The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-12-25

could leave them. The night before Chris
60 out and see the shops and toys, and sh
could. They wandered ON hand In han,
now stopping to admire some beautif,
toy, again some wsrm-looking garment {
happy child, until they at last paused, an
Nellie spoke: I'VE never shall have
Christmas any more, Sammy" while HI
plaintivc voice quavered in the endeayt
to keep down her tears as she looked
the bakers window, where the temptin
dainties were displayed, while the bias
Of light made Sammy's little form loo
thinner than before, and his rags sho,
palmer.
"Oh, Sammy, l wish we could hav
Just . little of that gingerbread,
wouldn't ask anything nicer, but no,
we'll never have anything good an
more"
perhaps you will, Nellie. Twill 60 i
and tell the baker how hungry we ar,
and maybe he will give us some"
mo, Sammy, don't you know mAsAm
told US never to begs"
"Yes, Nellie, but she don't know no,
hungry We are. She is never hungry, 20
know"
"Yes, Sammy, I know she says 20, but
think she is hungry sometimes and tell
US that 30 we needn't feel bad. Don
you know yesterday, when there wcr
only two potatoes aud one piece of bread
she gave It all to us, and said she WASH
hungry, and we ate it all up? Sammy,
saw her eating the peels and crumbs al
terward. Oh! it is too bad, isn't it, Sam
myy
The golden head dropped. q great sol
heaved the little Breast AID bright tear
fell fast from the shy violet eyes, unit
Sammy put his arms around his sister,
neck, and consoled her with prediction
of better days.
At last they grew tired Of stsndin,
there, and were about starting home, whel
q group Of weli.dressed children passed
by, and handed Sammy a package 0
candy, which he gave to Nellie, saving
SHOW we are going to have Christina as
tool"
"Oh, Sammy" said Nellie, this doe.
taste nice. 1t just seems like the goot
old times fore papa died. and we rot &c
poor. think it's awful - Et SD poor
and never have ehUugn TO eat or be rea
warm@aoh't you, Sammy! Why, Sammy
you gave me all the candy. Here! take
half again, you good brother!'
WELL" said he, eating it, s'it is GOOD
but I'd rather have good piece of bread
and butter. think you are right, Nellie
and its awful to be poor, for everybod,
kicks you when you ask for work, JUS
cause your clothes is ragged. / could dc
good deal of work If anybody would
hire me; but 1 am so little, and thin, anG
they only say, get out, you beggar p"
II know it: let's 60 home, Sammy. I'm
cold, and it's no use looking here any
longer. We can't have any of the good
things, and don't believe we ever will
any more. wish I were dead and with
papa and God. l guess we could have los
Of ginger bread and good things there. y
And with this expression of new ideal
heaven, the forlorn little ones turned
home. Nellie chartered on, but Sammy
set his teeth hard to keep from shiverine
with the cold, and they soon reached theiT
home.
The mother was waiting for them by
the scanty fire, with her baby of two years
in her lap. Her last cent had been ex.
pended in the supper, meager as it was,
that now awaited the two little ones, for
whose footsteps she listened. Silent tears
were dropping thick and fast on the little
head that was clasped to her bosom, for
she felt that the time would come soon
when she must leave them forever. But
she did not know how very soon that sum.
mons was to come.
At last she hears the steps of the chill
dren, and hastily dries her tears lest they
see her weep. Nellie ran up to her. saw.
ing, Mamma, oh, we saw SO many nice
things. wish we could have q Christ
mas; can we, just little one, mamma ;
not to cost much money!"
Darling, you should if I could; but
don't you know mamma is very poor?
Perhaps New Years it won't be SO bad. /"
"Well, mamma, if God loves us, why
lon't He member US now when we amt
got anything hardly to eat, nor any
money? think He might member us
1ow."
Don't say that, darling; He does love
Is, and we have got something to eat
Here are two nice roasted potatoes and
bun for each of you; come, my pets"
II don't want any, mamma" said Sam.
ny, who remembered what Nellie told
him; II am not hungry bit"
Ibid you have something's"
Eyes; I had candy; so just you eat
hese; don't want them"
The mother choked with tears as she
penetrated this flimsy artifice, but as he
leld out stoutly, at his urgent request she
tie little. Finally the little ones were
,ut to bed, and after Nellie and Charlie
we're asleep, Sammy rose up on his elbows
md said Mamma, do dogs and cats
lave souls ~
No, my son."
as it wicked for them to steal when
hey are hungry"
"No, dear, l think not, as they cannot
Know any better"
Mamma, was wishing tonight that
was a dog or a cat, SO 1 could .,eai
when got chance when l we. nunvrv
Then, too, suppose I wor:I,dn,t feel an
'ad when you and Nes..Iiie and Charlie
we're hungry, becs.ase wouldn't know
nough; and l Just wish I was one. 80
here now,". and he ended with doieful
ry.-
Don't talk so, Sammy"
VI don't care, mamma; everybody's
log is fed better than we are;" and then
he sprang from the bed as she fell to the
floor, the warm, red blood rushing over
he pale lips.
All alone were the three children in
That house; no neighbors to come in, or
no friendly hand to help the dying wo-
man or the frightened children, and
piteous walls of childish fright rang out
on the night air. Sammy tried to calm
The little ones, while he listened to the
last faint words of his mother. At last
hey fell asleep, and he sat by her side,
with his little hand clasped in hers, and
listened to her, and the loving, earnest
counsel thus given will ever remain in
his heart of hearts till the day Of his
1eath. She talked necessarily all those
ong, weary hours, her mind wandering
back to her childhood's home, now to her
Early married life, and again to her girl
hoods sweet dream of love. Every little
Incident of her life came to her lips in
hose last holy hours, and then she slept.
When the dull, gray Christmas morn
ng began to show in the East, and the
leathly chill that everyone who has
watched by sick bed feels - the morn.
ng breaks, came to poor Sammy, he saw
=