The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-05-09

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She knew not that he was widow, anc
, her child fatherless. Somewhere in the
: crowd that was still surging on toward
the rivers edge, she would meet the loved
ones It was this hope that buoyed hel
up until she gained the blessed rivers
brink.
It is notsnecessary here to tell of the
many inquiries for absent friends, the
meny hours Of anxious waiting, some
times obliged to stand in the water ta es-
cape the devourlng flames that so relent-
lessly pursued them. Early the next
morning the living ones were conveyed
to places Of safety, and their immediate
wants supplied by the hospitable people
eff the nearest towns At last poor Nelly
heard of the fate of her husband and
darling boy. Oh! the agony Of those
DAYS, when she wished she had shared
their fate. Alas, she must live, live for
her child's sake, but how? Without a
home, without friends, without means to
provide food or raiment, what could she
do? For few days she rested with
strangers, bpt remembering she had a
cousin in Illinois she concluded to go to
her. Illinois was the land of plenty. and
and little Minnie. She was assisted to
the cars and given free passage to the
place IT her destination. Her cousin re-
ceived her with a warm welcome, but be-
ing poor herself, she could only give her
food and shelter until she could obtain
employment. And in the thriving town
of NJ, in northern Illinois, she tried to
make home for herself and child The
kind hearted ladies of M. furnished her
room, clothing, and food for her present
wants; recommended her az a seamstress
to few families, and then settled back
into their old grooves, leaving her to take
care of herself and child, Or apply to the
town authorities. The second hand cloth
ing that had been given Minnie and her
mother was getting threadbare, while
the shoes of the little girl were worn en-
tirely out.
Thus we found her, bending over her
sewing, weary alike ia body and mind.
Her fuel was nearly gone, and poor, pa
tient little Minnie was waiting for shoes
Mrs. Gray finished her work and carried
it home, The money was paid her, and
on her way back she ordered few BUSH
els OF Goa! The shoes must be bought
for it would not do to disappoint her
child, SO she hurried along past the temp
ting fruit stands, and the luxurles for the
coming Christmas. She entered store
where they kept cheap assortment of
shoes. An obliging clerk showed her
what she wanted, q pair of little shoes
that were "only dollar" On putting
her hand into her pocket for the money,
she was horror struck to find it gone
Where could she have lost it She cast
q hurried glance around, but not finding
it, she retsaced her steps, searching every
step OF the way, but no money was TO be
found. She returned and asked him if
he would not trust her until she could
earn the money. With 9 sneering smile
he rcplied,-"I assure you, madam, we
have plenty of such chances as that.
However, will keep the shoes for you
until Monday, if you can raise the money
then"
Sick at heart, she turned away and
walked gloomily on toward home, bIam
ing herself for her carelessness,an dread
ing 70 meet and disapoint her little child
1t was quite dark when she reached her
OVID door. The coal had been delivered,
and little Minnie had built a nice fire, and
tidied up the room, so as to have nothing
to do but examine and admire her new
shoes when they came. AS her mother
entered, she ran to meet her, her little
face aglow with anticipated happiness
How it wrung that poor mothers heart.
AS Minnie looked III her mo6her's face she
exclaimed with quivering lips
"Oh. mamma, there are no shoes for
me %
''No Minnie 7 have lost the money, and
my darling will have to wait till mamma
earns more" Seeing the look of anguish
in her mothers face, the child choked
down her grief and tried to be brave and
cheerful
"Never mind, mamma, can sit by the
window and deck the church with ever
green's, and that will be almost as good
az walking out ;" Mrs. Gray raised her
eyes and sighed az she thought Of the
money that would be expended In load.
ing the Christmas tree for the rich mems
children, when almost in the very shadow
of that church her child had not the com
mon necessities of life.
Christmas morning dawned bright and
CHEEKY. Minnie awoke early and kissing
her mother said,-
q know something good is going to
happen, for dreamed Santa Claus brought
me some new shoes" How her little eyes
sparkled with gIadness.
While they were eating breakfast, Mr.
Leighton, a young man for whom she had
sewed, called,and seeing the nearly naked
feet of the little one, exclaimed, =" What,
no shoes, Minnie, this cold day. This will
never do" Mrs Gray blushed as she &C
knowledgcd her poverty, and told him of
losing her money. Il seemed good to
have some one 80 tell her troubles to