Year: 1860

BY MRS. N. NJ. NJ MCoNAUGHTY.


Cheerless was the attic which little AL
ice entered one dreary December day, af-
ter long walk in the icy streets. There
was no fire whatever in the broken CRATE,
and the keen air whistled through the half
covered roof, sitting down the fine snow on
the bare floor. But, although the place
was SO utterly cheerless, there was smile,
as well as tear, in her brown eyes as she
entered. In that low room was the only
heart on earth that cared for her. A low
ing sister watched for her return, and had
ever a gentle word and kiss for the little
one she had received from dying moth
er's arms, and over whom she had watched
with maternal tenderness.


Day by day she had toiled for her sup
port, unheeding the cruel exactions and
often harsh words of her steel hearted en-
ployer. Net unfrequently was she kept
busy until far into the night, working cost
ly fabrics into cloaks and mantillas, to
glitter in the fashionable promenade think
ing sometimes, poor girl, how single
yard Of that costly trimming would bring





was usually content with her frugal fare,
for the white wings of purity and peace
were folded in her bosom, and she blest
God that actual want had never stared
them in the face.


But, at length, a dark day came. The
racking cough which had so long distress
ed her, became deeper seated, and she
could no longer rise from her bed. After
the scanty earnings were exhausted, the
few articles Of furniture were parted with,
one by one, to obtain the daily loaf Of
bread but in little time this resource
failed, and ghostly famine glared upon
them.


To-day, little Alice had wandered out,
hoping to find sticks with which to make a
little blaze, and on her return, she found
her sister much weaker.


''Dear Jenny, . said the child, ''I could
find nothing to eat but these turnips and
potato parings, which I picked up in rub.
bish box on the sidewalk. I have wash
ed them clean at the pump, and they will
be better than nothing. ate some of the
turnip chips raw, | was so hungry. I got
these few sticks and cinders, too, from an
ash-tub, though an old woman with bag
in her back beat me with her iron hook,
because took them. A policeman saw
her, and said, Let the child alone,
OR she might have hurt me worse,
she was so angry. But, poor sister, you
are almost starved to death, [ will cook
these things as soon as can make the fire
90. There are six matches left in the box
| have a lot of paper I found in the street
just after they had swept a store" The
child sat herself busily to work, and soon
little glow was kindled and the only
saucepan was set over it with a little water,
and the uninviting repost was prepared.


- You cannot eat it, Jenny" said the
child with tears in her eyes, as her sister
put aside the dish, after slight effort to
eat.


"You have done very nicely, little sis
ter" she said GO but do not feel much
hunger now; think am past that. So
take the rest yourself, darling. I never
expected to see you reduced to this; but
it is all right, no doubt And always re-
member, Allie, that any amount of suffer-
ing is better than the least degree of sin
ming. Although all seems SO dark now,
feel strangely hopeful for you. I shall
soon be in the arms of Jesus, and 0, how
| wish [ might take you with me, if it
were Gods will but know He will take
care of you. prayed to Him all day for
you, Allie, trust in Him. and he will sure
ly raise you up friend. I cannot talk to
you now but another time | will tell you
what [ wish you to do when [ am gone.
Come and lie down with me, precious, dar-
ling little sister, and don't sob so wildly
dear one. There, 60 to sleep, love" F" and
she gathered the sobbing child to her bos-
ON, and soothed her as mother would her
frightened, suffering babe.


1t was broad daylight when Allie awoke,
She was very stiff and cold, and looked
about for Jenny She seemed to be kneel-
ing by the bedside, but when Alice spoke,
there was no answer. The face was as
colorlcss as marble, and a sweet smile
wreathed the thin, white lips She seem
ed to have risen at night, for the little cup
Of water, and to have died. as she knelt
to breathe prayer to the kind
Father, who, in love, gathered her in
to His glorious fold, where cold and hun
ger, pain and sorrow, are forever strangers


A pine coffin, and quick rattling of the
cart over the stones to the pauper's burial
place. No one needed it, except one
breaking heart which flung itself upon the
rough box, and shrieked as they tore he1
from it.


1t was all over. and little Alice found
herself homeless and friendless in the great
bustling city. She was almost stupefed
with grief, and almost unconsciously, she
, wagdered to the market near the river, and
stopped to warm her fingers at little
charcoal furnace. A stout Jersey farmer
was standing near, dressed in shaggy
''great coat, with woolen comforter
about his neck. He made room for hel
beside the fire, and looked compassionately
on her thin, old dress and shivering frame


His big, brown hand brought out a rosy
checked apple from his over-coat pocket
which he gave to Alice The tears came
into the eyes of the poor famished child
as she eagerly took it, exclaiming, q
thank you, thank you sir


1t was eaten quickly, and the farmer
who had watched the process, said,


q wish l had another for you, little
girl. you seem to like apples so we'll Youl
folks should not let you come out such g
cold day with them thin clothes on, and nc