Year: 1862

A little pauper boy sat down on tn
curbstone aud tried to think. His fee
were bare, red and cold; but never min,
that. The chill air penetrated his rag
ged garments, but never mind that
Who are those people passing him look
ing so warm and comfortable? Wha
did it mean that they should be happy
and cheerful, and he so sad? None oI
them had such heavy hearts, that he was
sure of. He looked up into the cold, blu'
sky. What was it, and who lived there
Somebody had said once that God would
take care of him. Why didn't he take
care Of him? Where was God? O, II
he could only see God for one little min.
ute, or the angels that the good man
told him of when his mother diedl Did
folks ever see God? Did they ever see
angels?


An organ grinder came near and took
his stand. The melody he played light
ened the little boys heart somewhat ;
but it did not warm him; it did not make
him less hungry. He kept shivering in
spite of the music; and he felt 50 all alone,
so dcsparing! Then the organ grinder
passed away; he never needed the little
child sitting on the curbstone, he had
so many things to think Of.


The carriages passed by, and the cart,
and companyof soldiers; bat it was all
dumb show to hm-he was trying to
think with such dull pain at his hearts
Presently, three or four coarse looking
boys gathered behind him, and winked
and laughed at each other. In another
moment, the youngest gave a thrust, and
over went the poor little boy into the
gutter. One scream, one sob of anguish
as lie gathered himself up, and looking
after the boys, now flying away with
shouts of mirth. Oh! how crnel it seem.
ed in them-how cruel The little hun
CRY boy walked slowly on, sobbing and
slivering 10 himself He didn't know
what he was walking for, or why he was
living. He felt out of place--a poor
forlorn spirit that had lost its way-a
bruised reed that any one might break
a little heart so tender that a look was
anguish-how much moro blow!


The little boy stood at last near cor
ner of a street. An apple stand, at
which he gazed with longing eyes, not
far off, was tended by cross-looking old
man. There were cakes on the stand aud
the poor little mouth Of the homeless
child watered as he saw one boy after
another deposit his penny, and take his
cake. He had no penny, and though
there was hunger in his eyes, the cross
looking old man never offered him
morsel.


The tempter came. The old mans
back was turned. A vile boy at his
side-at the side of the homeless child
nudged his elbow. "You take one" he
whispered; "I'll give You half"


The little child gazed at him steadily.
lie saw something in the bleared eyes
that made him shrink; something that
set his heart to beating.


81 tell you to hook one," whispered
the boy; 81 won't tell, and we'll go away
aud eat it,"


II don't want to steal,n said the home
less child


'Oh! you fool" muttcred the brutal
tempier, and smote him in the ey es, his
heavy hand dealing a blow that sent ;he
poor little child against the wall, his
whole frame quivering with anguish
The terrible blow had almost blinded
him for moment. A sob came up in
his throat. Oil what have done 20 be
treated SOP" There never, never, never
was a God, or he would not have let him
suffer so and, that because he refused to
be wicked. | don't believe ever man
in his deadliest bereavments suffered
more than that sad little child. His
heart was literally swelling with grief,
and though he could not reason about 1t,
he felt as if there were great and sore
injustice somewhere.


Fe started to cross the street. a dark
binding pain still made his poor temples
ring.


Back back Good heavens ! The
child is under his feet Back back u


go mamma, it is our horses run over
poor little boy. Ohl mamma, man
mr. |"


"Is he much heart, coachmanP" The
woinan's face is as pale as aShes' Les
he,is badly hurt. Take him right in;
don't wait; carry him right in and up
stairs. 1t was your carelessness. The
child shall be attended to-"


There is no anguish now. Perhap:
God saw he ha borne all he could, and
took the poor little broken heart there tc
heal. How very white and quiet 20
what sweet face--a sweet, sweet
Aace r' murmured tho woman, bending
over the boy; and tears fell upon his
forehead, but he did not feel them.


"Oh, the poor little boy!" sobs Nelly
"the poor little boy wish he hac
kept on the sidewalk; l wish he had stale
at home with his mother"


Alas in this world there was M
mother to keep him.


The doctor came, said he was no
dead, but would very likely die. Their
was an hospital near. The poor thlni
had better be sent there. But the goo'
woman would not allow that. She woi
care for him herself, aud said: "He ha'