Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-26
ONE MANS CHRISTMAS.
By OLIVE HARPER.

BIZ OLIVE HARPER
Papa, let me keep him-pease do; he
looks so lonesome, just as If his mother
had died, too; and / Q looks so hungry, and
shtvers so in the cold Please do, papa. See
his eyes; they Just seem begging you to, and
as II he 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
mad enough to eat in his life:" and the quiv-
erng 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, stern looking man, whose hat
was clrcled with band Of Grape, looked
down with smile Of rare tenderness as he
said:
= why, Harry, don't cry about it; you shall
keep the little dog, if YOU will; though he
certainly looks anything but a pretty play
thlng. Come, now: we will go home. You
can call your pew friend along"
"Oh, thank you, paUa!' said the little bow:
and his violent eyes danced with delight, and
his transparent cheeks flushed bright cr.m
son with pleasure, while the little dog limoed
along attershim, encouraged 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 were met by
the hOusekeeper, with torrent Of excus
and objections to reeping the dog, till little
Harry said with flashing eyes: Mrs. Per-
klns, were you ever hungry and cold and sick,
without any home to go 10 or any one to love
you?"
All of a sudden the housekeeper's pale face
flushed, and tears came into her eyes as she
ASurned hastily away and busted herself with
other affairs for moment. Then she turned
and came back, saying: We'll, dear, shall We
take him down to the kitchen and see what
We can do for him"
Yes" said Harry, ''for | guess he needs
something, and that pretty soon. Come
doggle."
They went out, leaving the father alone,
aud he threw himself into an easy chair be-
fSre the fire and clasped his hands before his
: eyes saying: He is like her, so like and so
frail! Who but he would want to take that
miserable little dog? 1t was always her dis
position to do so too: the more wrctched the
case the more Interest she took in it. Nv God!
bow his look went to my heart when he plead
ed so. 1t was like hers when she lay diving
and begged Of me with almost her last breath
to forgive my poor sister, who ran off with
that wretch who died a drunkard. I always
said I 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 by his fathers chair, with
his face flushed and eager
20, papa, if you could only see the little
doggie now. Mrs. Perkins has washed him
all over, and put salve on his poor leg, and
she says it was broken and she fed him He
wouldn't eat until he get up on his back legs
and walked along little, and then made a
bow-you have no idea what gentleman he
is, only he isn't very handsome, you know"
The father took his little mOtherless boy in
to his lap. and when there he gave a long
sigh, aud lay YEARLY down on his fathers
breast, saying, vi am very tired, papa, what
makes me get tired so easy now? didn't use
to, but now every time I go up stairs it makes
something jump so in here (placing his hand
over his heart) that l can't hardly breathe,
T H., r. F,oIor ~
and never rid. my rocking horse now"
80! 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 1t was
all plain now and the sight of the colorless
cheeks and listless air made him remember
other things, fits of almost frantic excitement
followed by Frustrating WEAKNESS, nights
=, Ten 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 loathing from the tempting food !:
hours while the child lay about on the rug at
his feet, or on sofa, and when asked why he
did not go out and play on the lawn, nswered
simply, "Pm tired"
He saw it all now too plainly. He saw that
all through that first summer of bereavement,
while he had given up to grief for his lovely
Young wife, his child had been fading with
The GUNNER. decaying withthe autumn, and,
ne 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
inc child, whose face was as pale as a Gala
INV. and with lips like the lilac blossoms.
said: is he dying, Mrs. Perkins, like his
motherw
SOh. DON'T Mr.. Edward" said she, with a
Oush of silent tears.
aYou have seen Il, then Y' said he.
81 was not sure and | couldn't bear to dis
trees YOU; but fear it Is So"
aStay with him, I will fetch Dr. Bennett. y
and the striker father hurried out while the
srood old housekeeper sat down and looked
si the child through her fast falling tears.
ahe thought: "The lambl knew It was no use
far no one can cure heart disease; but If he
has had any eyes he must have seen that |
trept the lamb from excitement, and have
tS<en all the care | could of him, and done
} - him as did for his mother: but he never
thought it possible. All, well! we all have to
,rake to trouble some time,"
qo0n the doctor, accompanied by the fs ther
came In and the old man, who had been moi
nnlv physician but friend and adviser to the
lead young mother all her life, sat down by
10 afill sleeping boy. and watched his pale
faee. his blue lips, his purple fnger-tips, and
his labored breathing very gravely; then, al
iast he turned a set, sorr0wful face to the ia
thar. looked long and pitifully into his ewes
nd the father knew. He had been buoyed ur
s1 more hope than he had known, and nov
s3;s solemn fat struck him as il he had mo-
aa.xsneeted IT, Then they went out into the Ii.
srarv. and the Doctor gave him some direc
.;ons for general treatments and taking hi
,,sr1d. said: Edward, this is going to be hard
Int trv and be brave. hink it is no harder
s'rvniI to be without him here than his moth
~ ~ +, miss him there. God bless you. nv bow
80 - ne know If any change takes place. ii,
-. .s,ev live menths yet, or 1t may come anv day
lsnsd -by' Harry awoke and started up from
Ne sofa, saying "Where Is my doggieT an(