American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-12-26

Il wonder how many there are" thought
! She. " How strange that have never asked
her word about them, Her father and
! mother are dead. II seems To me. That's all |
can remember of her affairs. | wish | had
sent those children some Christina. gifts.
They are poor, no doubt, or their sister
| would not be going out To service
| Just then there came 4 knock at the door
| and, there being no maid to drive away the
visitor, the lady obliged to go herself.
! But she had only half crossed the parlor
when the door dew open, and on the threshold
stood Child
"What do YOU want: said the lady. ''You
must have made mistake The Child said
nothing ut first, but stepped swiftly and light
! Is across the room, and before she could divine
what il would do il had thrown back the cur
taius and flung open the blinds. The sun
glanced brightly from snowy roof opposite,
above which glowed the pure blue sky; hut
the lady noticed nothing Of the beauty out
side she amazed at the appearance of
the Child. in whose golden hair she seemed to
| see the sun, and i'll its eyes the azure heavens.
such deep, calm, clear, solemn, laughing in
nocent, brave blue eyes never scen-
| Move them the bright locks flowed back from
! the fair forehead IS though stirred by a per
petual breeze; beneath them the sweet mouth
wore the gladness of infancy, blent with the
| gravity OF age.
Then at last the Child spoke in Il musical
voice, at once contiding and commanding:
"No, have not made mistake; ] want YOU
| Come" And down into the shining, frosty
We rid it pointed.
| Strangely led by Il power she could not re-
sist, the lady wrapped herself in shawl and
/ fIIrS, and, DRAWN" a thick veil over her face.
/ followed down the stairs But at the bottom
the Child, with sudden, gentle force, tore away
| the veil, saving only - Not today" And so
| they went into the street. But in front of the
house the Child paused again and, pointing
at the lower floor, said, Who lives down
stairs y a shoemaker. believe And
I --.f- 7
STEFAN hear him practicin@ sometimes"
What did you give them for Christmas:"
persisted the whimsical Child. . Me: why,
nothing. I don't know them. | never spoke
to them in my life. Why should have any
thing to do with them g suppose you
sent your Christmas presents by the little
maid to the children" continued the Child.
- No." said the lady, sadly, " am all alone in
the world; / give no presents to anybody, and
nobody gives any to me-"
Wait" said the Child; then quickly
sped up the stairs like bright arrow,
to the musicians door, and burst in
sitting with his head in his hands,
feeling more miserable than ever; for
he had a vacation that day, and he didn't
know what to do with it. He was just thinking
that even giving lessons and playing trashy
music was better than this, when the dazzling
Child broke in upon him, out of breath and
smiling, with a bewtching nod and greet
ing, and the words: g Merry Christmas. The
was really remarkable that nobody could OBJ
ject to anything that Child said! In two sec
onds more the wondering musician was on his
way downstairs; and at the front door stood
the lady, to whom he made splendid bow
flor he knew what belonged to good man
ners) }, and said: 80 The compliments of the sea-
son, madam | am proud and happy to wait
upon you"
Meanwhile the brave Child had invaded the
dilgy shop OF the shoemaker. There sat Old
Pegs in his best clothes. but hammering away
at his work He had dressed himself up in
honor Of the day; but he couldn't stand the
ideness and so finally he had said to him
self: What's the odds: it isn't Sunday any
now; and there's nothing for an old hunks
like me to do but to keep pegging." He was
just putting the last touches to pair of chill
drens shoes when the wondrous visitor came
in. "Ah," said the Child, with happy
laugh, you had to work this morning to get
them DONE didn't you? Well, its better late
than never; and there's still time to take
them there. So hurry along; the lady sends |
a Merry Christmas. and the lady is waiting
for YOU"
just as the lady and the musician were be-
ginning to get a little embarrassed, having
already agreed that il was fine day, and that
they were both pretty well, | thank you, the
child made its appearance, more radiant than
ever, bearing the shoes triunphantiy in one
hand, and followed by the shoemaker him
self Pretty business for Old Pegs," he NUT
tered, g but I'm in for it, and l might as well
make good job of it. None of your half
soled work for me!'
Thus it came to pass that of the three sell
fish and unhappy neighbors the shoemaker
was the first to speak frankly. These crusty
people are apt to be hardest on the outside,
and very juicy within; and Old Pegs was,
after all. one Of that kind, though nothing
had broken through his crust for years. |
Now he came out of his den, and, nodding to |
the others, said cheerily:
"A Merry Christmas, neighborS; / suppose |
you are good friends, and l am an old heath |
and never pass kindly word with either of |
you. / don't know how much longer might |
have done it, though, if it hadn't been for |
your pretty Child, ma'am- Bless you, the |
Child thought l WAS making shoes for Il |
Christmas present to somebody!-and | |
was-stingy old sinner.-only l don't exactly |
know who it is!'
There was time to reply, for the Child |
took the shoemaker's hand and led the way |
swiftly down the street. Past many happy |
homes they went, and heard shouts ard |
songs and laughter from within. At last |
they stopped before a poor and rickety dwell
ing, and the Child tapped softly at the door.
1t was opened by the lady's maid, with a
glad smile of recognition for the Child, anda
LOOK of amazement for the rest. II am very
glad to see you, ma'am,' said the little maid
- and you. gentlemen-"
Here the situation was perpleXing; for the
lady didn't know either of the gentlemen by
name, and so she couldn't introduce item,
as of course she ought to; for the little maid,
u
the lady was bound To be polite. But the old
who had been growing jollcr and
j. ,ller every step of the way, solved the Diff
GUILTY in a minute. "Up-stairs and Down
st airs" said Pegs; hes Upstairs and I'm
-. Friends three,
ont on a spree,
Come to
How you be.'h
Then they all laughed, and went into the
it was but one room-which the
little maid called home" The fireplace
was the best part of it; all the rest was old
and bare; but that made glorious by a
roaring great fire of pine chips and blocks.
Before it were a boy and girl, intently
the flames that they did not notice
the arrival of strangers.
Now watch this piece of the old crutch
burn,' said the boy; this is splendid
piece. 1t has been seasoning for years and
besides. He, don't she blaze,
though! / tell you what, Christmas is great
fun"
"Yes," said the girl, Il like the fire, too
1t was real clever of you to think of taking
away the stove and opening the old fire
place; and You took so much trouble TO get
the chips. But the best thin.. about Christ
mas is To have sister at home, isn't it,"
With that they both looked around and
saw that there was company present. This
awful discovery quenched all conversation at
first; but presently the Child slipped the new
shoes into Old Pegs hand, and pointed
silently at the rough, bare feet of the boy.
"Ay, ay,n said the shoemaker, they'll fit. |
Look here, yorngster, here's pair of shoes
for you, from your affectionate uncle, Down
stairs. ~
This was too much for the boys bashful-
ness. That quality is only skin deep in boys |
anyhow; and new shoes are always sure to |