Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1920-12-29
A Child of the Street
Mrs Sadie O'Rourke McCafrey

The following short story written
by Mrs McCaffrey when she was six
teen years OF age is given for publ
cation at this Christmas time IN an
effort TO further enlist the interest
and sympathies of the people IN the
work of the Vermont Children's Aid
Society among the unfortunate child
rem OF our state
Winter had come in earnest, the
wind blew and the snow fell IN large,
white fakes everywhere
It was within week OF Christmas,
everybody was astir, the shop windows
had put on their loveliest holiday
dress and people were hurrying to and
fro laden with bundles OF all shapes
and sizes Men in fur overcoats, wom-
en- and children bundled up all out Of
reason, hurried along IN the darken-
ing twilight
Nobody noticed q little figure hug
ging the corner OF one OF the baker
shops, with scarcely any clothes COW
ering his almost frozen body, his feet
encased IN q pair OF old shoes, much
too large for his baby feet, and his
little red hands sticking out OF two
holes which served as pockets IN his
coat.
His eyes were rivited on large,
white loaf OF bread, that lay just
within MS reach, but alasi a pane Of
glass interviewed.
How hungry he wasl Why didn't
he 20 homer Hadn't he any supper?
Poor Jamie crept closer TO the window,
he had no home, no supper, no father,
no mother, no nothing only himself
and z bundle Of papers.
Why didn't ne sell the papers!
II was this way, nobody noticed him
and for long time he had ceased 70
cry his papers, and he was growing
colder every minute.
'sIf ne could only sell one, II might
buy something 70 eat, so thinking
he crossed the street and sat down on
the steps Of a church
Suddenly ne heard music and knew
that the children were IN the church
rehsarsing for their Christmas con-
cert. He crept nearer TO the does
and peeked IN, yes, there they were al
singing and what beautiful words they
we're sayingl
Long ago, so long ago that he could
hardly remember. he had heard ms
racther tell about a little baby that
was born at Christmas, and when he
came 70 be q man how he had died 70
save sinners, and that his name was
Jesus, and Of the beautiful home ne
had prepared for those who loved him
Jamie wondered where the beauti-
fuI home could be. He remembered
/ his mother had said that anybody
could go, and he wished he could gc
that very night
Anyone could go if they loved Him
that he loved Him, He was 50 kind
! Why did not Jesus come to that par'
of The city, Could he be the mar
| who stood at the corner OF the
street, This man had been kind II
jamie and had always bought q paper
| Of him, but now he was sick and an
other man had taken his place.
Perhaps he was better now, 50 a
TO be on duty, and the more Jamie
thought of IL, he said TO himself thai
/ he would go and ask the man il he
was Jesus brother, or If he knew
Jesus ard perhaps he'd buy paper.
So saying, he ran down the steps
and down the street Just before be
came 70 the corner he had 70 cross
the street, somehow, Jamie could moi
tell, but his papers seemed heavier
than ever, ard suddenly he slipped
and fell Before ne could arise z
heavy cab wheel had passed over his
legs
He lay quite still, looking up 70 tbs
Ky, for he was not cold nor.
In a little wnile he felt himself
/ lifted gently, and he had just strength
enough 70 know that his friend tha
policeman had him n his arms.
Then ali was dark