The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-12-27
Bertie's Christmas Eve.

Though BERTHE was as manly little fel-
low as ever lived, he could not keep the
tears back as he tied the old knit COM
forter about his throat with his poor,
blue, half-frozen fingers, making it COW
er as much space on his chill little body
as he could; for it had to serve as an
overcoat as well, and the weather was
freezing cold. There had been SO many
people going in and out of the store all
day that his hands nearly froze to the
plated handles; for Il was the day before
Christmas, and BERTHE was stationed at
the door in one of the large stores on
Sixth avenue. He was too small for
cash-boy, they had told his mother when
she applied to the firm little while be-
fore, with tears in her eyes; but the
busy season was coming, and, for small
consideration, he might tend the door.
Every Saturday night he gave his weeks
earnings to his mother, and then they
went out together and bought few,
very few, necessaries with the money.
They had not always been so poor.
BERTHE could remember very well when
he had warm, handsome clothes, and
had lived in fine house, and had
father as well as mother; but his
father had died, and afterwards all
their things were sold, and they grad
ually became poorer and poorer, until
now they hardly ever had enough to eat,
and were scantily warmed and clothed.
They had no relatives living, though
his mother had often ts'Aed to him
about his Uncle Egbert, her brother,
who, many years before, had gone away
to China. but who had never been heard
of again This had happened about
year ago. and BERTHE had nearly forgot
ten him, he was SO busy, and had SO
many other and sadder things to think
about, poor little boy.
His disappointment on the day before
Christmas happened in this way: He
was not so wise as most of the boys and
girls are nowadays who know every
thing, and until the Christmas of which
I am writing had really believed in Santa
Claus. The Christmas before, his stock
ing was not very full, to be sure, but
still he found something in it, and until
about week before he had been sure
that Santa Claus would bring something
especially nice to his mother and himself,
and it cost his mother an extra heartache
to be obliged to undeceive him. For a
long time after she had told him he sat
meditatively in his little wooden chair
close to the fire until it was time to go
to bed.
81 know" thought he, as he covered
himself up, head and al, with the scanty
bed-clothes. 81 will be Santa Claus my
self. will go and buy mother some
thing with my own money. Perhaps I
shall have few pennies left from Sat
Tlrday night. and they say that Mr.. G.
always gives the boys little something
Christmas eve; so I will get mother a
warm pair of stockings, perhaps, or some
thick gloves" and, with these thoughts,
lie dropped asleep. But, alas every
cent of his wages Saturday had to go for
kindling wood.
Never mind" thought he. "I shall
certainly get something the day before
Christmas"
Fancy his disappointment, then,
when, instead of the expected present,
Mr.. G.. made a speech to all the men
and boys in his employ, telling them that
the times were so hard that he could not
afford to give them any Christmas re-
membrance this year; that he was very
sorry but he could not help it. A great
hard thing came up In Bertie's throat,
and hurt him as he listened, and in spite
of all he could do, the tears would run
out of his eyes down the bridge of his
nose, though he sopped them up so fast
with the corner of his comforter that he
thought nobody saw them.
But he was mistaken. One person
was watching him, and turned and
looked after him as he walked slowly
down the store, rubbing his nose sor-
rowfully.
''See, here, sonny" said he very hur-
riedly, as if he had not a minute to lose:
Mr.. Paine give me 10 cents this morn
ing, as he knowed we wasn't to have no
present, and here's 5; it's all right. y
And with these words he disappeared.
leaving BERTHE staring, with eyes and
mouth wide open.
1t was some time he before could col
lect his thoughts sufficiently to realize
that the 5 cents lay in his hand to do
what he liked with. He turned the 5
cents over in his palm as he pondered.
Il won't buy anything to eat" he
sad to himself, "because that Will be
all gone in a little while; and then
mother Will make ms eat half of it be-
sides. MOI 1 will 60 to the CHEAP
store, and see what [ can find"
He rushed around to the cheap store.
half dreading lest he should find it shut.
for it was late; but it was wide open and
full of people, and BERTHE found it hard
work to get waited upon. He found that
there were not many very elegant articles
to be purchasedfort the sum in his posses
sion; but, after much reflection, he de-
clded upon a small blue heart. which
came to exactly B cents. His spirits rose
III spite OF the cold, as he pocketed his
prize and ran home as fast as he could go.
for he knew bis mother would feel anx-
louS abouthi His dear, patient mother,
who met him at the door with the brave.
sweet smile that he knew and loved SO
off
then they drew their chairs as near as
possible to the fire, for the room was cold.
and drank hot tea without milk or sugar
and ate bread without butter cheerfully,
Tor It made them happy to be together.
have got some nice beefsteak for
our Christmas dinner, with potatoes, and
sponge cake for dessert, dear" said the
mother, stocking the curly head which
lay on her knee.
.sOh, mother, darling, won't that be
nice ?-and you must hang up your stock
ing, too" said BERTHE, earnestly.
Il am afraid / shall find it as empty
as yours will be, my poor boy, an
swered his mother 'sSanta Claus will
skip over us this Christmas but per-
haps he viii come next time"
s'Never mind, mother. Do hang up
your stocking just. TO please me; it can't
do any harm, you know" begged Ber-
tie.
Very well, dear, I viii if you want
me to" she answered. fAnd now You
must so to bed, for you must be very
tired after your hard days work: but
first You shall help me hang up my
stocking"
This arrangement afforded fine op-
portunlty for BERTHE to slip his little
blue heart in the toe of the stocking,