Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-22
ONE MANS CHRISTMAS.
Rg OLIVE HARPER,


LOOKS SO lonesome, just as if his mother
had died, too; and he looks so hungry, and
shivers SO in the cold. Please do, papa. See
his eyes; they just seem begging you to, and
as II ne wanted you to see his poor leg. and to
make you understand how cold and hungry
ne is. Why, papa, | don't believe he ever
had enough to eat in his life;" and the oujy-
ering little voice died out altogether in sobs as
he took the poor little starved dog into his
arms and held him agaist his breast
The father, a stern. looking man. whose hat
was circied with band of Grape, looked
down with smile of rare tenderness as he
said:
''Why, Harry, don't cry about it; vo,. shall
keep the little dog, if you will; though he
certainly looks anything but q pretty play
thlng Come, now we will go home. You
can call your pew friend along"
On, thank you, papan said the little bow:
and his violent eyes danced with delight aud
MS transparent cheeks flushed bright Grim
son with pleasure, while the little dog limued
alcng aiterGhim, en- outraged by his CHILDISH
voice, sometimes raised with delight at the
new acquisition, again to fall with infinite
pity for the starved little dog
When they reached home they We're met by
the hou6ekeeper with torrent of excus s
ana objections to eeping the dog, till little
Harry said with flashing eyes, "Mrs. Per
kins, were GU ever hungry and cold and sick
Without any home 10 90 10 or any one to love
youy"
All of q sudden the housekecner,s male face
flushed, and tears came into her eyes as she
turned hastily away and busted h erselfwith
other Affairs for q moment Then she turned
and came nack, saying: "Well. dear, shall we
take hln down to the kitchen and see what
we can do for him ?"
Yes" said Harry, "for I guess he needs
something, aud that pretty soon. Come
doggle."
Ihey went ont, leaving the father alone,
into -n1,,;
fore the fire and clasped his hands before his
eyes saying: He Is like her, so like and so
iran! VINO nut ne would want to take that
miserable lite DOG? It was always her dis
position to do SO too: the more wretched the
case the more. interest she took in it. NV God!
how his took went to my heart when ne plead
ed so. 1t was like hers when she lay dying
and begged Of me with almost her last breath
to forgive my poor sister, who ran off with
that wretch who died drunkard I always
said never would forgive her nor speak to
her, but if could find her now she would al
ways live with me. Well, Harry" This to
Harry, who stood hv his fathers chair with
his face flashed and eager
"O, papa, if you could only see the little
doggie n W. Mrs. Perkins has washed him
all over, and put salve on his poor leg, and
she says il was broken and she fed him. He
wouldn't eat until he get up on his back legs
and walked alooga little, and then made a
boW--yOu have no idea what a gentlemen he
is, only he isn't very handsome you know:
The father took his little motherless bow in
to his lap. and when there he gave a long
sigh, and lay YEARLY down on his fathers
breast, saying, 81 am very tired, papa, what
makes me get tired so easy now [ didn't use
to, bat now every time 90 up stairs it makes
something jnmp so in here (placinc his hand
over his heart) that | can't hardly breathe,
and don'b care about playing ball any more
ard neVfTrid" my rocking horse nown
so! my God"' said the father with his white
lips, as he all at once saw the frail boy was
pale and thin even to emaciation Why, he
asked himself, had he not seen it before It was
all plain now and the sight of the colorless
cheeks and jstless air made him remember
other things, fits OF almost frantic excitement
followed by Frustrating WEAKNESS, nights
when The childish form was never still toss
ing and startling; days when the delicate ap
petite failed ana the weary eyes seemed to
turn with loalhing from the tempting food:
hours while the child lay about on the rug at
his feet, or on q sofa, and when asked why he
did notgo out and play on the lawn, answered
simply, Pm tired"
he saw it all now too plainly He saw that
all through That first summer of bereavement,
while ne had given up to grief for his lovely
young wife, his child had been fading with
the summer, decaying with the autumn, and,
he now felt, was dying with the winter
Harry lay on his fathers breast till at last
he fell fast asleep. Then laying him tenderly
down on the sofa, the startled man went out
called MRS. Perkins, and pointed to the sleep
ing chlid, whose lace was as pale as d Gala
NY, ana o, with Ups IKE the lilac blossoms,
bSld: i5 lie dying, Mrs Perkins, like his
mother!
on. don'S, Mr edward" said she, with a
gusn OF silent tears.
on nave seen Il, then!" said he.