The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-04-10
for the AlounN fnlks Z.
TnIn for ChIlhreM.

fOrlOrn fire, one cold morning tnat lell |
among the Christmas days. They had |
sat silent in their cold raggedness for |
some time, until one of them, whose |
small lame figure looked pitifully young
to bear 50 old and troubled face, said:
" Archie, suppose you and Kathic go
out now, you will soon get warm walk
ing in the sun and among the bright
warm shops"
"But, won't you be lonely, Winnie"
said Archie.
"No," she replied, "mother will get
home from work early, as 1t is Christ
mas Eve, and then, have Kittie you
know" and she stroked with chill-blue
fingers, cat that lay like snow drift
on her ragged lap.
Archie and Kathie had not gone very
far down the gay street, when they saw
Winnie's cat come running after them,
tempted like themselves, perhaps, to
desert cold damp hearthstone for a
warm sunshine Kathie took itupgent-
ly-it was sacred, for it belonged to
Winnie--and was about to run back
home, but they had just reached brill
liant shop, whose interior was perfect
mosaic of color in its close-packed shell
YES of russet nuts, and crimson apples,
golden oranges, and rosy candies, and
here they paused.
"It Winnie could only see those beau
tiful things" cried Kathie, her little
white face growing radiant, as she press
ed near the low broad window and look
ed eagerly in.
Just then, a girl protected from the
cold with rich cloak and furs, and laden
with dainty little parcels, came out of
the shop, pausing on the step rs she
caught sight of the two ragged chill
dren. To Judge from her discontented
face, purchase of some of the bright
things within had not given her the
same pleasure that a mere sight of them
was giving Archie and Kathie but her
face frightened as she saw the snowy
kitten:
"That is just what | want-a live toy"
said the girl, taking it from Archie's
arms and laying it among her furs.
"But you can't have it," said Archie,
resigning it unwillingly. sit belongs
to our lame Winnie, and it's all the
pleasure she's got.'
"She would rather have money
though, wouldn't she?" asked the girl,
looking with a little scorn at the child s
rags.
kathie hesitated moment, glancing
from the cat into the shop, thinking OF
what money would buy, and then,
cried, "Nov' as she shut her eyes on
the bright shop, but she had hesitated
too long A shining coin lay in her
palm, and the girl with the kitten had
disappeared in the crowd.
"Poor Winnie" cried Kathie, with a
little burst of tears.
"Poor Winnie," echoed Archie, lead.
ing the way back home.
Grace, the new possessor OF Winnie's
cat, selfish child of wealth, had gone
but little way, when the kitten dis
covering perhaps, the difference be-
tween her warm nest of furs and Win
MES old ragged lap, began to grow rest.
less, and suddenly, with a premonitory
purr, sprang from her arms, darted
across the street, up the half ruinous
wall of an old building on to Its roof,
and took shelter near low garret win
dow. Grace stood fox few minutes
watching it, until She saw the window
open and ch;id's hand draw the kit
ten within, then, with little sob of inn
patience, slowly turned into a splendid
shop near by, and therein buying from
its fairy-like Christmas store, tried tc
forget her loss, but the gay toys looked
uninteresting after the soft furred, bright
eyed kitten, to possess which she had
robbed lonely ch Id of poverty, and
presently leaving the store went into
the house wherein her cat had taken
refuge to ask for it. The low damp
room, into which she stepped and which
appeared deserted, frightened her in its
prison-like damp and uglness, and
hearing voices above, mounted short
fight of crazy steps and found hersel1
in dark, cold, attic room, hear whose
fireplace sat girl, her Bent figure il
shadow but a small gleam of red fire
light caught on her work and flying
fingers.
Il expect this will be the first Christ
mas gift, grandfather ever got, Essie,
boy was saying, as he held new, reC
comforter up for her inspection. "Whei
we go this evening to meet him at thu
church, after he is done ringing the bell
we will carry it to him. He won't say
then, there is no Christmas for pool
people," and the merry child laughed
until the old roof rang.
Somehow after hearing this, Grac,
did not like to ask for her kitten. Sht
remembered Archies words, "It's oil
the pleasure he's got !"
This poor child's Unselflsh Christina
expectati ons, reminded her how cruell.
she had darkened our lame Winnie
Christmas, but Essie, seeing her, ha
risen, so she had to put her request.
was pitiful to see how the Christina
light that his laugh had brought 20 tn
boys face died away, and resumed il
usual gravity. ~ am sorry" she said
"but Willie sold the little cat, (since W
were not able to feed it, for comfoI
ter for grandfather, but run back to tn
shop Willie, with it, Jennie will Civ
you the kitten back. Tell her you hav
found the owner"
EoIIowiny the child silently down III
stairs and along the street, Grace 500
reached the shop, hung with, a meagl
array ofwoolen hoods, Bookings, con
forters, ETC., the patient handiwork Of
blind woman and. her granddaughte
The old woman sat behind the count,