The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-12-20
Toddles' Awful Christmas

az think they are too young to 60
visiting alone, said mamma.
LET them go and learn how" said
papa. And that's the way Toddles and
May happened to spend Christmas in
New York. They lived IN a great white
house In a village, and this was the first
time that they had ever been to the CITY.
They were little homesick ut first, after
papa went away and left them alone with
Miss Jumper, the lady who had visited
them; but she was so kind that thew
could not help liking her after they
found that If she hadn't curls ike NAM
ma, and did do her hair III {" bag as
Toddles said, she could tell stories: and
that she did not wear black dress be-
cause she liked it, but because she was
so sorry that her sister had died and left
her all alone. She had had Christmas
tree where every present was for either
Mary or Toddles
Now 1t was Christmas morning, and
they were looking over their new books,
May had been reading to Toddles about
two little girls who gave away some of
thel- presents to poor children.
Lets we go and find some poorcjlil-
dren," said Toddles.
so we will, and I'll give them some
said Mary
"And I'll give them nv candy doc
and my dog that banks and my woolly
rabbit"
They found a basket and packed the
things very quietly, for, although they
had not been told that they must not 60
out, they were little afraid that Miss
Jumper would say that Bridget must 90
them R71t Tn, L
then, shut up in her room thinking over
her lonely life, and Wishing that tie
children could always stay with her: SO
she did not hear word, and they started
off with the basket.
Pretty soon they met ragged little
boy, not so old as Mary. Toddles sud
denly held out the candy dog to him.
The ragged boy snatched it and ran off.
Toddles' lip quiverei. ''They didn't
do SO in the book" said he; "they al
ways said thank y0u.''
Well, the little girls in the book
went to houses; we'll go to house next
time"
They passed a great many stores, and
then they turned corner and came TO q
little wood-colored house. The win
dows were so close to the sidewalk that
they could not help seeing In, as well as
they could for the flowers that filed
both windows. There was a rag-carpet
on the floor and plain wooden chairs,
and some children were playing before a
hre that was not half large enough to
warm the room.
We won't, Nell" said May. those
children aren't poor; see what good
time they are having
Ihey walked along, and pretty soon
An old woman came up to them and took
hold of the basket. "What have Won
got here. my pretty dears? Come with
me and I'll give you some candy" May
screamed when she touched the basket
and Just then the old woman caught
sight of a policeman who was coming
toward them, and she ran off.
Where are you goings" asked the
policeman of the children.
We're just going to carry Christ
mas present, said May; and that old
woman almost pulled it away" added
Toddles.
The policeman turned quickly, but
the old woman had disappeared. He
vas not quite satisfied, so he walked on
slowly behind the children as they wan
dered along through street after street.
At last they came to large house that
was built of brown stone and had long
flight of marble steps leading to the
front door.
aspect they're poor" said Toddles,
"else they wouldn't live in that ugly
house."
chimed in May. "We'U so up and give
them something.
The policeman had watched till he