Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-05-08

tracted ~shopkeepers were trying to
make n pair of hands do the work of
ten. Family men were hurrying home
with delightfully."- suggestive parcels I'M
der their arms, in their oyercoat-pockets,
and swinging from their fingers. Chill
dren were spending the boarded pennies
of a month.
At one of the gay windows of a large
toy-shop two children we're standing.
who attracted the eyes of Ralph and Tom
at once by their little faces. They were
neatly dressed in blue, with blue hoods
round their golden curls, but their
clothes were of coarse materials, and
carefully patched and darned. Wooden
mittens covered their fingers, and coarse
boots their feet.
"Did you ever see such angelic
faces ?" said Tom, softly. "Come near
er."
Drawing nearer, they heard the oldest
of the children, a demure little damsel
of eight years, say gravely:
eff only Santa Claus knew we had
moved, sister, he might come yet"
Ono, nurse said he couldn't because
mamma was sick, Minnie"
"But when she gets well?"
"Then it won't be Christmas. 1t
won't be much like Christmas now with
out Santa Claus, will it ?"
Who is that talking about me ?" said
Tom, in a gruff voice; "who is talking
about Santa Claus"
cob! oh p cried the children, look
ing up.
"But you amt Santa Claus" said
Minnie. "He is ever so old"
"That's my father. He's awful busy
tonight, so he sent me to find some of
his pets and I was to look especially
for Minnie-Minnie- what was the
name %
"Minnie Wentz !" cried the child,
eagerly land this is sister Ellie !"
Ralph! Ralph for Heavens sake
bear up!" cried Tom, as his friend
reeled against him, as if fainting. Come
inside"
Grasping Minnie with one hand, and
half carrying Ralph with the other, Tom
pushed his way into the crowded store.
The shock of the discovery was but mo-
mentary, and once inside the store,
Ralph drew the eldest child to him, while
g~ood-natured Tom took Ellie to make
purchases.
odd you say your name was Minnie
Wentz ?" asked Ralph, taking the child's
hands in his own.
Eyes, sir"
"And your papa andmamma-are they
dead?"
Papa was drowned when I was a lit
tie girl, but mamma is only sick"
Where do you live?"
"1n Blocker street. Nurse said we
might come to see the stores, if I took
care of Ellie"
"But you have been in New York ever
since papa was drowned ?"
"Oh no, sir. Mamma made cloaks,
and we lived in Boston, but she came
here to make cloaks too, for the gentle
mans other store here. Nurse takes
care OF us when mamma is out, but she
Is sick now. Oh, if you please, sir,
can't 1 go to Santa Claus too?"
Scarcely able yet to realize the happi-
ness which seemed so near him, Ralphled
the child to where Tom was loading Ellie
with toys, and carrying on a laughing
conversation in his assumed character.
Ralph, old fellow" he said, kindly,
"they are yours. Don't carry that
deathly face to your wife! Your wife
Dear old boy, don't look so bewildered.
1t is all true [ am going for a car
rage, while you see to the little ones.
He dashed out as he spoke, and Ralph
stood trying to steady his brain, listen
ing to Ellie as she gravely informed her
sister that "Santa Claus bought two of
everything, one for you and one for me,
and he is going to buy some grapes for
mamma. And o, Minnie, only think
he's going to find papa!"
"He can't; papa is drowned-deadI '
said Minnie. "Mamma wouldn't cry
about him, and wear a black dress, if he
could come down the chimney at Christ
mas like a toy. Don't be silly, Ellie"
she added grandly, and then Ralph
laughed out.
They were really flesh and blood chill
dren after all, and Ellie was not dead.
Oh, could he bear the overwhelming
Joy, the swelling rapture in his heart?
The arrival of the carriage and Tom
a signal for leaving the toy store,
and while the little ones piled in their
treasures, Tom spoke gravely to Ralph
Remember, Mrs. Wentz is sick" he
said, "and, may be, cannot bear a sud-
den surprise. My little friend tells me
there is a nurse. We will see her first
The clearinghouse was soon found,
and the children sent up stairs to display
their presents and send the nurse down.
All doubt vanished when the woman
stood in the doorway.
MARTHA" said Ralph, "do you know
me?"
"Mr. Wentzl It is Nh. Wentz p cried
the amazed woman.
eyes, it is T." and he told again the
story already written here. "And
now" he added, "tell me how Mrs.
Wentz was discharged from the hospi-
tai"
"She was never in an hospital The
story you heard must have been about
some one else of the same name, sir.
When we heard of the loss of the La
brador, my mistress almost died but
there were the children, sir, to be taken
care OF, so she looked about for some
thing to do. Mr.. e. was boarding
In the house; he went to wait for Won