The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-01-01

refuse that swept by, and whose sweet
smelling steam enveloped her in
warmth.
She was lying upon the curb-stone,
feeling and inhaling this steam, one
Christmas Eve, when Miss Mary Rus
sell, one of the teachers in a large Mis-
sion Sunday School, hurrying past the
! brewery, untitled in soft furs, nearly
! stumbled oyer the PROSTATE little figure.
1t was a clear, starlight evening, early
yet, though after lamplight, but very
cold: and the lady stopped, sickened
with the sight of this atom slivering in
scant calico dress, a ragged cloak and
hood, b~arefooted, and with a thin
| white face, which was all distorted by
crying.
"Chiid! child :" che said, "what are
| YOU doing here?'
81 ant dom no harm," Dot an
swercd. s%crambling to her feet. cit
feels good, and Tn cold"
"Cold 4. I should think so. Where
is your home?"
"Mammy's mad cos pop he's on a
spree and ant got no money. She's
waiioped NE twice, and I ant had a
bite to-day. so l sneaked ont to warm
! ne here. 1 often comes, but [ don't
90 no harm
"Wil you come with me where you
can have some feod and clothes ?"
Dot was Wiling enough, and put a
haul ike a birds claw into Miss Rus
cells. It was Christmas Eve, as | have
said, and the teachers of the Sunday
school were preparing tree and 4 treat
OF rice things tG eat for the little ones
under tisir charge. It was no novelty
10 see Guy ct them entering, with little
ragged children: but Dots face was SO
utterly wa1 and white that several Of
the ether ladies' gathered around her as
. he entered tae long room.
q found her shiyering on curb
stone" Miss Russell explained, land
she has evidently escaped from the
crue.t;cs OF druuken parents. We must
cIothe and feed her to night, and to-
morrow I VII see if she : 4 case for
til" Home
"Wiat is our name dear asked
one q tha +nachers. gently removing
tbe ta.taaed cloak.
"Dot, Please ma'am, don'ttakethat
ere. Tufrocze to death # You DO"
"Wc want 10 put some warmer clothes
n yon, Dot" was the reply; and the
little Il was tenderly lifted il motherly
arms, md carried by Mary's mother
into a little ROOM, where a great basket
] Of clothing stood ready for distribu-
ton.
The little waif was full Of wondering
awe. Never in her short life had she
seem such rooms rs these she was in.
Never had her rags been taken from her
poor little shivering body by such soft
hands never had cool ointment touched
the great sores on her back, the chill
blains on her feet and hands never had
tears fallen upon her tangled hair. or
kisses on her wondering face.
Gently, as if she were a kings
daughter, she was washed, and cloth
! cd in warm garments, her tangled hair
cut and brushed, and a warm wooden
! hood tied over it her feet chafed ten
lerly, warmed and bound mp in soft
linen, and then covered with loose
wooden socks and easy shoes.
And while she was being dressed a
low, sweet voice was telling her that
she was TO see a Christmas tree. Once,
a whole long year ago, Dot had heard
one OF the many children, who swarmed
IN the wretched street where she lived,
tell of a Christmas tree. He had seen
it from the open door of a church, and
its glories served for many an hours
description when the other children
stood in opcn-mouthed wonder listening
to him.
Vaguely, dreami!y, for the warmth
and comfort were making her drowsy,
Dot tried to recall these descriptions.
She had heard of heaven from the same
boy, who told her that the church door
showed him a place just like heaven,
and she accepted the comparison, as she
did all the rest, in unquestioning belief
and utter ignorance of the meaning of
the word.