The Van Buren press., 1877-12-25


house, to cram with candies and man,
wondrous toys the little woolen stocking.
hanging near the fire. He remembered
how the Christmas sunlight, striking
through the frosted windew-pane, turn,
ed to cleaning, FURNISHED gold the rudy
locks of their sturdy baby-boy and now
he stumbled up the hillside. blind with
rage and pain Now, two mounds of chill
cold earth, held all that made life a dear
and precious thing to him. At the top
OF the hill he paused Involuntary to re-.
gain his breath. Up there the wind blew
kcenly, the CHASTITY CLEAN Of ice could be
seen in the river, winding far below. The
wood was darkened by Uany slender
pines and stunted hemlock sreea - win.
try scene--and Holland thrust his hands
deep in his pockets, and turn.d to retrace
bis steps, when sound broke the silence
all about nina sound that set his hear,
a throbbing, sound that drew his feet
from the beaten road, and sent them stri.
ding through the brown, dead leaves, un
til they brought him to the place where
Ruth sat sobbing.
A strange place to find child, yet
there she sat, fiat on the ground, her we'll
worn, copper toed shoes, stretched GU,
before her, one little hand doubled under
her arm, as bird draws its foot under its
childish might a branch of one of the
many small hemlock trees growing about
her. So mottled with cold were her
face, her hands, and her little bare knees,
she might have passed for a figure cary.
ed in good old CASTLE soap.
John Hollands sudden appearance did
not startle her in the least. She seemed
to accept him as one accepts things in
dreams, without surprise or fear.
What is the matter ?" be asked
"pm cold"
How strange the childish voice sound
ed up there in that chill, bleak place!
"What are you doing here ?"
I'm waiting"
"Poor baby!' thought John Holland,
you. are learning the great lesson early.
| should like to know the brute who left
you sitting here, while he or she gossips
or drinks in the town below"
"Who are you waiting for, child ?"
The chill, tear-stained face broke into
smiles, as she whispered:
I'm waiting tor Santa Claus
The answer smote him with astonish-
ment. As boy he has heard much Of
the genial ola man for whom little Ruth
was waiting, but he had never heard Of
his paying a visit or transacting any
business in the daytime. So he told
her; but she, looking sorrowfully wise,
answered;
"Yes, know he goes down the chin
neys at night, but to morrea ia Christmas,
Auuty says so, and Santa Claus must come
here to-day to get his trees"
"Why, yes; his trees like this you
KNOW" and after slow, numb sort of
search for something in the depths of
her pocket, her cold little hand drew
out a leaf Oft child's story book torn
and soled, but bearing on one side
highly colored picture Of the good Santa
Claus.
There she continued, eagerly, "see,
the tree he has on his arm--they don't
grow in the city; see, he must come up
here to get them.'
81 understand; but why wait here in
the cold for him, when tonight he will
come down your chimney with all sorts
of pretty toys?' ....
but he won't come; he does not
know the house is here; he thinks all the
boys and girls live down there in the
city; so when he comes to get his tree
I'm going to say, please, Santa Claus, l
live here on the hill. Aunty says I'm
pretty good. Can't l have a doll baby
and picture book ?"
John Hollands voice was very tender
when he spoke again to ask her name,
and then he lifted her to her feet and
said:
an tell you what we will do, Ruth.
You 60 home before Aunty misses you
and thinks you are lost. and I'll stay here
and watch for Santa Claus"
She shook her head.
you'll get tired and 60 away
ono, l wont; III wait until see
him."
"Truly ?"
"Truly."
Little Ruth raised her face and Hol.
land kissed her baby mouth.
"Where do you live. child ?"
"Only a little ways back in the woods
there is the path" And running across
the dead leaves she struck into faint
narrow path, and following it disappear.
ed behind the trees. Holland watched
her out of sight, then tying his handker
chief to the top branch of that tree which
Ruth had selected as the very one Santa
Claus most wanted, turned his face City.
ward and strobe down the hill.
Low down in the west he noticed a
long golden rift in the dull gray sky
and it widened and brordened until the
golden glory burst its bonds and flooded
all the scenes with wntry sunlight.
Even 80 had the childish faith of little
Ruth forced its way through clouds of
loneliness and grief to ill his heart with
sunlight More than one woman smiled
that night at John Holland as he stood
in a crowded store, examining with SUI
pernatural gravity dolls dressed and
undressed. A light wagon carried him
and his books and toys out from the city |
and up the woody hill to Ruth's poor
homa fter ueerinu into the window