The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-22

Danish all thoughts of the beggar girl and
her pitiful story from his mind. And he
succeeded pretty we'll, though not quite
to his satisfaction, for, spite ot his efforts,
a pale face would seem to Z lance up from
the printed page every now and then,
while the rough wind that went signing
round the house had something very
much like the wall of a suffering female
in it.
Mr.. Stiles never dreamed if he had
been in the habit of so doing, | am pretty
sure he would not have rested well that
night; but as it was he slept soundly,
and arose in the morning refreshed in
mind and body. 1t was glorious winter
morning, but cold and as the rich mer-
chant walked briskly forward in the
direction of his store, the white frost
gathered on his coat, and he kept strik-
ing his loved hands together to keep
them warm ; but no thought of the poor
the suffering, freezing poor-was in his
heart, till suddenly turning corner he
stood face to face with little ragged,
barefoot boy.
go, sir - cried the child, Selling hold
of the merchants coat eagerly & o, sir, l
don't want money [ amt a-going to
beg but come, do come with me
Where? ?" asked Mr. Stiles, gazing
pityingly upon fac little trembling thing
Then you will gol o am so glad !
[ will show you the way" and tighten
ing his grasp upon the coat, the little
blue feet hurried up the street, down a
narrow alley, and stopped in front of an
old building which once had been res
pectable habitation, but was now fast
going to decay. Then lettinggo the coat,
the boy put the black hair away from
his thin, strange blocking face, and said in
husky voice, This is the place.
Without speaking a word, Mr. Stiles
went over the cold steppingstones into
the cherries hall, upon flight of ricke-
ty stairs, and before he was aware of it
he stood in the presence of the dead
For moment he was Mortified, then
with great effort he overcame his emo
ton, and asked in an unsteady voice,
What does all this mean, poor child ?"
1t means, replied the child, with a
look of terror which was terrible on the
face of one so young-"i it means that
mamma and Lizzie have gone to sleep,
and won't wake up again. You see dear
mother was very i'll, so Lizzie could not
work any more, and in little while all
the bread and coal we had was gone, and
we hadn't any money to buy more with,
and the bakers wouldn't trust so we have
been two whole days without any fire or
anything to eat. Last night mother was
very weak, but she told Lizzie to 90 and
beg so she put me in bed and went away
Soon as she was gone mother put both
arms around me, and sobbed and cried
and talked so strangely, that was fright
ened but in a little while she grew
calm, and whispering, God bless you
and care for you, Eddy, she went to
sleep. lay awake long time waiting
for Lizzie to come back, for I was so
hungry but she didn't come, and I grew
so tired that [ went to sleep, and didn't
wake up again until the sun was shining
in at the window. The FIRST thing [ saw
when [ raised my head was Lizzie here
on the floor fast asleep. I got up and
tried to awaken her, but she wouldn't
stir, for all my coaxing then tried to
rouse mamma, but she lay so very white
and still that l was afraid, and went out
for help. You see l would have told you
all about it at first, but [ was in such
hurry; then, too, 1 was afraid you
wouldn't come with me if I did. You
won't be angry with me-will you?-but
wake mamma and Lizzie, and I will be
so glad - and the child looked eagerly up
while something like smile fitted across
his wan face.
But the man stood still. The power
of speech and motion seemed for the time
suspended, and though he tried to do so
he could not turn his eyes away from
the white face of the dead mother, which
seemed to look appealingly up to him.
90, sir, won't you wake them? why
don you wake them p exclaimed Eddie,
selzing the merchants hand in both his
own.
The earnestuess of the voice, and the
pressure of the icy little fingers, aroused
Mr. Stiles from his stupor, and he said
pityingly: Poor boy poor boy 1 would
wake them if could, but your mother
cannot wake-she is dead r.
Dead r. exclaimed the child, and
wi h a wild cry he sank beside his sister,
who all this time had lain upon the floor
with her face downward, perfectly
motionless. 90 Lizzie, Lizzie, wake up r.
sobbed he bitterly. Wake up mamma
is dead Wake up and comfort little
Eddiel'
Rut Lizzie did not hear the Dlaintiva