The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-12-25
lWutrn ml lhe DALLAS iinRlol
LITTLE D ! M
A 0HRIsTMAs sTOnY,
pynpLsN HEArlL

into ils spirit and enjoy lIs festivities
My story, however Is Of q northern
Christmas time,
II was growing dark on tho sith of
December and was fast approaching
the Christmas eve, The afternoon had
been dark and gloomy, aud about three
o'clock II began showing, Away up IN
the top story Of one Of those large ten
aments which abound IN Now NoIN
city, u little pale lace was pressed
against the dlngy window pane, eager-
~ watching tho snow'llakes M they
fell, Nearly all the afternoon had that
little pale, pathetic face been thls oe'
oupied, hut no one saw H. Not one OF
the hurrying ppssers'by ever thought
Of looking up 80 high, and beside the
day was cold aud raw, aud everybody
had enough to do TO keep themselves
warm aud attend TO their business, for
thut more than pleasure, had taken
| lllNll NNNI lilll Al'NNA 'N'''f''f'''
llresldes that cheerlesa afternoon,
At length the lamp-llghtor began his
task, aud the gOa'lght fell brilliantly
upon the snow which now had gained
ground enough, In spite OF trNmpllng
feet, to cover Tho sidewalks with n
mantle of whltc-and still Tint child
lsh hco was pressed against the WIN
dow IN that attitude Of patient waiting
30 strange for child.
Presently there was II quick, firm
step on the STAIR u CHEEKY whistle, aud
il In the darkness one could have seen
II, radiant with cXpectant joy for, 20
poor, little Jim, this was the best hour
Of the day, when hIs only friend come
home from his work,
"Ah, Jim, little man, IN the dark"
and the little figure was lifted most
tcuderly from the high chair and
swung nl0ft 10y strong arms, aud then
carefully seated again, while the lamp
was lighted, the Goals raicd down, md
the fire rcplenlshcd.
"Now, Jim, guess what weer going
to have for supper? This Is Christmas.
Ere, Jim, give good guess guess the
best thing you know"
"Ohl know, know, Tom; lis
oystcrsl -
"Rlght, Jim, right, the first time.
III put you against all the Yankees
know for guessing
eyes, Tom but you told me to guess
the best thing knew, and that's oys.
ters," said little Jim, in II tone that
settled that matter beyond II shadow OF
doubt. '1'our dozen, Jim, lovely ones,
the biggest could find, were stewed lind
fried. Wen be eXtravagant tonight,
jim, for Christmas don't come but
once year, and then, after supper,
am going to take you out with me to
buy turkey for to-morrow'S dinner !
wen go TO the market, Jim. Oh but
they have ii fixed gay, and then wen
go up the avenue and look at the win
dowS and see the Santa Claus dairy,
and it's showing, Jim but Jim won't
that be jolly ?" Jim's little pale face
lighted up with rapture, and he clap
ped his thin hands together with glee,
and said "You bet, Tom," and never
did slang seem more incongruous com.
ing from that delicate child, but never
did ii seem so expressive.
While this strangely assorted pair
are eating their supper, and to keep
the hungry reader from hankering Of
ter the same, | will give you II bit of
their past history.
Ten years back from the period of
this story Tom lived on n farm not
many miles distant from New York
city. He had worked OUT almost
from the time lie could remember; first
as "chore boy" and then as "farm
hand,n for he was an orphan, and
knew no relatives NJ all. At the last
farm he lived destiny had met him in
the lovely daughter OF the farmer for
whom he worked She was Il radiant
maiden of seventeen, and inspired
Tom'struly loyal and loving heart with
one of those deep, absorbing passions
which only rare natures are capable OF.
He WAS rather n har dsome fellow, too,
with laughing black eyes and tossing
black locks, but he stood poor chance
beside polished "city chap as the
farmer called him (ior he termed Toms
suit who had somehow discovered the
lover of this lovely girl.
Tom could not remain to see his idol
given to another, so he betooll himself
to the city, with the vague hope, per-
haps, of acquiring that outward polish
he had seen successful when he knew
he was the better man of the two.
Years passed, aud he heard no more
OF his blue-eyed Susie, except that she
had married the New Yorker and re.
moved to the city.
Tom remained in the city, learned n
trade, and became an excellent work
man but his fellow-workman said he !
had strange fancies, that he keps him
self aloof He lived alone, kept "bache-
lor's hail." as they call it; he hated
boarding houses, such as he could af-
ford, instnctively, and he did his own
cooking and his own work, and devot-
ed his evenings to study aud reflection.
One evening II dirty little girl knock
ed at his door, and asked him to please
step across the hall to the back room,
IL L L