The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-12-25
TERRY's CHRISTMAS EVE.
ny OLIVE BELL.

Notwithstanding but Christmasl"
muttered Terry German, as he pulled
his ragged cap down over his frost-bit-
ten ears, and hurried through the living
crowd that swept up and down one Of
the principal avenues Of a large CONNER
cial city.
The snow was falling, for it had been
hard icc-bound winter, and we were
TO celebrate 4 real "whitc Christmas"
while sharp gusts Of wind met Terry at
every corner. He was thinly clad, and
the cold pierced through his ragged gar
mcnts until he felt like ''moving icc-
berg" and once, when he paused under
a gas-lamp some pitiful pedestrian re-
marked to his companion that he had
never seen as old face on 4 child so
young, for Terry was only twelve, and
small for his years.
Terry was veritable child of misfor-
tune. He knew nothing of his parents,
for his mother had mourned and toilcd
out her life in garrett, when he was an
infant. An aged woman, as poor as
Terry's mother, had taken charge Of
him, and at her death, Terry had drift
cd about, uncared for by any one, for,
by some mischance, he had not been
gathered into any charitable institution,
or mission school of any kind, and after
many Intellectual attempts to earn live
lihood, had taken to street begging, as
the only means OF obtaining his daily
bread. Sometimes he Jared well-at
others, little or nothing was his daily
portion, and tonight he was both cold
and hungry, as the day had been bitter
ly cold, and the busy crowd, that surged
through the streets, were too much alb
sorbed in their own cares, or plans for
the "merry Christmas" that was to come,
to heed the appeals Of n beggar. Poor
little fellow how hungry he was--starv-
ing to death with that most terrible OF
all hungers-heart hunger and his head
ached for the touch of soothing fingers,
his heart yearned with longing unutter-
able for one kind word-for something
better than kick or cuff, and for the
comforts that he had never known.
ats nothing but Christmas" he
muttered again, as his dim eyes took in
the marvellous display Of Christmas arti-
cles in the shop.windows. "I suppose
may crawl into some hole and die; no.
body cares for 4 brat like me-" He
hurried on little faster, but suddenly
paused before the massive doors OF a
fashionable church that was lit up from
cellar to dome. Carriages were leaving
troops Of laughing children at the steps,
and Terry, who had often made his bed
on the same cold stones, now crept close
to the wall, and shyly slipped into the
warm vestibule, where friendly pillar
sheltered him from oservation. Some.
times the silken skirts of some gay young
girl, or stately matron brushed his rag
ged clothes, as they mounted the stair
way, and as one, clad in mourning gar.
ments, and warm sable furs, paused as il
to take breath, before beginning the
ascent, something shining slid down the
soft folds Of her dress, and fell noiseless-
ly at Terry's feet.
"Jiminie !" muttered Terry in a
brcathless whisper as the lady passed on,
''if il amt 4 cross all shining stones.
Whey but it's nice !"
Terry looked up at the black-draped
figure, and as the lights from a dozen
gas jets fell full on the pale, but naughty,
face framed in smooth bands Of silvery
white hair, Terry thought it was very
like the face Of his mother-for Granny
Dill, his foster mother, had given him
an ambrotype in a faded velvet case,
which she assured him was his mother S
picture.
"Only," he whispered, rs he held the
cross tightly, otis so awful proud-like. 81
Another group Of ladies and children
swept past Terry, who forgot the eros:
and its owner in his eagerness to slipuT
the grand stairway to get peep at the
Christmas tree the children were chat.
tering about. So Terry managed to gel
in with the crowd, just as older and
wiser people imagine they can slip in
through the "gates ajar," and crouched
down into shadowy corner, feastinl
his eyes on the wonderful tree. He for
got he was cold or hungry, as the won
derful lights dazzled his eyes, and the
shiumer Of the gift-laden boughs, tn,
brighs raiment, costly furs, velvet,
and sat;ns, almost took away his senses
Poor Ferry never once thought Of re-
turning the cross to its owner in fact
he never thought Of it at all, but, with
some instructive knowledge Of its value
held it under ais shabby coat. Some
thing very like tears dimmed his eyes
for he was utterlylost and out of place il
that vast crowd ofhnppy people that n
imagined no human being was ever s.
desoiate. Then the rich tones OF III
organ seemed to fill the whole buildin
with harmony, and glorious hymn O
welcome to the Baby King was sung b
voices that Terry, who, imagined coul,
not belong to mortals.
"Oh !" he sighed, ''this must be wha
Granny Dill called heaven"
And utterly oblivious Of everythinl
around him, Terry stood with uncover
ed head, as the music died away, h;
| male ninched face and hlack eve. s,vo,.