The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-12-28
JACKS CHRISTMAS.


Jack had just heard of Christmas for
the first time Ten years old, and never
knew about Christmas before! Jack g
mother was weary, Overworked woman
and had no heart to tell the children
shout merry times and beautiful things
in which they could have no share.
His parents were very poor. When
tell you that they lived in a Lighthouse
you might think 50, although some peo-
pie live very comfortably in Lighthouses
But when | say the snow drifted through
the cracks in the roof until the cham Der
floor was fit TO 20 a sleighing on, and
that it was so cold down stairs that the
gravy froze on the children's plates
while they were eating breakfast, aud
that the little girls had no shoes but
cloth ones, which their mother sewed to
their stockings. YOU will see that they
were poor indeed. Mrs. Boyd, Jack :
mother, generally went about her work
with shawl tied around her, and a COM
forter over her ears on account Of the
ear-ache; and on the coolest days she
kept Jacks little sisters wrapped up
from head 10 foot and perched on chairs
near the stove, so they wouldn't freeze.
them about Christmas, when she didn't
know but they would freeze to death, or
may be, starve, before that time. But
Jack found out. He was going to school
that winter and one learns so much at
school! He came home one night brim-
full Of news that Christmas would be
there IN three weeks, and that Santa
Claus would come down chimneys and
say, Il wish you Merry Christmas!"
and then put lots of nice things in the
stockings.
Mrs. Boyd heard him talking, and
was glad the children were enjoying
themselves, but hoped from her heart
that they wouldn't expect anything,
only to be bitterly disappointed.
For a week, Jack wondered and
unused within himself how he could get
something for Christmas presents for his
little sisters. He couldn't make any
thing 81 home without their seeing it,
nor at school without the teachers
seeing it, Besides he would rather buy
something pretty, such as they had
never seen before-china dolls in pink
dresses, or something of that kind. One
morning, however, Jack discovered some
quail tracks in the suow near the straw
stack, and he no longer wondered about
ways and means, but in a moment was
awake to the Importance of this discov-
cry. That very evening he made q
wooden trap, and the next morning
early set it near the stack, and laid an
inviting train of wheat quite up to il,
and scattered little inside. He told
his sisters, Mary and Janey, about the
trap, but not about what he meant TO do
with the quails when he caught them.
That afternoon Jack went to his trap.
and TO his unbounded JOY found an i'm :.
prisoned quail, frozen quite stiff He
quickly set the trap again, and ran to
the house with his bird. All that even
ing he worked at quail traps and made
three more.
1t was so much warmer that their
mother let the children stay up q little
later than usual; and Mary ventured to
bring out her playthings and Janey's
Does Santa Claus bring dolls?"
asked Mary, suddenly of Jack.
Oh, yes; dolls with pretty dresses on {;
and little honnets and pink shoes, and
little eubberds TO keep their clothes in,
and chairs, and every thing" said Jack,
enthusiastically.
Oh, my" sighed Mary, as she looked
dolefully at their poor little heap of
toys.
Readers their dolls were cobs, with
square pieces of calico tied arnund them
for dresses; and after hearing what Jack
said, it wasn't so much fun playing. and
the little girls soon went to bed.
After they were asleep, Mrs. Boyd said.
responsibility:
Jack, wish you wouldn't say any
thing more about Christmas to the chill
dren."
"Why, is it badq' asked Jack. 80 as
tonished that he stopped whiting.
No, of course not; but you're get
ting their heads full of notions about
fine things they never can have"
Jacks eyes twinkled.
"Oh. but you don't understand,
mother" said he; may be Sanity Claus
will come this yesr."
His mother shook her head.
You know | caught quail today ?"
whispered Jack.
Wellm said his mother.
Well, L m going to save 'em all the
week, and Saturd ay take 'em 10 the
meat man in the village. guess he'll
buy EN-. | heard that quails were
fetching two cents piece. And Pm
going to get enough money to buy the
girls something nice, and you must make
'em hang up their stockings, mother,
and then we'll put the things in after
they get asleep
His mother smiled cheerfuly, Well,
said she, do the best you can"
Their father was away that evening
He was generally away evenings, because
most Of the neighhors had cozier FIRE