The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-03-12

gars and hddled and sang. 1t was
cold, very cold; and Tosey played very,
very slowly, while the breath of Tibby's
quivering plant disappeared despair
ingly on the frosty air. The wheels of
carriages seemed to creak in sympathy
as they crushed down in the snow. Yes,
it was cold indeed, yet they fiddled and
sang untiringly, while the rich people
alighted and passed up the grand en-
trance, after glanc1ng contemptuously at
the poor little duo, who fddled and sang
as the brilliant dresses disappeared in
the distant doorway; but finally stopped
as the last carriage drove away.
ST suppose we looks too awful, said
Tosey, wetting his lips and feeling va
cantly in his small pocket, which God
knows, had not seen as much as a dime
for many and many day.
eyes," said libby, "but does feel SO
hungry, and I sang so loud, and 1 tried
SO hard"
libby slightly sobbed and silently
used small piece of her shawl to wipe
away big tear.
"Don't cry said Tosey, tremulously,
'slet's move on, and perhaps We'll find
little somethin' Oh, if we only had a
| few pennies J.
Tosey took Tibby's hand and they
started to move away.
"Oh Mr.. Cold Night" said Kitty sor-
rowfully, ''let me give them something
poor little things p
''But they are beggars." answered the
Cold Night.
Kitty looked ashamed. She could feel
herself blush, even though she was cold
and shivering. The Cold Night handed
her place of silver.
''Yes,'' said he, "drop it, even if it is
wasted See what they will do"
Kitty took it quickly and dropped it
before them. Right at Tibby's foot fell
| the money, which she would have passed
| unnoticed if Tosey had not exclaimed:
"Oh, Tibby, there's a diner and
picked it up.
libby clasped her hands in delight,
danced up and down and then looked in
| to his hand, to be sure that it was really
there. 1t was surely.
"Won't we have hot potato, though, y
said Tosey.
.And big roll, and some butter, and
| some meat, and just very little piece OF
| pie?''
libby named each of them on the ends
of her fingers, but stopped when she got
to her thumb, for the money was all gone
by that time, and the thumb was quite
| large.
-.sBut how did it come there ?" asked
Tosey.
''Gould it have growed?" suggested
libby.
''No," said Tosey.
''Fell from the sky %
"Guess not, )" said Tosey, obviously.
'sOr been funged ?"
sOh, no, of course not!' Tosey an
cvaroJ am1,b otioa11u
They both looked hungrily at the
piece of money, and began to count to-
gether what lots of things they could
buy; and their faces grew bright, indeed,
as they thought of it.
From the shades of the opposite side
of the entrance, a thin bundle of rags
slowly crept, and steadily shuffied up to
them. Out of the dirt and rags peered a
thin face and glistening eyes, and the
hands of the small bundle wearily rubbed
themselves together, to try and stir up
the blood that was not there.
''This is charity ball, said the thin
bundle. '"These folks dance for the
poor" The glistening eyes looked
eagerly at Tosey and libby, and fre-
quently glanced at the money in their
hands. eve is poor and dances for us
and me mother, who is sick abed, they
dances to give us the bread which we
seldom has"
Tosey looked in surprise at the thin
bundle rubbing its hands.
"And does they dress in nice closes for
us, and ride in carriages, and give lots of
money, and all for us ?"
The thin bundle rubbed faster and
faster.
''Yes, if there's any more than as pays
for the dancin' and the dressin'; and tine
dancin' costs ten dollars piece, and the
dressin' I dunno! It's all for us-if
there's any left
"But they didn't give us any when I
sang," SAID libby.
'sLors nor said the thin bundle; "they
has folks as hunts up poor folks when
they has time, and sews fannels when
they hasn't. Yes, they says they does all
this for us, but" The bundle shook
its head as if doubtful, and continued:
ST stood over yonder thinkin' some
body would give me sumthin'; but they
all looked mad at me, and I went back
into the shadder and watched 'em. It
was big sight, and I am jest as hun
cry" The hands stopped rubbing, and
the eyes looked wet as the bundle added:
''My mother is very, very sick. We's
poor-so poor"
Tosey looked at her little sister as the
rags began to shuttle away.
''Tibby docs We feel SO awful hungry?"
said he
libby hesitated. She looked at the
silver. and then the slowly retreating
figure, and then she looked up into
Tosey's gentle, loving face.
mo, Tosey, I dunno as I does"
Tosey turned round, and running after
the departing figure, handed her the
piece of money.
There" said lie, ''take it; you need it
worse nor we does"
The bundle looked in surprise as she
took the piece, and tears fell down the
thin, pale face. But she only said:
I'm very, very grateful, y and walked
off.
The two little musicians watched the
figure as it disappeared in the darkness,
while the happy shuttle grew fainter and
fainter.
All, there was charity, God-like
charity, in the hearts of the beings the
rich despised and thrust out of their
doors.
AS the Cold Night turned toward
Kitty, he found her silently wiping her
eyes.
do you see what true charity is?"
asked he. in sweet. sympathetic voice.