Year: 1868

&c Morning again - and the weary, wasted in
valid lifted his head from the pillow and looked
pitifully the dim room. ooh, that the
night had been longer p To the wretched sleep
they freeze and starve?'' And with tears gush-
ing from his eyes, the pale man buried his head
in the scanty covering and groaned aloud.


1t was no wonder that he was out of heart on
that cold, dark December day. At best he had
hard struggle to get food, and for the past six
months the struggle had been almost desperate,
for his wife had been unable to assist him in the
least, being confined to her bed with slow,
wasting disease. His little daughter Maria, a
pretty child of twelve, kept the room tidy, and
herself ard two little brothers, like wax. By
the aid of her mothers whispered directions,
she also managed to do up the weekly washing
and ironing.


"My little sunbeam the father fondly called
her, while the mother would say, in her low,
sweet tones, tour ANGEL


One night the young housekeeper waited until
it was pitch dark for her father to come to fru-
gal supper, and then, with fearful forebodings
at her heart, undressed the little boys and put
them to bed, and tied on her hood and cloak to
go for him. a crowd was at the very threshold.
With a wild cry, she rushed towards the inani-
mate form they carried upon the board. 1t was
her father brought home with a broken leg.


A week had passed since this misfortune. By
the sale of their few pieces of furniture, the
wolf had been kept from the door. But now,
nothing remained save the coarse beds on which
the distressed ones slept. No coal for the little
CRATE no tea for the feverish lips, crust for
the famished children What should be done
1t was a question little Maria asked again as they
lay there watching the few pale sunbeams that
Struggled through the window. And she-asked
it oftener after she had risen and dressed herself
and brothers, and smoothed the two beds.
Bread they must have and that day. They were
all faint even now, and the boys clamored for
their breakfast.


Suddenly a bright thought came to the little
daughter. She remembered having seen in the
coffee-houses, young girls no taller than she,
waiting upon customers. Perhaps they would
try her. g am handy, quick and patient, and
would try so much to oblige." l am pretty, too,
she might have added had there been a spark of
vanity in her heart; for she was sweet child,
with brow like sunny snowdrift, and even
like the Spring violets that nestle in the wood
lands. 81 will try, at least, and see what can
do, and after watching moment the wearly
sleep of her parents she whispered to her little
brothers that she was going out to get some
bread for them, and then hurried away.


She did 90 to the bakers but her pitiful story
failed to touch his heart, and there were tears
upon her cold cheeks as she turned away. What
should she do-beg? She asked herself the
question with quivering lip. Never before had
their poverty driven lnem 10 tudt strait, anu II
was hard, even now, with the picture of that
wretched home fresh in her vision, to plead for
charity But she did it. Again and again she
said to the passer-by, Please sir, please,
ma am, give me penny to buy bread with for
my sick parents"


And the gentlemen had their overcoats but
toned to their chins, and the ladies were envel-
oped in furs and it too much trouble to find
the pocket-books or purses just to supply beg
gar's wants.


"Go to the soup-house," said one, at last,
more churlish than the rest. ''The city pro-
vides for such you"


1t was new idea to her, and as fast as her
feet could carry her she went and, entering in
breathless haste, told her story to the attendant
matron.


81 will report the case to the committee, u
said the woman quietly, making memorandum
of the name and the number of the street
"Come in tomorrow morning, will do what
can for you


Tomorrow She would become too weak tc
walk so far by that time, and what would become
of the rest?


With heavy heart, she went home, having nc
courage to present herself as waiter to any o
the coffee houses she passed on her way.
q Did you get some ?" cried the boys, gather
ing about her, and pulling on her cloak to see i
it were hidden under her arms.
|
from the bed corner and the coverlet wal
thrown off, and two pairs of thin, white hands
put forth.


"No, no, f" she answered plaintively, " but
will try again. Keep up good hope"


"There will be plenty out of the oven now
Yes, plenty" she said to herself, as she buttoned
her cloak on the threshold; "plenty, and / II
have some, too. They shall not starye. Men
and women forsake me; God does,t hear me nc
any longer There is nothing le:; .or me to &c
but to steal "


Her face paled as she spoke it, and for N, mo
ment there was wild wrestle in her near.
Then she went on quickly, pausing an lns.ah.
before each bakers door, and looking an1iously
within By and by she found one that a.rss eu
empty. A whole pile of steaming ioaVes lay
mon the counter. She rushed in and seized
and hiding i under her sss s01s sf her nao
tho J;ttle s;ttino-room. and was after her crying
Justify is y.i "stop thief stop thiefr' crowd fol
lowed her, and the poor child was soon run
down.


IA clear case," said the police officer, whe
took her. "She must 60 to the courtroom.