Connecticut western news., 1891-12-24
LITTLE BELLIES CHRISTMAS.

Thrilling Reunion of Father and Child on the Eve of the Comin. Holiday. Every one who knew Little Texas agreed that she was the most amiabie and altogether the sweetest and most lovabe child to be found anywhere. A pretty child, too, W S Little Texas" !" with her wealth of golden curls, blue eyes and sunny features.
 She was d 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 evident, as she earned daily q pit tance by selling flowers, mostly to the occupants of one of the large office build ings on lower Broadway.
 She had smile and good word for sveryb body. but was very reticent as to her antecedents. Belle, she said, was her name, and she lived, so sine stated, with an aunt somewhere under the big bridge. But whether it was Belle Smith or Belle Jones the child would never say. "My aunt does not wish me to tell my name," she would answer when ques tioned on the subject.
 Little Belle then-she was only ten years old-visited the various offices in the big Broadway building each morning, and the kind hearted men bought her little punches of viOlets and roses, often paying mlny times what they were worth for little Belle had such d sweet smile of thanks for those who purchased her wares. From day to day the child sold her flow CTS, and, although daily questioned, she would never reveal her full name nor say l where she lived It was finally accepted as a matter of course Little Belle was a mystery.
 In one of the large offices of the great hr,i 1oct Ia | aged man, with full brown beard and l slouch hat, careless and easy in his man ners, but we'll dressed withal, sat discuss 1 ing general topics with a party of gentle l men there assembled
 l "Yes," said the stranger, "Christmas comes but once year, as you say, but that is just once too often for me-" At this there was a general exclamation of sur
 prise on the part of his auditors. The
 stranger continued:
 l "It is a sad story and one that had it's
 beginning on Christmas day six years ago. l had one of the prettiest homes down in Texas then you ever saw. My wife, she's
 dead now," he said with sigh, "and the
 sweetest child, d little girl with golden
 brown hair and blue eyes. Little Belle l was her name.
 l "We had such a happy home too. And
 that Christmas day. An, how we'll l re- | member it now. The child had nurse | whom she used to call Auntie. Somehow | never trusted that woman much. We'll l 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 seer | since. My poor wife died-it broke hel
 heart. And I, we'll I'- | "Want any flowers today, sirs?" came
 from the voice of little child who had just
 entered the office.
 My Godl Whose child is that9 What's l your name, girl? Who are you?" came l from the Texan in excited tones.
 Little Belle, the flower girl, for it wa! l she, stood irresolute for a moment, eyinl
 the stranger suspiciously. Suddenly he
 basket dropped and the light of recogni
 tion shone in her eyes, "Why, you're III,
 papa" she said simply.
 Tears streamed down the Texans face a.
 he clasped the child in his arms. 'Thank Godr' said he, "I have found he
 at last, and so near Christmas too Thi
 is indeed q Christmas blessingp'
 Father and daughter left the office to
 gether. It was afterward learned tha
 Belle's supposed aunt was the nurse wh'
 had Kidnapped her and brought her to thi
 city six years since. The men about tn
 big building heard of it, and as little Bell
 had gone to her Texan home the day fol
 lowing purse was made up among them
 and one of their number with it purchase,
 handsome silver cuA which is now on it
 way south.
 "Littla Texas, from macy friends. Merr
 Christmas" was the. inscription on th
 cup.-New York Herald.