The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-17

room anywhere, but, so far as they could SEE
fire and light and abundance. Window
filled with bread and cakes and pies; maj
kets OverhOwing on the very sidewalk
with meat and vegetables that thes
hungry babies did not even know the name
OF. Confectioners' windows heaped wit
dainties in pink and white and amber, an,
frosted wonders that made your mouth waite
only to look at; windows glowing with grea
pyramids of golden oranges, shining red al
Piles, juicy pears, and grapes like clusters Q
pale emeralds. Out of basement window
came delicious whiffs Of roasting, broiling an,
coffee making, and throush doors that opene'
and closed quickly came sounds Of laughter
and now and then of music. SO they wen
on and on, looking, and wondering, and chat
tering, and really forgetting they were COLI
and hungry, and running away
Once, when . policeman spoke roughly K
them, they went through short, dark alley
and saw through basement window woman
With hard, heavy hands striking sobbinl
1DcfIs kirl.
Ahs swsy sala Ted, pulling Molly b!
the hand and shaking his iist In the dark q
the cruel woman; "rd like to lick her,
would. Good mind to chuck snowbal
! through the window"
In the very next house, in a room almost as
| poor as their own, a little child in pure
white robe lay upon table, with lighted can
dies, two at her head and two at her feet. Hel
| hands were crossed upon her breast and held
bit of green. She looked very peaceful and
happy, they thought but woman sat by
her, with her head on her arms, and cried
aloud.
By and by their wanderings brought them
to beautiful church. very tall and hand.
some, with broad stone steps and stained
windows that glowed in the light like
great precious stones. They could hear
the sound of voices, children's voices,
singing loud and clear inside, and when
the doors for an instant swung open there
was glimpse of children swarming every
where in their holiday dresses like so many
butterflies. And oh, wonder Of wonders
there were the two splendid trees, the
branches strangely laden and glittering with
light, and then-the doors closed again.
"It's the Christmas tree" whispered Ted,
and half benumbed with cold the little runa-
ways ClOuNHCo III vain SoIHSi NaieihS ioi
another glimpse. Presently the doors were
opened to carry In some long settees, and in
the confusion and running back and forth the
children slipped in and dropped silently into
seat by the door, piled full of chairs and
tables. One man looked doubtfully at them,
but no one ordered them out, SO they watched
with dilated eyes the whole brilliant pageant.
There were songs and speeches and tab
leaux. A lovely little girl, dressed all in
white, with her beautiful hair like a bright
cloud about her head, came out upon the
voice. 1t was called Looking Out and Look
ing In," and this is what it said:
Rosy and warm the freight falls
In the rich mans home tonight,
On the pictures hanging against the walls.
And the children's faces bright.
They have parted the curtains crimson fold
Away from the window high
And their eyes look ont at the whirling snow
And the dull and stormy sky.
Their dainty garments are rich and rare,
Their faces are fair to see,
And the golden CLEAN of their shining hair
IL bright as a crown might be.
And many a stranger stops to smile
AT the picture warm and bright
The beautiful children looking out
On the dark and wntry night.
With tattered garments and faces thin,
Thronsh IT the aee enrtain nittifn eotqa .y.u
The bleak wind tosses their rags in scorn,
Their feet are aching and bare,
While they gaze at the beauty and warmth
within,
And the children's faces fair.
think, as hasten along the street.
OF the beautiful home above,
Where the rich and the poor alike will meet
And share in the Fathers love.
The Lord will open the shining door
And gather His dear ones in,
The rich with their soft and dainty robes,
And the poor with their garments tim.
81 guess she's an angel" said Molly ad-
miringly, but Ted Strengthened up and took
courage at hearing Of the beautiful home
where the rich and the poor are to be gath
cred in and loved alike.
Then came a very sweet old poem called
Little Barbaras Hymn" which tells how the
mother sang at her spinning the words OF
quaint old hymn with this refrain:
whether LC6 steep, or NHcttef tco 0""of
We are His ,ch0 gaze His life for our sake
The poem went on through good many
verses to tell how
Little Barbara, scatchiag the sninning- -arhee1,
And keeping time Oith toe and heel
caught UP the song, and in her childish lash.
ion went singing it through the world. Ano
every verse had the same ending:
Whether we sleep, or whether we wake,
We are His who gave His life for our sake.
Now Ted did not un derstand the poem in
the least. but he had heard great deal about
his soldier father who gave his lie LOT hls
country when Molly was miserable LITTLE
baby. His poor mother had told him OF Il
over and over, and though she couldn't fol
her life see how the country was any bettel
off especially as she and the children always
had plenty before and had been starving eyel
since. still she firmly believed that her hus
hand had died for his country, and saved /
| beyond doubt.
SO when Ted heard the refrain of the bymr
he had no doubt it was all about his father
| and felt proud as hero in his shabby OF
clothes.
| Then began the distribution Of presents
and the happy children as their names wer
called futtered up to the lighted stage ant
received their gifts from the wonderful tree
Molly watched with breathless interest, bu
"a name after name was called her clear eye
began to grow troubled.
"They don't call us, Teddy" she whis
pered, anxiously, "there won't be thini
leftn At last the long list came to an end
tears gathered in Molly's eyes and role
slowly down her cheeks, but just then IN
minister came forward and said:
"Among so many children it Is quite lkei
we may have omitted some one. If any child
name has not been called let him come 1ol
ward now; we have plenty OF presents LETT
"That's us, Molly; come on said Tee
grasping his sisters hand and pushing his ol
hat 90 firmly upon his head that lock OF hal
like little red plume came up through the tor
top. There was moments silence and the
everyone began to stare and smile as the tw
queer little figures made their way up Tn
aisle and through the well-dressed crowt
right up on the lighted platform.
please, sir" said Ted, looking as bold as
lion, they didn't call us; we hain't had mar
thing, mem Molly"
Somebody laughed; I think it was cir
not an iil-natured laugh, but one OF thos
merry little giggles that bubble over OF the
own accord, and everybody else joined il
The young folks because they felt jolly an
were just spelling for something to laugh
and the older ones because their eyes wei
full of something that blinded them and the
throats full Of something that choked then
and il they had not laughed they must ce
tainly have cried.