Year: 1878

q
a girl Of ten looked out through the
cracked and dirty panes at the great
white moon rising up from its bed so
far toward eternity that man has new
er discovered its location.


Was she ten or thirtyP One could
hardly have told In the dusky room,
lighted only blythe rays of the moon
by heavens own lamp. The fin
gers were so thin and long that you
would have shuddered. The face was
so wan and pale that your thoughts
would have gone back to the evening
when you tremblingly skirted a grave
yard and caught sight of head.stone
standing out alone in the gloom Of
night. And such eyesl Great round
eyes, which glistened and sparkled
as eyes never do till heavens gate
has opened just enough TO let the
living catch a glimpse of such joys as
man cannot even dream of unless the
angel ofdeath whispers in his ears.


Like a great ship suddenly rising
out of the fogs of the ocean came the
moon. It brushed away the dust and
cobwebs and crept through the win
dow, every beam and ray and silver
streak seeming to be FURNISHED the
brighter in the struggle. A hagard
and despairing mother was on the
street begging for bread. The fire in
the old stove slumbered. If a cricket
nestled in the old house, it was in
some warmer corner-in some of the
gloomy rooms where it now and then
caught the laugh of a child or a cher.
ry cry from the street. 1t was very
still.


at is cold in here" whispered the
moon as its beams danced over the
ragged old quilt which covered the
poor girl.


1--WE have not had q warm fire for
days and days-we are very poorl"
replied the child, us she put out her
hand to catch and detain one of the
shivering rays.


"There is nothing in the old cup.
.board-nothing but a few old dishesl'
Whispered the moon as IT rosea ttle
higher and looked in at another
pane.


"Mother was sick yesterday and
could not go out" explained the child
81 have been ill for weeks and weeks
and we have come to be very poor"


mo food-no fre-no medicine
no light-no furniture but an old
chair or two and a table-it is terri
blcp whispered the moon. II have
only been up an hour, and yet can
see into hundreds of rooms in this
great town-see warm rooms, tables
spread with good things-fires burn
ing cheerfully and people smiling
and happy. Who comes to see you?


"No:oncp sighed the child. at is
weeks since saw any face but my
mothers"


A cloud crept between the oldiwin-
dow and the:bright moon, shutting
out all its.light. 1t sailed slowly on
and on, and after time all the glory
came back to the pancs, and the old
moon saidi


81 counted thousands of Christian
men and women. They are seated
in warm rooms, or on the street in
costly clothing. They look happy
and contented. They have plenty 10
eat and wear. Some have given to
something or other called charity
something where one person contri-
butes q loaf of bread, and It goes
through three or four hands and
reaches no one in particular. Some
have given to some foreign mission,
as they call it. ] don't exactly know
what it is, but its something to buy
Bibles for people who can not read,
while you and scores of other intclli'
gent and God knowing and God fear
ing children are dying OF hunger in
the shadow Of a grand church spire.
And none of these people have
brought you food or fuel2'


"Nonel" slowly answered the poor
child.


"And you are cold2'


awe have only this old quilt"


"ChildI" whispered the moon, as IL
flung more rays of silver over the
pale face, "yOu are dyingl Food and
n