Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-04-14

How cold your hands are A small bunch
/ II icicles Here, run away and buy your
self pair of smittens If you have none,'
aud she slips coin into, the -child's hand
/ and continues on her way. .---r = rf+.f4 .
The little homeless one stops under the
i lamp post to examine her treasure. 'fA
half dollar r. she exclaims, and the weary
little heart gives great bound of joy. She
] again runs, and this time her speed is
| checked IN grocery store, where she in
1 vests all but cents of the so in tea, bread
and sugar. On regaining the street she
halls car, and curling herself up in the
corner on seat looks with wide, waking,
thoughtful eyes on the frozen window op-
peste. g =
"This is as far as we CO." announces the
conductor, after a long, tedious ride, and
the little figure again struggles in the snow,
huggng the s'ash parcels closs TO her
| Nothing but snow Great, white fields
of snow, though the city behind and the
heavens above are cleaning with thousands
of lights.
Stiller and colder the night grows, but
still that dark dot moves along through the
white vast stiffness Of the night.
The large, dark eyes at length spy an ap-
parentlv long -sought-for light ahead. She
soon reaches the structure from which it
CLEANS, and opening the door without a
key, she enters and seeks her way up a
dark flight of stairs. The great bright eyes
of rats peeping out of their holes do not
frighten her, ''Go away you," she says,
chidlngly, as if surprised at their bold
ness in confronting her. Rapping lightly
at a door at the head of the stairs or more
properly speaking, ladder, she gains ad-
mittance-
''I've got something to eat, papa" she
says cheerfully, holding her hands to small
stove emitting considerable warmth
Something to eat" he repeats, eagerly,
and grasps the cold hands in his own and
chafes them gently.
81 have been watching for you, Pearl,
and l was fearful that the winds had dug
your grave and the snow filled it. But
you have come back, my Pearl, and the
white, long hair of the old man mingles
with the black locks of the child, and he
kisses her often and tendery, as if they had
been separated for term of years.
"Here, Pearl see here l have perfect
ed my discovery; the secret of perpetual
motion is ours ? and his long white fingers
pointed to sheet of brown wrapping paper
on the table, covered with angles, squares,
and all manner of shapes and curves,
which, in their intricacy, formed no definite
outline of any kind.
eyes, papa, we will talk it over after we
have had something to eat," and she IN
clasps his arm from around her waist and
prepares the tea.
How did you earn the money ?" he asks,
fondly.
81 did not earn it, papa. A young lady
gave it to me''
A shadow passed over her face as she re-
piled, and the bright keen eye of the father
observe it.
"Come here, my PEARL he says, grave
ly, and draws the light on the table by his
side nearer to him.
She laid the bread she had been cutting
on cracked plate, which she placed on a
napkin in the center of the table, then
turned her face to him.
He took it between his hands, and look
ed anxionsly into the eyes of his child.
"They have been rough to you, my Pearl.
Come rest your head on my breast and cry.
J see the tears IN yovr heart. My sweet
How Ell, have leant on you till the slender
stem is ready to break. But 1 may yet be
able to use my limbs. So cheer up, my
precious Pearl. But let US drink the tea
It smells good after we have had nothing
but warm water for days and days"
''Hand me my medicine chest, my Pearl
We must both take some medicine to make
US stronger and cheer our spirits"
She smiles through her tears, and places
a small paper box beside him on the table
Brushing his hair from his face. she draws
the table closer to the stove, moves his chair
nearer the table, and seating herself, pours
out the tea.
'1t tastes good, papa" she says, touch
ing it daintly to her lips, and then takes
long draught as if to emphasize her words.
That is right, Pearl. Drink and enjoy
it."
He drained the tea in his cup at
draught. and when she refilled their cups
said: ''Let me put some medicine in this,
my Pearl, so that we will grow stronger
Perpetual motion and perpetual life-two
grand discoveries; they ought to bring me
fame and fortune !"
'Perhaps they will yet, papa. They have
a book IN the city, as you told me, on which
they have all the names of the great people
who live in Chicago They cali it sdirecto
ry, SO if you could remember the names of
some of tho doctors and mathematcians
you used to know l can find out where they
live in that book and tell them all you have
discovered.
"But, papa, 1 would explain it all to
them just as you do to me. would tell
them that the philosophy of perpetual mo-
ton is plainly demonstrated"
"Do not speak Of it now, my child. We
will rest for a time. | was so fearful lest
evil should befall you when you left me this
morning that l worked without ceasing to
quiet my anxiety. Later in the evening we
will discuss the latest phase of our intricate
labors, but now when you have had enough
to eat you can move your chair close to
mine and sing to me some song like you
used to do when you were only child.''
''But am child no longer, papa. am
almost woman. | will be IA years old
next week"
She sits down beside him and leans her
head on his shoulder. He strokes her soft
hair gently till it looks glossy and
smooth. Her heavy eyelids quiver as she
endeavors to resist the desire to sleep.
''Sleep, sleep, my Pearl You require
rest.''
She puts her arm about his neck and
kisses him. He draws her close to him
with one arm, and with the other hand
raises his second cup of tea to his lips.
''My poor tired PEARL he murmurs, and
the lean, white fingers toy restlessy with
her black hair.
The stars looked down and smiled when
they saw the two asleep. "They are
tired, y they whispered to each other, and
winked and blinked and looked wise. But
when the moon came she said: ''This is
wrong. They used to watch me nightly and
ponder on strange things. l must wake
them," and she flashed her regal splendor
full into the old barn upon the sleeping
man and child. "Let them rest, they are
weary" said the frost, and he spun cur
tain of rarest design over the often patched
window panes. When the sun saw them in
the morning still asleep, he thought, mot
yet at your labors, my friends. l must de-
spoil your home Of this pretty curtain the
frost has wrought across your window"
And the stars, the moon, the frost, and
sunlight all did what they could for those
who had loved them. But the father and
child did not stir, and the rats and the mice
danced about them, and ate of the bread
she had brought, and tore bits of his and
her hair away TO build them new nests for
their young, and ate Of their flesh And
the vermIn lived all through the cruel win