The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-02

were hurrying in all directions. Dis
tracted shopkeepers were trying to
make one pair of hands do the work of
ten. Family men were hurrymg home
with delightfully."- suggestive parcels I'M
der their arms, in their overcoat-pockets,
and swinging from their fingers. Chill
dren We're spending the boarded pennies
of month.
AT one of the gay windows of large
toy-shop two children were standing,
who attracted the eyes of Ralph and Tom
Mt 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
odd you ever see such angelic
faces q said Tom, softly. "Come near
er."
Drawing nearer, they heard the Oldest
of the children, demure little damsel
of eight years, say gravely:
"If only Santa Claus knew we had
moved, sister, he might come yet.
"No, 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 p
"Who is that talking about me ?" said
Tom, in grufl voice; "who is talking
about Santa CLAUSE"
"Oh oh !" 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 | was to look especially
! for Minnie-Minnie- what was the
name ?"
"Minnie VENT" cried the child,
eagerly; "and this is sister Ellie y
"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
good-natured Tom took Ellie to make
purchases.
odd you say your name was Minnie
VENT 2" asked Ralph, taking the.child's
hands in his own.
Eyes, sir.
"And your papa andmamma-are they
dead?"
Papa was drowned when was lit
tie girl, but mamma is only sick.
Where do you Gve?"
"In Blocker street. Nurse said we
might come to see the stores, if l took
care of Ellie.
"But you have been in New York ever
since papa was drownedY'
"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 go to Santa Claus too?'
Scarcely able yet to realize the happi
ness which seemed SO near him, Ralph lee
the child to where Tom was loading Ellie
with toys, and carrying on laughing
conversation in his assumed character.
Ralph, old fellow" he said, kindly
"they are yours. Don't carry thai
deathly face to your wife, Your wife
Dear old boy, don't look so bewildered
1t is all true l am going for car
riage, while you see to the little ones.
He dashed out as he spoke, and Ralpl
stood trying to steady his brain, listen
ing to Ellie as she gravely informed hel
sister that "Santa Claus bought two o.
everything, one for you and one for me
and he is going to buy some grapes fol-
mamma. And O, Minnie, only think
he's going to find papa p
"He can't; papa is drowned-dead :
said Minnie. Mamma wouldn't cry
about him, and wear black dress, if he
could come down the chimney at Christ
mas like toy. Don't be silly, Ellie,
she added grandly, and then Ralpl
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 Ton
was a signal for leaving the toy store
and while the little ones piled in theil
treasures, Tom spoke gravely to Ralph
Remember, Mrs. Wentz is sick" h,
said, land, may be, cannot bear sud
den surprise. My little friend tells IN,
there is II nurse. We will see her first.
The clearinghouse was soon found
and the children sent up stairs to displa,
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.. Wentz 1t is Mr. Wentz - criet
the amazed woman.
yes, it is l." and he told again til,
story already written here. "Ant
now," he added, "tell me how Mrs
Wentz was discharged from the hospi
tai"
She was never in an hospital TIL,
story you heard must have been abou
some one else of the same name, sir
When we heard of the loss of the La
brador, my mistress almost died bu
there were the children, sir, to be takei
care of, so she looked about for some
thing to do. Mr.. L was boardin.
in the house; he went to wait for Won
sir, and he had a big cloak house in Bos
ton, where he told Mrs. Wentz he woul,
give her work. Well, sir, she went, an,