The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-18
Little Winie's Merry Christmas.

How the wind did blow Swimming
round and hoarsely whistling down the
chimneys, bowling in the tree-tops,
itself out for the moment, then gather
ing strength once more it ragged and
raved against the little weather beaten
cottage where Willie lived with his
grandmother, as though it were bound
to blow the roof off this time, and no
mistake
Snow, too. You had better believe it
was showing Blowing, drifting, hur-
rying, skurrying, heaped over the
fences, loaded on the boughs, whirled
by the savage blast against the cottage
door and little winking windows, from
which the candlelight and freight
cleaned like a pair of glow-worms left
over by some mistake from summer
time. But it was warm and comforta-
BILE inside'that little kitchen. Grandma
sat beside the wood fire knitting the
everlasting blue stocking that seemed
to be always doing and never done,
while Willie on the opposite sat think
ing intensely, with his blue eyes watch
ing the embers as they fell.
Grandma, he said at last, Grand
ma. this is Christmas Eve, isn't it 2"
Christmas Eve, dearie," responded
her cheerful voice.
81 saw such big turkey" continued
the boy, "goiHg into Tom fuckers
house, and crauberries and a ham
and Tom says that his mother made
twenty mince pies. I wish we had a
mince-pie."
Ct wish we had, dear"
"What are we going to have for din
ner, grandma"
The pleasant old face grew shade
less cheerful as she answered, "Noth-
ing very grand, ! am afraid, dear, but
we must try to be contented. If neigh
Dor Goodhue had not sent us the load
of wood we would have been cold
enough this wild night. and surely God
will not forget my Willie. He will put
it into some ones heart to provide for
the orphan, never fear."
The boy SAT silent again, thinking,
then he said: Grandma, if father
hadn't run away from mother and me,
we shouldn't be so poor, should we?"
"No, Willie.
cit was ever so long ago, when was
a baby, wasn't il ?"
"Only six months old, Willie, and
Margaret, your mother, never held W
her head afterward; she just dropped
and faded like broken flower, an6
soon left you TO me, poor orphan
baby"
"He was q wicked man to leave us
a bad, wicked man !" cried Willie, in
dignantly, his blue eyes flashing in thu
blaze.
"Hush, Willie. II is Christmas Eve
the eve before the glorious day which
brought peace OF earth, good will to
ward men, We must forgive and for
get"
Here the logs fell in with a louc
crash, scattering i've Goals all over tn
hearth. Willie Jumped up to brusl
them back with the old turkey-wine
then, looking up, be said: Let m
put on one more stick, grandma.
"I'm afraid we can't afford it, Willie
besides it is almost nine o'clock, an
that is bedtime. F"
"Well, I'll 60. It's no use to han
up my stocking. l suppose" and til
boys lip quivered.
"Why, Willie, what happened la'
Christmas ?"
ooh, yes! the minister's wife CAV
me the red mittens, and Tom Tucker
mother sent apples"
"And the beautiful horn OF cand.
and the orange from the Christmas TIRE
at the Sunday-school." added his CRANE
mother.
why, to be sure" said Will
cheering up. Maybe I'll get SOM
thing this time, too. | tell you wha
Grandma, I'll 60 to bed, and be aslet
in five minutes, to make Christina
come quicker" Hugging her, al
fondly kissing her withered cheeks, Il
little fellow ran of, and was soon
his trunile-bed in the small lean
room, the only other room the cottaI
contained.
For once in his life Willie could n
90 to sleep in five minutes. He Il
warmly tucked up in his patchwo
quilt, his blue eyes wide open, listenii
10 the wind roaring away outside.
Hank it is saying something to hi