The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-26
Hungry on Christmas Day.

Two children played lovingly ant
merrily at table near, her room was
: unusually pleasant and comfortable
f looking, her own dress and chlldreTs
good and suitable-tnere seemed no
cause for the look of sad and weary
care upon her face-but this little
woman was one who loved her neighboI
ana consciously lived lor others, and
these were her Thoughts:
81 have not seen my young neighbors
for nearly week until to-day, ana then
the husband looked so pale and thin! ]
fear tney are In trouble, aud yet | hardly
| dare venture in. GA, Llis life in large
cities is crueli Where they pack us, SO
| utter strangers, in separate rooms al.
Joining, and We know nothing OF eacn
otherI Oar neIghbOrs on the other side
OF the partition may b3 dying Of grief,
| and loneliness, or want, while we are
careless and gay, until some morning
the JanitOr comes in with scared lace
to say that the man in the next room is
dead-dIed In tue night alOne-nis body
les there on the otner side of the wall
Oh, it is too hOrribleI Such a thing hap
pened once in this house before l came
to 1t. IL must not happen again! L Will
get paid to-day for this picture, and when
| the children are asleep l VIII run round
to the market and buy turkey with all
the aucompaniments,a and then Will in-
vite MIR, and Mrs. Wilson to eat with US
tomorrow, and l Will learn If they are
in trouble"
Inspired by kindly thoughts, she
worked faster than ever, and soon the
last touch was gently placed, the mIn1a-
ture rigldly scrutinIzed, and with sat
lefed smile wrapped up. Then telling
| the children to get their coats and hats,
| nj hnS n the nh n
togIaph gallery. Only one young clerk
was there, having been LETT in charge
| while the others went home earlier than
usual.
"Mr. Poser expected you," said he,
"and told me-, wnen you brought his
wile's picture, to smut up The place and
| bring it TO his house. Said he knew
| you wouldn't disappelnt hlm-you never
| do"
"Where is the house, Johnnie9 l
might take it mysell-and get paid"
she added, mentally.
"Up in Fortieth street-but you hadn't
better take it, Mrs. LUnox, lor he has
marty tonight, and live near there"
"Very well, Johnnie; don't undo the
package; il you take it from the box, it
mi gnt yet broken"
I "Ou, Pll look out. Merry Christmas,
Mrs. LenoX; l won't see you to-mor-
row."
"Merry Christmas, Johnnie; l shall
not forget you on the 18th" Sue turned
sadly away and went slowly home with
me children, trying TO share their en-
joyment OF the brilliantly beautiful shop
windows, whore 80 many things were dis
played tnat she would like TO own. But
she scarcely thought of that, her disap-
polntmeuJ in not getting Lne expected
u IN hnH mir n b,,,
plans, for now no turkey could be
bought.
"Laugh, mamma, laugh. DON'T be so
still" cried out little Berthe, as he
glanced up at her sad face. The mother
smiled to please him, tender, loving
smile, such as an angels face might
wear. and both the cAiluren laughed
outright.
Dear iunooents. They know nothing
of lie's trials and disappolntments.
Neither shall they know. l have al
ways made them nappy, and viii still
do 30, whether we have Christmas din
ner or noL!'
New energy animated her, she Joined
with her darlings in admlring beautiful
and wonderful toys, books ana all the
various holiday gifts 30 temptingly dis
played, and only took them home when
tuey were ready. AS She helped little
BERTHE up the long, tedious Nights OF
stairs that led TO their two rooms, while
Madge tripped lightly on ahead, she met
Mrs. Wilson, her neighbOr, coming down,
and exchanging a pleasant gre otlng, saw
that the Young WiLe's eye-iashes were
vat with tears, while her voice sounded
uunaturally cheerful.
So the artist, who had been young
wife herself, once, and was now pa
tient, quiet little widow, fell planning
again as soon as she had given the chill
dTeu their supper, and after merry
game of romps put them to bed.
"Only one dollar beside The money for
rent" she signed, "and four meals TO
provide before l can see Mr.. Poser.
We'll, l nave some stores IN the pantry;
| viii see what there is, and then go to
market. l must manage TO share my
dinner with my poor nelglDors-at least
to invite them-or | shall be troubled all
day. How glad | am tnat bought gifts
for the children three weeks since, when
they were cheaper and l had the money;
now they AT least will not be uetrauded
OF their expected enjoyment on Christ
mas dayW
Among other lessons which The yicis-
STUDIES of lie had taught this brave
little woman, was That Of The true art OF
COUkery--hOW to PROVIDE delicious
meal from cheap and simple materials;
so when she mad looked through her
pantry she tripped off TO market with
sell-saLshed and happy smile, as ii she
had been going 10 buy tue largest turkey
and best bunch OF celery TO be lounu
| there, though her basket was small and
her purse held only one dollar.
The Wilson's, her tneighbors, occupied
but one room, which was warmed by
| fire in large open CRATE, and Mrs. LenoX
knew that the young vie was accus-
| toned to cook simple breakfast by
| this fire, every morning, but for TWO
mornings past there haQ been no fra
GRANGE OF beefsteak and coffee, or any
other good Thing, coming through the
cracks OF the nailed-up door that led
from her pantry into their room, and
| could not help fearing they were living
very frugally.
SO, on Christmas morning Mrs. LenoX
i went with her children to bid the neigh
| bors "Aierry Christmas" ana when the
| Wilson's door was opened, one quick
glance showed her that no cooking mad
been done that day nor was likely TO be.
The husband sal by the window look
ing out, While she was sewing near q
very small, caretully-Duilt fire.
| Both responded politely to her greet
ing, but they looked pale and sad.
| the artist hurried back to her room
and wrote friendly little note inviting