The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-12-13
Rertfe,s Christmas Eve.

lit was q disappointment, TO De sure.
Though BERTHE was as manly little fell
low as ever lived, lie 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 Gov
or as much space on his chill little body
as he could; for it had to serve as an
overcoat as weIl, 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 it was the day before
Christmas, and BERTHE was stationed ct
the door i'll one of the large stores on
Sixth avenue. He was too small for q
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 a 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, a
very few, necessaries with the money.
They had not always been so poor.
BERTHE could remember very we'll when
he had warm, handsome clothes, and
had lived in q fine house, and had q
father as well as a 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 talked 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 q
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
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 a 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 q
long time after she had told him he sal
meditatively in his little wooden chair
close to the fire until it was time to &C
to bed.
"I know" thought he, as he covered
himself up, head and all, with the scanty
bed-clothes. 81 will be Santa Claus my.
self. [ will go and buy mother some.
thing with my own money. Perhaps ]
shall have a few pennies left from Sat
urday night, and they say that Mr.. G.
always gives the boys a little sometime
Christmas eve; SO [ will get mother {
warm pair of stockings, perhaps, or some
thick gloves" and, with these thoughts
he dropped asleep. But, alas every
cent of his wages Saturday had to go fol
kindling wood
''Never mind, thought he. ST shall
certainly get something the day before
Christmas, :"
Fancy his disappointment, then
when, instead Of the expected present
Mr.. G. made speech to all the mer
and boys in his employ, telling them tha
the times were 50 hard that he could no
afford to give them any Christmas re
membrance this year; that he was very
sorry but he could not help it. A grea
hard thing came up in Bertie's throat
and hurt him as he listened, and in spite
of ell he could do, the tears would rur
out of his eyes down the bridge of hi
nose, though he sopped them up SO fas
with the corner of his comforter that b,
thought nobody saw them.
But he was mistaken. One person
was watching him, and turned ant
looked after him as he walked slowl,
down the store, rubbing his nose sor
rowfully.
''See, here, sonny" said he very hur
riedly, as if he had not minute to lose
Mr.. Paine give me 10 cents this morn
ing, as he knowed we wasn't to have n,
present, and here's 5; it's all right.
And with these words he disappeared
leaving BERTHE staring, with eyes AM
mouth wide open.
1t was some time he before could col
lect his thoughts sufficiently to realiz
that the 5 cents lay in his hand to d
what he liked with. He turned the
cents over in his palm as he pondered
81 won't buy anything to eat, b
said to himself, " because that will b
all gone in little while; and the
mother will make me eat half of it be
sides. No! / will go to the chea
store, and see what I can find"
He rushed around to the cheap store
half dreading lest he should find it shut
Tor it was late; but it was wide open an
full Of people, and BERTHE found it har
Tork to get waited upon. He found ths
'ere were not many very elegant article
be purchased for the sum in his posses
n; but, after much reflection, he d,
led upon small blue heart, whic
NE to exactly 5 cents. His spirits ros