The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-22
MISCELLANY.
"A MAN AND BROTHER :"
AUNT HETTYs CHRISTMAS FEAST

Once upon a time, and very near Christ
mas time, little ragged beggar ratified
lat certain area gate on the apex of
.Snob's Hill. Now Kate, the cook, was
like certain dog we know her bark
would make each separate hair stand up
'''like quills upon fre:ful porcupine,"
albeit her bite was a touching thing to
experience. With characteristic ferocity
she flung up the sash:
''Fhat wud yez be after wantin'. ye
.dirthy, ragged, shnivcllin, lazy sphalpeen!
Lave 20 the gate, will yes, an git o the
yar-rud or I'll send for policeman an
have Vez arrested for warrant that yez
are!''
so, if you please, Miss, I only want to
see Aunt Hctty, and Papa said was to
go right up to her roomr' pleaded the
little creature piteously.
''Worra! worra! Did liver yez hear
the likes o that!' calculated Kate.
''Look at the rags iv her, an the tags iv
her, and nary a shoe to the feet iv her,
an ner face aspurple as me ould flannel
petit ycoat, and thin as the sowl iv my
-ould slipper, an hear her askin' to 60 up
to me lady's chamber as grand as the
goosey -gander iv the lott An is it one
" me lady's Poor.House folk yez be! I
faith, an it's like the grattytude iv yez
horse power con8ygrashun, a tryin, to
wake her out in the first wink O. shape
she's had this fhartnight, Shawn fur
the loikes iv yez. Faith ITS not mesilf I'D
wake her for the likes Of ysz ifthe ghoust
ivssBloody Mary stood at the door. It's
nothin' Yell get by hangin' round this
house, for livery 'blissed sowl in t-.barrin'
Aunt Hetty-is out iy it, byin' all the
delicacies " the season for the big Christ
mas Fhaste to morry!' fits hungry yez
be its yersiif that's savin yer appetite fur
that same Fhast, an it's my advice that
we lave off shnivellin an take yersilf out
" the yarrud before the policeman
.comes," accompanying her advice with
penny or two, which the child picked
up with mournful @'Thanks" which
sounded as if her little beggar's heart was
breaking with some beggar's woe.
AS she reached the pavement two
handsome, well.dressed ladies stepped
from their carriage, ran up the steps, and
disappeared within the a1istocratic Snob's
Hill mansion. The vagrant, seized by
some unaccountable impulse, ran after
them SO quickly that she suddenly found
herself within my ladies' chamber, all
breathless and speeches., and unable for
the moment to explain her presence to
the astonished pair. hen she found her
tongue ut last it was to relate the usual
beggar's tale. (
Her papa had once been very rich, and
and lived in beautiful home 'just like
this, ma am, for he told me so one night,
when we we're passing; and he leaned
against the area gate, and cried so hard
and said My little girl, when am
dead and out of the way, it may be
they'll let you come here and live!'
Mercy what audacityD And he took
sick that very night, and now our money
is all gone, there's no fire, and poor papa
hasn't tasted mouthful in two DAYS;
and his poor dear feet are cold as ice, and
he can't speak any more only to whisper
.Hetty! Hetty! Won't some one call
nv Hetty!' And o. dear, good ladies,
won't some of you come and do some.
thing to make poor papa better? I'm
sure if my rapa lived in big house like
this now he would help you if you were
sick and cold and hungry, and so near
Christmas, to, and everybody else is
happy" .., . 81, 49,,
pathos, but only Rosa. the pretty cham.
Der maid, had stayed to listen to It! 1t
was Christmas Eve, and tomorrow the
ssprodigal SON. of the household was ex.
pected home, as he had been expected, o,
how vainly, for many a long y ear; and
both the ladies were so busi]y employed
killing the Stated calf against his coming
that neither hada moments timeto waste