Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-29
NORAH'S NEW YEAR.

It was New Years Eve. The streets
were thronged with pedestrians, the
Jingle of sleigh bells was ever and anon
heard, and all the world seemed to
have forgotten care and taken holi'
day. But not so. There were sad
faces amid the merry ones, the poor
and wretched jostled against the gay
and happy; and this life picture like
all others had it's dark background.
Looking in at the brightly-ligh
window OF a confectioner's stood a
little girl, her face blue with cold and
hunger, her eyes wistful and pathetic.
She had on a light calico dress, shoes
that were too large for her, and a
strange kind of arment-haf shawl,
half cloak-so worn and patched that
one could not tell it's original shape or
color. Her age was not over or 10,
yet she seemed more like q little old
woman than q child. There was an
air of wisdom in the way she turned
her head, and wrinkled up her forehead
and pressed her lips together, as she
gaZed at the confectioner' S candies and
cakes, as if she thought them all very
pretty, but at the same time rather
unsubstantial. Once or twice the
child nature showed itself in her eyes,
but it was quickly followed by an an
expression of gravity and sorrow
touching in one so young.
Finally she turned away with sign,
and at that instant the confectioner' 8
door opened, and a lady, richly dressed,
came out. Something In the child s
face or look attracted her attention.
She stopped. drew the shivering little
figure towards the light, and scanned
it curiously.
"WhaB is your name, dear?" she
asked kindly.
"Norah," was the answer, given in q
low voice, and with a look OF wonder
at the Questioner.
"Norahr' echoed the lady, turning
pale. "Norsh what?"
"Norah Brady, ma'am."
"Ohl" and an expression, partly OF
relief, partly of disappointment, swept
over the listeners face. Then she
slipped some money into the child e
hand, and whispered: 'fSpend it as
you please, dear. It Is g. New Years
gift
Norah's cheeks flushed, and she drew
back little proudly.
"I cannot take it, ma'am," she an.
swered, in even, steady tones. "Papa
would be angry if did,"
"ADgry that you accept gift? Why
500"
Because we're poor, and when PEG.
pie give us things he says it's out oil
charity"
''But is that any reason for refusing
them?''
'sYes, for papa and I are independ.
ent, and had rather earn our own
money" Thel little figure strengthened
itself with an air of dignity almost
womanly.
"You are strange child" was the
reply, and the lady looked interested
and amused. Tell me where you
live"
The street and number were named,
and then Moran raised her honest blue
eyes and said softly, "Please don't
think me ungrateful, ma'am. You are
very kind indeed. Only that papa has
seen better days, and that it hurts
him so now to be poor, might per-
haps keep it." And she handed back
the money with wistful glance that
spoke volumes.
"Have you a mother, dear?" ques-
toned the other.
The blue eyes filled with tears eNo,
ma'am," she answered in g. quivering
voice. Mamma died three years
ago"
Why was it that throb of pain
stirred the listeners heart at these
words? What was Norah's mother
TO her? She felt drawn towards the
child, she hardly knew why; drawn,
zoo, toward the dead mother and the