The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-12-24

der passed. Swinging the sled careless.
", it hit George and threw him upon,the
walk. He screamed frightfully, and
Maggie and Johnny rushed to help him
sis he much hurts" asked lady who
had a few minutes before alighted from
a carriage, and who had fingered to hear
the curious talk of the chiilren
ooh, I hope not" said Maggie, trying
to lift her screaming brother. 'sfor we're
so poor. 'Twould Kill mother if his leg
is broken, and we would all starve, !
know" -..,
Shesucceeded at last in getting him on
his feet, and rubbed his leg and comfort
ed him.
When Maggie found he could stand,
and was beginning to stop crying, she
turned to look at the lady who still stood
by them. s...t ..., ~. +.
She saw beautiful girl, so lovely and
so richly dressed it seemed to Maggie it
must be fairy: for to tell the truth,
Maggie had always been expecting to
meet a fairy .......r '.,a -.
Her grandmother had told her about
the wlerd folk, till she believed some
thing might happen to her as we'll as to
Cinderella. The lady stood looking at
the beautiful golden hair fir ON which the
faded shawl had slipped. and scanning
the ragged little boys, and trying to re-
call their words about being poor.
"Don't you have any nice Christmas at
your house," she asked,
"No, indeed; we're too poor" said Mag
gle.
sand you came out to sec the pretty
toys you cannot buy" said the lady.
And Maggie, still half believing it
might be fairy or magic god-mother,
Or some such a creature, told her all
about their hard times-about her sad
father and her weary mother, and the
strike, and how hungry they sometimes
were, and how she tended the baby all
day, and kept just little bit of fire be-
cause they couldn't afford to be very
warm. People passing turned to see the
curious group, and many sriled because
the grand, proud young lady had so for
gotten herself as to talk to dirty set of
children in the open street, where every
body could see her.
But the proud young lady cared very lit
tie for the opinion of the world just then.
She was not even conscious of the peo-
pie who were passing. After few
moments she turned back to her carriage
and drove away.
Maggie thought how happy she must
be, she was so beautiful and SO rich; but
if Maggie could have seen the torn and
tortured heart beneath the velvet robe,
She would have felt more pitylthanIadmila-
ton.
The children fingered till they knew
everything in the window by heart, and
then, helping on the limping George,
they went on to others, till they had
seen, Maggie said, "all the pretty things
in the word" !'It's fun to look at them
if we can't have them," she said, as they
turned down the dark street and into
Anderson court to their desolate home.
And very desolate did it seem to Mag
gle that night. She wanted to cry, but
would not, because it would make her
mother and father feel badly. There
was just a little fire in the CRATE, for the
coal was almost gone. Her mother was
walking with the crying baby, and had
not even smile for the children when
they came in; and when they told her of
Georges accident, she only said: "1'm
glad it was no worse"
MIR. Burton was seated on low bench,
his elbows resting on his knees and his
face buried in his hands. Georgia went
to his fathers side and said," Papa, a big
boy hurt me, and purity lady came and
said she was sorry, and saw the purti-
est horse and every ing; and can't
have the horse for Chrlstmas?"
go, away, said Mr.. Burton surlily
"there amt any money to buy food for
tomorrow" ..-.
"Father,' something good will turn up
soon. Pm sure" Maggie SAID tenderly,
and then took her brothers by the hand
and led them to a dusky corner of the
room, where they talked low for long
time. Then she undressed Georgia, and
the three curled down on bed which
you, my reader, would have called. Il pile
Of rags.
'There amt any stockings hung up in
this house tonight" said johnny.
Christmas morning the bells rang out
on the frosty air, filling thousands of
! hearts with joy; but there was no glad
| ness in the sound of this detected FAM
iy. The bells said to thousands of
hearts "Peace on earth, goodwill to men,
but Mr.. Burton shook his head sad
ly and his wan face wore no smile. He
| said it was not ''peace on earth" when
the rich lived in luxury and the poor
starved. When the children az akened,
there were no ''Merry Christmas wishes
| exchanged in that dismal home.
Mr.. Burton had no word for his child
rem, he felt gloomy and detected. The
mother spoke low and sadly--it seemed
to her it would be mockery to say merry
words when they had hardly clothes
enough to keep them warm, and bread
enough for the day, and the future looked
SO black and ugly. They had Just taken
their scanty breakfast when loud knock
at the door startled them.
"Does Mr.. Burton live herel"
eyes" Mrs. Button said.
81 have some packages for this house,
the man said.
ut is a mistake" growled Mr.. Burton,
"thele wasn't anything to come here
''This is the place." said the man, with
smile, and he placed on the floor box
which Mrs. Rnrton bauan IN ovo,nipo