The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-11
LITTLE BONES.

LII liz DuitIU1.
She was only n little girl, and she had
nothing; no mother nor father; no home
not oven n name. She slept at night on u
pile OF straw In the narrow passage on the
top floor 10 tall tenement house in New
York in the daytime she sold black headed
pins OF buttonhoe boquets when sho had
money enough to lay In II stock OF them, and
was voted nuisance on Broadway and the
avenues. The tenement house people called
her Bones because, being half-Glad and less
than hatfield. she was nothing but skin and
bones. She had belonged to an old woman
once, n drunken creature, who made her beg
aud beat her whom she brought home no pom
MES. One day when Bones came back to the
tenement house the old woman was gone and
she never heard Of her again whether she
was dead or sent to Backwell's Island with
othor evll-doers, Bones never knew. Nobody
molested her III the tenement house: indeed.
she was convenient appendage, and ran or
rands TO the beer shop or elsewhere, at every
body's beck and call, sometimes for penny.
oftencr for nothing.
On the floor below, in one OF tho many
rooms, lived Mrs. Brennan, q widow with one
child. crippled boy who lay oil day long in
bed unable to stand or walk. Three days In
the week Mrs Brennan went out washing,
and sometimes when she had a fow cents TO
spare she would hire Bones to stay with
Davle while she was gone At other times
the boy was left alone with his dinner and u
Jug of winter placed by his bedside and with
an old picture book for company.
Bones was with him one day when n kind
lady called to 500 who might be sick or desti-
tute In the house. She brought her Bible and
read TO the children, gave each OF them
picture-card and 9 paper TO Davie. 1t WAS
near to Christmas and In the paper was n
picture OF Il Christmas tree. Bones had u
vague idea what tho picture meant from what
she had seen in the shop windows TO Davie
Ii was altogether n strange and wonderful
thing. SO the lady told them the story OF
Christmas and the Christ child-the babe
who lay In the manger and slept upon straw
because his mother had no other bed TO give
him.
.SIept upon straw because he had no other
bed Z" thought Bones; that Is like mo-"
And In the night. as she shivered on her pal
let. she looked through tho small skylight
above her and wondered how one might climb
to tho heaven tho lady told about and whether
the God-whose name she mad never hoard
before except In an oath-really knew and
cared for her and for Davie.
The lady came again aud again. Bones was
out on the street both times, but tho last time
she left her ~ trpaSure-a ticket to n Christ
mas festival in the mission church near by.
"They are to have n tree" Davie told her,
"ahd There will be candles and things, Oh,
wish could go tool" and Davie dropped q
few tears rs he thought that he must always
lie In bed
Bones was delighted and she comforted
Dayie with the promise to toll him all about
It, and waited eagerly for the evening to
come.
have kind parents and plenty of toys and
who never feel either cold or hunger, can
have little idea what that church festival
was to that little street walt First, there
was supper and for the first time In her life
she had plenty to eat-good, substantial food,
not broken vlctuals choked down in breath
less haste, lest 1t might be snatohed away,
nor yet the cold bread and cup OF tea given
her now and then by Mrs. Brennan from her
own Scanty store.
After supper came the tree, with small
paper Of candy and toy for each child. The
children sang hymns and n gentleman told
them again about Jesus, how He loved and
lived, and how He even died for others.
Bones crept home after 1t WAS all over. feel
Ing MS though she WAS no longer frtendless
and hnggIng her toy-a cheap wooden doll
close to Ter heart.
Creeping up the stairs, not daring to make
noise lest che might rouse some drunken
brute who would take 1t from her she saw as
Davies door. She hid her treasure under
the straw. and too excited to sleep lay think
ing the evening over. And as she recalled 1t
all there came the memory of what the speak
or had said OF how even the smallest child
might serve Christ by serving others for His
sake; might live for Jesus by living to do
good as Heidi. But what can do2" thought
Bones And then. almost like o blow, came
the thought of Davies stocking. She had not
much faith in Santa Claus, she knew that his
mother cared nothing for Christmas, and she
felt almost certain that In the morning the
empty stocking would be empty STILL Her
doll-it was all she had-how could she give
it up? But had she not had the supper, seen
the tree, heard the music and had her candy2
If only she had kept some of that 1t was
gone, however and Wishing did no good.
The doll the dol Poor, crippled Davie.
What would Jesus have done2 1t was not an
elegant doll--ten cents would have bought 1t
anywhere-but 1t was the only toy she ever
had and she priced 1t more than many
suoiIed child Of fashion does her most costly
French doll. So the struggle was hard one
Still the newborn love Of Jesus In the child's
heart conquered, and stealing softly down
she dropped her doll into Davies stocking,
and to make 1t safe opened the door and very
gently placed IL inside. Then she stole back
and slept the sleep of the just.
In the morning, as she crept down, Davie
called her and radiant, showed the doll
"The Christ-child did come" he said; "only
see what he brought"
Bones told him Of her evening and then
went out to her work, leaving him happy be-
cause OF her sacrifice Il am glad did it,"
she thought, land hope Jesus likes It,"
She could not help regretting the doll, still
she felt thoroughly the blessedness OF giving.
"And then had no place to keep It," she
thought; 80 the poor baby Is better of. :"
And here, according to the rules of story
books generally, some rich and benevolent
person ought to have appeared, and, at least,
nave given her q doll far better than the one
she had given Davie, If he did not claim her
as long-lost child. But since this is true
story we are obliged to say that nothing of
the kind happened.
Things went on with her much as usual
after that, except that the kind district
visitor took an interest In her and she went
On Sundays to the mission school. Not for
very long. however; the winter was hard
one. and plying her trade as a nuisance on
Broadway In the snow and slush, poor little
Bones took severe case OF pneumonia. The
district visitor found her very i'll on her
oallet and managed to get her sent to the
,hildren's hospital. Here such care as she
had never dreamed Of was given her, but all
D ;r,sr, kha FRO TOO r. RI