The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-02-09

L.. .nN .
fore, but help my poor mother
they're turnin' her out in tho stree
and poor fathers . dyin', the d9etot
says. 3ga3zi
Tho tender, plaintive voice went 4
her heart like u knife. a5 nau t0o
| "Wat canI do2--how can I helT
! your" she asked. sgadaftaaii al
H "oh, Miss it'S twenty-five dollars
We owe rent, you know; and poor
mothCr can't pay It.. Please helf
herl" ',-e ,..'..,-.. ~ ..,.. 'g' ',- .,',.
Maggie closed ksr fingers over the
goldin her hand, and looked at the blue
silk with aswelling heart. Seeing hsl
hesitation, the clerk came round and
took the child By the shoulder.
"Go ont, he said roughly, Sand
don't let me catch you in here sgain,
Don't heed her, Miss," he added, clos
ing the door; 1t is all lies they tell.
shall I wrap the silk up!"ls a "a a
Poor Maggie, for anainstaDtssslf was
predominant She must have the
blue silk ShO must 60 10 the Christ
mas ball and dance with henry; but
in a little while something uobler got
the supremacy /; something that made
her young eyes outshine tho siik that
the willy cIOrk so temptinglys dis
played. s t1 Whaa yta'n
"No," she replied resolutely, " not
now. l must look after that poor
child first" - .,,,o
Half an hour later, o poor woman
wept tearS Of gratitude and Joy over
her dying husband in the cheorlOSS
garrSt she called her home and Mag.
gle went back to tho old farm house
with 4 step slow and sober enough.
e Well pct" said her old father,
Eondly,5 ~ iSpODs you'vS got tho blns,
elk at, lasEsW bgsa 70 lsliisl,7 wa mo.
No, papa, mop faltcred Maggie,
with d gush Of tears that she tried 10
vain TO repross, :. I dida't get IL. II.
! gave the money away % poor 1t
lle girl" ss- ss-,ti t,gs.esq 4,
II wAs Christmas day. The puow
lay white and crisp or the chain Of
hills that shut in theold Now England
farm house, aud the sun, just drop
ping out Of sight, tinged their sum.
mits with q soft glow, and gave the
strip of wintry Sky beyond Q rosy
warmth, SO suggestive Of SnnnmSr
tWilightS, that one forgot the keen
Winds and biting frost, and fanciOd
the notes Of the ring.doye in the wood
and the breath Of violets on the afr.
Bat Maggie was not indulging in
any suchreverics as she stood on the
front StoOp, her pretty curlS pushed
back, and her blue eyes brimfuI Of
tears, as sleigh after sleigh hew by,
with its merry peal Of bells, bearing q
freight of happy girls to the gay
party. oia1y' afoi gaFoi.oi 'ai b.
"ohl l did want to 60 30 bad" she
murmursd /" but / cant wear my
ad ed msrino. All the girls win b
there, dressed 80 nice, and 30 happy,
Oh, dear oh, dear n and o little sob
cfi6ksd her, and the tears brimmsd
over and stained her pretty chsekS
just as another sleigh dashed mp, and
Henry Jumped out and ran up on the
stobp. 9TIrsui sij % s5isis h8i 1dil
'a@why Maggie" he called out, not
dressed yeti thought you'd be all
ready. Como bury, II is getIlng |
late" r'sHAN 1vir1urT
"I-1'm not going y she ialsersd.
The young man turned round In
y lllsItQ F0lWn nb 1Uf fnII ESQ
paTprsefsbsim Boa senI-, On.
rNot going, haggisl Why Jon
said you were on Sunday ii8
"a I know but I've changed my
mind. | Iciin'tgo,a ool.aJ 'di Do poo
y = ,PshAWl this = nonsvnte. Go and
get ready, Maggie itsnO use 20 fool"
His tone irlRted her, and she re.
piled sharply, Pm not tfOOling, Henry.
I'm no, going, and you nsedn'. wait"
"All right--I won't Some one
else win go | guess" aud he SprAng
into his sleigh and drove or
Poor little Maggie, this was ,hS cru.
Olest blow Of all She could not
bravo Il ou. any longer 30 she ran
tito the old kitchen, and laid her bead
down on her fathers old leather -cush.
iOnsd chair for a good, ohildish cry"
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