The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-27
Little Relle,s Chr.stm.a


Every one who knew Little Texas agreed
says the New York Herald, that she was the
most amiable and altogether the sweetest and
most lovaole child to be found anywhere.
A pretty child, too, was Little Texas with
her wealth OF golden curls. blue eyes and sunny
features.
She was child Of the people.
No one ever seemed to know who her parents
were nor what was her real name nor how or
where she lived That she was poor was evil
dent. as she earned daily a small pittance by
selling flowers, mostly 10 the occupants Of ons
OF the large Office buildings on lower Broadway.
She had smile and good word for every.
9ody, Dnt was very reticen, as to her antece-
dents Belle. she said, was her name and she
lived, as she stated, with an aunt Somewhere
under the big bridge. But whether it was BelIe
smith or Belle Jones the child would never saw
MY aunt does not wish me 10 tell NV name =
she would answer when questioned on the sub.
ject.
Little Belle, then-she was only ten wars ola
VISITED tpe various offices in the big Broad
way building each morning and the kind.
hearted men bought her little bunc es OF vio-
lets and roses. often paying many times " hat
they were worth, for little Belle had such a
her wares.
From day to day the child sold her flowers.
and, although daily questioned. she would
never reveal her full name nor say where she
lived IL was finally accepted as matter of
course. Little Belle was a mystery
In one OF the large ofIices OF the great build
ing one morning last week a middle-ageI man
WITH full brown beard and a SLOUGH hat care
less and easy in lis manners. but wel-dresssd
wlthal, sat discussing genera topics with a
party OF gentlemen there assembled.
Yes, said the stranger. Christmas comes
out once year. as you say, but that is lust
once too often for me- At this there was a
general exclamation of surprise on the part Of
his auditors. The stranger continued:
1t is sad story, and one that had its beyiu-
nlng on Christmas day six years ago. l had
one OF the prettlest hom $ down in Texas then
you ever saw. My wife, she's dead now, he
said, with sigh, and the sweetest child q
little girl, with golden-brown hair and blue
eyes Little B 4lle was her name.
We had such happy home, too And that
Christmas day. All, now well | remember il
now. The child had nurse whom she used to
call auntie. Somehow 1 never trusted that
woman much. Well. there's no Use in going
into particulars. Little Belle and her nurse
went out for walk on that Christmas morning
Neither the woman nor the child has been seen
since. Ny poor wife ded-it broks her heart.
And |, well /"
want any flowers to-day, sirs?' came from
the voice Of little child who had just entered
the office.
My God! Whose child is that? What's your
name, girlf VINO are you?n came from the
Texan in excited tones.
Little Belle, the flower girl, for it was she,
stood 1rrssoute for moment, cycling the
stranger suspiciously. Suddenly her basket
dropped, and the light of recognition shone in
simply.
Tears streamed down the Texans face as he
clasped the child in his arms.
Thank God" said he, Il have found her at
last, and so near Christmas too. This is in
deed Christmas blessing!"
Father and daughter left the office together
1t was afterward learned that Bellies supposed
aunt was the nurse who had kidnapped her and
brought her to this city six wears since The
men about the big building heard of it and as
little Belle had gone to her Texan home the
day following a purse was made up among
chased handsome silver cup which is now on
its way south.
Little Texas, from many friends Merry
Christmas, $780," was the inscription on the