Year: 1862

A little pauper boy sat down on tht
curbstcne, and tried to think. His fee
yere bare, red and cold; but never minc
that. The chilly air penetrated hi
IA gged garment; but never mind that
He wanted to think. Who are these
people passing him, looking so warn
aud comfortable? What did it meal
that they should be so happy and cheer
full, and he so sad? None Of them hao
such heavy hearts, that he was sare OF
He looked up in the cold blue sky
What was it and who lived up there?-
Somebody had said once that God would
take care of him. Where was God?
Why didn't he take care Of him? Oh,
if he could only see God for one little
minute, or the angels that the good men
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 didn't make him less hungry
He kept shvering in spite OF the music,
and he felt SO alone, so despalring!-
Then the organ grinder passed away; he
never needed the little chi ID sitting on
the curbstone, he had so many things
| to think of. The carriages passed by,
and the carts and company of soldiers;
but it was all dumb show to him-he
was trying to think, with such dull
pain at his heart. Presently three or
four coarse looking boys gathered be-
| hind him aud laughed at each other
In another moment the youngest made
thrust, and over went the poor little
homeless child into the gutter. One
scream, one sob Of anguish as he gath
cred himself up and looked after the
mirth! Oh! how cruel it seemed in
them-how cruel! The little hungry
boy walked slowly on, sobbing and
shivering. He didn't know what he
was walking for, or why he was living.
He felt out of piace-a poor, little for
lorn spirit that had lost its way-a
bruised reed that any one might break
"a little heart so tender that look
was anguish, how much more blow.


The little boy stood at last near the
corner Of a street. An apple stand, at
which be gazed with longing eyes, not
far off, was tended by cross looking
old man. There were cakes on the
stand, and the poor little mouth CT the
homeless child w tered as he saw ore
boy after another deposit his penny, aud
| takes his cake. He had no penny, and
though there was hunger in his eyes,
1.-THE cross looking old man never offered
him morsel.


The tempter came. The old man s
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.
He saw something in the bleared eyes
t t made him shrink; something that
set his heart to beating.


Il tell you hook one,' whispered the
i boy. Il won't tell and we'll go away
and eat it,"


Il don't want to steal," said the home
less child


1
tempter, and smote him in his eyes, his
heavy hand dealing blow that sent the
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.


"Oh! what have I done to be treated
so? There never, never was Cod or
he would not let me suffer SO, and that
because [ refused to be wicked" |
don't believe that ever a man in his
deadliest bereavements suffered more
than that little child. His heart was
literally swelling with grief, and though
he could not reason about it, he felt as
if there were great and sore injustices
somewhere.


He started to cross the street. A
dark, binding pain still made his poor
temples ring.


Back! back! Good heavens The
child is under feet. Back back -


"Ob, mamma, it is our horses run
over poor little boy. Oh, mamma,
mamma


as he hurt much, coachman?" The
woman s face pale as ashes.


Yes, he is hurt badly


"Take him right in, don't wait; carry
him right up stairs. 1t was your care
lessness. The child shall be attended
to-"


There is no anguish now. Perhaps
God saw he had borne all he could, and
so took the poor little broken heart te
heal How very white and quiet!
'.Oh sweet face--; sweet sweet face
! murmured the woman, bending over The
: boy; and tears fell upon his forehead
but he did not feel them.
''Oh, the poor little boy!' sobs Nelly