St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-04-18
"A Little Child Shall Lead Them. y

y It is Christmas eve. Soft, featherv
| snowfakes have been falling since early in
l the afternoon and as pedestrians, laden
with bundles of every size and shape,
l hurry along the streets towards their re-
( spectve homes, many lips breath silent
! pray er for those to whom tbs joyous sea-
:, son brings naught but q fresh reminder OF
/ their friendless and desolate condition.
/ AS the evening advances child about
ten years of age walks slowly along one OF
3 the principal avenues of the city OF Il
3 She pauses for few moments in front OF
each brilliantly lighted and gaily decorated
window and feasts her eyes upon the gor-
geous display of holiday goods. She fingers
near a window filled with pies and cakes,
and gszes longingly at the tempting array
of good things.
''This is going to be the children's de-
light. white Christmas J. exclaimed
big, good natured man, cheerily.
"lt'H be black enough for the poor
wretches who havnt anything but crust
for their Christmas dinner" replied his
companion.
The words reached the girl who stood
shivering at the win dow. 81 wouldn't
mind for myself" she sobbed, but NAM
ma and Robbie can't live on crusts much
longer" A momentary spaSm shook
her delicate figure, then drawing the
old. worn shawl more closely around her
head and shoulders, she moved slowly
onward. .,
/ "We used to have such pretty things,
she murmured with chattoTing teeth, land
! my dear little ring, wanted to Keep IL
always, but papa took it away and SAID IL
10 ul- a
strong, but-hut he didn't come back for
ever SO dong, and then-then he said such
dreadful things" The child paused before
window containing a numbtr of bottles
filled with bright-hued liquid ''Oh, the
! dreadful stuff How hate it y she cried,
clenching her thin little hands. Almost
blinded by the tears that now gu she'd forth
she uuickent her steps, stumbled snd fell
against gentleman who had just stepped
across the threshold of brilliantly lighted
club house.
"Jove !" he exclaimed, staggering close
to the curbstone "Why don'G you get out
of the way?'
"I-I didn't mean to fall against you,
sir" faltered the child
''Of course you didn't, said the man, I'D
Modified tone. Here's quarter" ne
said, extending his hand, 'run along ano
get something to eat you look as though
you needed it." :, ;,
"a whole quarter, and it is all my own
murmured the child She looked after
the retreating figure of the man who had
given her the money, and not ced that his
gait was unsteady. "Maybe he has little
Children, and they will b, so sorry" she
said regretfully. Now can get R1b5ie
8 and mamma something to eat, she said,
pausing beside street lamp to look at her
precious prize: She uttered an exclama
4 ton. This is not quarterP she said,
~ in startled whisper. cit IS ten whole
y dollars, and must surely give it back to
N the man" Turning quickly, the chlld
4 ran rapidly in the direction which the man
il had taken.
I'M On and on she ran, through the binding
i \ snow, until she reached large vacant lot.
H. az guess that's him." she said, darling TO-
wards a moving figure. AT this instant
the figure fell heavily forward. Inc next
moment the child was kneellng beside the
prostrate BODY. ooh, I'm sure he's dead.
She cried frantically. s pringlng to her
feet she ran swiftly towards small frame
house, about stones throw ifoAt ~ Cne
snot where the man had fallen. "Oh,
father I'm so glad you are at home y
she cried. as she entered the cheerless
domicle.
man clad in tattered garments was
seated before freless stove, in an attl,
tude of deep detection. He turned MS
hlood-shot ewes towards the child and
opened his lips to chide her. Come
ouick. father, maybe the man isn't dead,
she cried, pulling his tattered sleeve I'M
patiently. uuo
than death" mut.ered the wretched father
as he followed his child OUT into the
stormy night. =,
he muttered, clenching his teeth. wei
take the man into the house, Bertha, 1T
said aloud. He'll not freeze so soof
Half dragging, half carrying the heavy
sipune, Robert Ellison worked MS way
steadily towards the house. Bertha lookec
troubled as she listened TO her 1a'ner
mptterinps. A Mortified expression crep'
into the childs eyes when she rea'lzeu sna
he was planning to rob the helpless
stranger of his money and valuables, ther
carry him out into the street and leave hin
xo nerish in the cold. freezing snow
Ray1ha grssped her fathers hand ant
oressine it between her cold, thin fingers
raised her fearful eyes pleadingly to hi
~aa face.
sect along with you !" cried Rober
6sycely. shaking off the clinging fingers
900 In yonder," he growled, pointing Il
a door that led to an inner apartment.
ooh, fatherp
.Do as tell you p he cried, at the sam
time giving the child push that cause'
her to fall heavily forward upon the moo
of the next room.
Closing the door securely, he walke
cautiously across the room' ana knesnn'
NV the side of the unconscious stranger
onick,y gathered together all the valuable
Non his person, "Who'd have though
that I'd come to this" he muttered, as d
balanced well filled pocket book in hi
hand. "There's enough in this to kee
Mary and the children comfortable 10
awhile. and l can get supply of strength
aninp stuff and keep it on hand. what
that" he whispered, starting guilty
1sMary and Robbie took the stuff the aocto
left and will sleep until morning. 1orge
Bertha he muttered, frowning. Creep
ing noiselessly to the door he listened
the sounds that came from within.
flush tinged his cheeks, and he bowed n
mead in humiliation as he heard the wore
that fell from the trembling lips OF n
neglected child. ,:,,
sPoor papa w murmured the chile
,.kino an effort to stihe' her sobs,' ~
d;dn,t mean to hurt me; he's hungry an
cold and he thinks the strange man
money will buy nice things for us; b.
that would be stealing, and my papa won
Ia q thief. Dear God" said the chill
hos hands reyerently, "don