Year: 1876

|
street occupied entirely by dwellings, The
windows Of the houses We're all closed
tightly, however, and as not a person was
| abroad, everything looked inexpressibly
lonely and desolate The child thought OF
her cold cellar for moment, almost with
relief. But the recollection of the terri
| Bile punishment she had received on the
| last occasion she returned empty handed,
neryed her to continue out in the faint
hope that she might yet meet some chari-
table person AT the worst. she thought
it was better walking about, even in the
storm, than returning to that angry crone,
especially if, now and then, she could only
come across an open window or two, and
| see the reflection OF the fire shining ruddi-
! ly inside


| One appeared in view even now. 1t was
here, half block ahead, where the light
| streamed quite across the street, in two
broad, warm. cheerful strips from the
| parlor windows. She hurried her pace.
and soon stood at the house. The sleet
was rafting against the panes. and coat
ing the brick front with ice; the wind
roared madly as it twisted and bent the
ornamental trees on the pavement; all
without was cold, wet, iorbidding. All.
did we say No, for that pale, shivering
orphan girl forgot her hunger, forgot the
! tempest, when she saw that genial light,
and heard the merry childish laughter
within. 1t was IA house to which some
Young cousins had come. from another
city, to spend Il fortnight with the little
| boy who belonged there; and every even
ing for week past they had been having
such grand times. as they would every
evening for week to come Oh how
| that houseless one without envied those
| little ones. How she stood on tiptoe to
try to peep within.


/ Several times she went away, dreading
lest some person should come out and de-
tect her, 50 deep had the sense of degrade
ton sunk into her soul, that it almost
seemed wrong to be watching rich and re-
| spectacle people in this way, stealing their
crumbs of tre-light and merriment. and
drinking the overflow of their eXuberant
happiness. But she returned as often. The
house had II spell for her she could not re-
sist 1t appeared to her as if she had
somehow, a right to share in its comfort
and JOY as if she was being defrauded by
this exclusion from it or, at worst, as if
there was such a supeltiuity Of all things.
1t made her happy, also, for the moment.
when she came in sight again of that bright
warm window, and hear the merry laugh
ter of little boys and girls, mixed occasion
ally with the sweet tones of woman and
the full, hearty voice of manhood Once
or twice the sound of the latter seemed IA
miliar to her. Was it the voice that had
SO cruelty refused her two hours ago? Oh
no it could not be that; 1t was only a
strange coincidence; from no such cold
and callous heart could come laughter
| like this.


The last time she was driven away, her
| fears of detection proved true, for color
ed servant coming to close the shutters.
caught q glimpse of her running off. AZ
ter 4 while, however, she returned again,
and although all was now dark and desc
late. she could as little leave as before
nay. the dread Of being discovered being
now removed. she felt certain pleasure
in her security that almost compensated
| for the absence OF the lighted windows
and the gay merrlment She sat down on
| the steps, at first with a little nervousness
but this gradually wore off; and ascend
ing step by step, at successive intervals,
at last she nestled close to the very door.
1t was strange, but a sensation of warmth
seemed still to 90 out from the house, and
fold the child in its arms, till, as she press
ed against the door, she began to feel as
she used to, in the cid, dear DAYS, when
folded to her mothers bosom,


! The night advanced. In their little beds
| lovingly encircling each other with then
arms, slumbered the children within; and
| in the next chamber lay fair sweet lady,
and by her side her sleeping lord. All
had she known all his history, would she
| lie there so peacefully? Strange that NO
day dreams disturbed his rest. Had he
forgotten the tale of pretended love, the
insidious arguments. and the other treach-
erous means. which he had employed to
win the trust of one who. if living, had a
prior right in the eye of God, to that place
at his side? Did the grave never open,
that his victim might come, and standing
at the foot of his bed, gaze on him, with
| sad reproachtul eyes. till his hair bristled
with horror and his blood froze? Was no
sepulchral voice heard, at dread midnight,
| asking where was his iirst-bornP Oh
while society forgives the traitor, and con-
demns the betrayed unheard, men will
| sleep unbroken slumbers. though the cold
graves hold their victims, and though their
abandoned offspring lie starving ut their
doors.


Once that houseless little one stirred and
| half awoke. 1t was when Waterman
went slowly by, on the other side, drowsi-
ly crying the hour. But his faint steps
had scarcely died down the long street,
when she slumbered again The rain still
continued freezing as it fell but cold nor
! hunger nor wet affected her now She
dreamed, and in that dream saw things,
to which all she had fancied of happiness
was nothing. There was warm sunshine,
and delicious fruit, and beautiful grass
| where children were playing, children
who did not fly from her, or trown when
she drew near, but smilingly asked her to
Join their sports. There also came her
mother. more kind. more beautiful than
ever She sprang to meet her with a cry
and was folded to her bosom.


Oh blessed dream, must she awake
friendless again? No, thanks be to God
for all is not a dream. 1t has become a
reality at last Another lamb has been
added to the heavenly flock; and the Or
phan rejected by her earthly father, sleeps
in the arms of Jesus.


At daybreak, the servant who came to
open the door started dack in alright; for
nestled close to it, on the sill outside, lay
pale child in winding sheet of ice
Terrified, he summoned his master, who,
at the unusual occurrence, FASTENED to
rise.


''Its some poor child" said the old COL
ored coachman, as he tenderly bore in the
corpse, "dat's got nobody to take care of
it. Poor thing, see how thin she's dress
ed; and her arms looks as if she'd been a
most starved"


The merchant was gazing with eager
eyes He had recognized the beggar
child of the preceding evening. and his
compressed lips showed that he felt some
thing like remorse


But sharper pang was reserved for
him. Suddenly the gray headed negro
said:


What's this?" And as he spoke. he