suffered il
consequence. To these things wel,
added sickness, and brave hearted as hi
was he could not suppress shiyer o
anxiety As the future stared him in tn,
face.
He passed along the narrow street
through more Iretentious Ones--passeC
the houses of millionaires, and entered
Broadway. That, at least, was brillian
and gay, as il there was nothing of pov
erty or human suffering in the world
as II none in the great city were fsmilia
with hunger, and cold, and sickness
as il there never was TO be any awaken
ing from q golden dream of luxury snt
pleasure.
"Ah thouphtless wealth and fashion,
he murmured, bitterly, as he saw fur
clad forms, and psmpered steeds, ant
richly mounted harness, and gildet
sleiyhs, and costly robes dash along
chow much ye will have to answer TO
in the day OF final reckoning, for neg
lecting your poor, toiling, suffering
brothers and sisters. "
But no time had he to lipger--th,
clock in window told him that, and
with sigh that his wife and little ene
should not have their quota Of the gooC
things of this world, be passed on.
Suddenly confused cry--a wild tu.
mult--the drawing away Of teams upol
either side, or dsshing into cross street
startled him, and he knew something
unusual was taking place. Then cam
the shout of runaway runawsyV' ant
he fel: that life or property, or both
were being whirled on to destruction.
"Are you mad? Do you want to b
killedY" hurriedly asked many, as the
ran TO places of safety, and he remsine
standing upon tho curb-stoue.
He gave no heed to the warning. II,
had brsved death far too often to shrin
from it in any event, aud most certainl
when at such a distance. His eyes wer
fixed up the st,eet upon team ofnobl
bays that were tearing along mad wit
fright, and surging the sleigh from sid
to sido-were running at their utmo.
speed, each striving to outdO the othe
strsining every nerve-were runnin
away driverless. But had that been a
he would not have troubled himself, dee