The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-12-27

pebble, its father differing with Shaks |
peare, and believing that there is much
in a name; and that the young David,
as he grew in years, would be able TO
slay every giant that might stand in his
path.
In due time the father departed on
his great expedition for wealth-to be
gone he could not tell how long. He
promised his wife, amid the sorrows and
tears of parting, that he would write to
her often. and that he would send the
means to keep her and the babe in COM
fort.
Two letters came weekly for a few
months after Harry's departure, and
each one abounding in language of the
most ardent affection for Katy and the
blue-eyed boy. But in those days, be-
tween the States and California, the
mails were very irregular, the country
was wild and unsettled, and finally the
letters ceased entirely, and Katy heard
no more from her husband.
The means he had left for her support
gradually diminished, and Katy, who
was an orphan living with distant rela-
tives at the time she was married, was
too proud to call upon her friends for as
sistance, and when her supply of funds
was entirely expended, she applied at
the manufactures, and the stores, and
| the shops for wing.
| In a city like Cincinnati, crowded with
poor class of sewing girls eager for
work, even at the lowest wages, employ
ment is hard to obtain. And so Mrs
Window found it, and it looked possible
that she and her g Davy "-as she now
called him, in spite of fate and prophecy,
would soon be compelled to starye.
Little by little her jewelry went for
means of support, then pieces of furni-
ture followed; and she was compelled to
move into a humble tenement house,
renting two scant rooms, and living on
oatmeal porridge, before she at last OBJ
tanned work. When it came, however, it
was not much; but it sufficed to pay
her rent, buy cheap clothing, and fur
nish a very unostentatious meal for her
and little Davy.
On the gloomy day before Christmas
at the opening of our story, we find Mrs.
Window and little Davy together, living
in the two rooms we have spoken of.
One was used as a bedroom and the
other as living room for the mother and
the companion of her privations.
Poor as Katy Window was, she had al
ways followed that old-fashioned, pleas
ant happy home-like custom of having
the stockings hung up on Christmas eve,
so that little Davy might wake up on
Christmas morning, and wondering over
the mystery of the great and good Santa
Claus, take the sweetmeats and toys
from their receptacle at the chimney
side, and be happy-yes, very happy-at
least one day in the year.
And the occasion was one of great hap
piness, too, to the poor mother. Her sons
gladness reused the slumbering embers Of
l-joy, and of memory, in her bosom. The
days of her own happy childhood came
back, ere yet Death had taken from hel
the relations that were near to her heart
and broken to fragments the endearing
ties that made happy the home of hel
parents.
Littly Davy, as the night grew OF
apace, this Christmas eye, cheered hi
mothers heart by talking of Christina:
and Santa Claus, and wondering whar
good things the venerable bearded frient
of innocence and virtue would bring t.
him in the night. His joyous, childlik'
prattle cheered her spirits greatly, anf
as she breathed quietly prayer that he
boy might always, always be as happ.
as tonight, and that no worse bligh
than that of poverty might mar his life
she added to her aspirations the wisl
: that some word might soon come to he
r of her husband and his safety ant
t happiness.
: Amid all these five years of suferin
: and destrtution, she had never lost fait
L. L
l was alive any where on the earth, sh
e would hear of him in time, that he woul
e come at last to comfort her, for his sou
s was full of truth.
e And then little Davy, for wonder
! too, spoke of his father, Whose nam
$ he had not before mentioned for Ions
!, long time. Davy loved his father. A
though he was just born when his fathe
! left, yet as soon as he had grown oil
!, enough to understand, his mother ha
Il made him acquainted with his father
r character, and had taught him to loy
y him, and tohope and pray for his return
Mamma" said Davy, do you thin
. Sandy Claws will bring little Wagon
y and drum, and a rocking horse, an
> lots O candy and good things down tn
chimney tonight p
4 81 don't know, my darling" said Mr.
e Window, "whether he will bring you
o little wagon and rocking horse, but
" am sure, you have been such good be
. this year, that he will bring you SOM
g thing nice. He is always kind to goo
q boys in some way"
# "And, mamma, if Sandy Claws is
e good and kind to nice little boys ar
!. their mothers, why won't he bring pal
to us, who has been away so Ions
3 Every Kismas have witten letters
D. Sandy Claws, and sent 'em up the CHR
[; ney, and asked him to send papa to L
rt and he don't pay no attention. No,
you wife plain letter so he can res
,s it, and sign Davy Window to it, and s
~ if he won't send papa, and the 9th
D. good things. Won't you, mammaT'
[e "Why, darling" said Mrs. Windol
le and the tears came to her eyes, " hasr
er Santa Claus always answered your le
r ters, and sent you pretty presents? La
ir year he sent you a sugar drum, and
" little dog that barked, and pile of nj
10 candy, and pair of good shoes al
stockings, and comfort and a hat.'''
y, eyes" said Davy; but I asked hi
z; to send papa, and he didn't do it.
De want to see my dear papa you have to
es me so much about, and who you sa
n would take us out of these old room
ty and give us Kismas day all the time"
al Mrs. Window could no longer restra
to her tears, and she almost sobbed as h
or boy prattled on in his innocence.
d. "What do you ky for, mamma ?'
IN "Only, my darling, that Santa Clal
Id L fear, will bring every thing but papa
But you said you thought he wou
n. come some time," said Davy, his lit
ey features beaming with earnest Low
IT, "and if Sandy Claws is such good ma
ir and knows so much, and travels all abo
ir the world everywhere, why can't he t
tn and see papa while he's going about, al
a. bring him right home again? l knt
cee he will if you will wife letter
ed him for me-"
n Well, my little blue-eyed babe,
will write for Won Now wbo+ &c II W.