Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-12-25

} spirit, but they have made my bea1
J sensitive. It is because I am q studer
of my races history, and realize wins
the name you revere has wrought in i
} that I WINGED at your words. ! am NJ
angry. Twas wrong to forget for SCI
ond your friendship"
Paul seized his hand. The curfe,
bells rang on, but they had gladde
sound. There was no scowl on Aaron
brow. "Come," said he, cheerily
"drink another glass of the good Sau
terne, and let us take walk. 1t is earl.
yet" The two went out.
The night was still warm, although
great coats were needed. The big flake
had conquered the wet salt air by fore
Of mild persistence, and now lay ham
thick upon the streets, noiseless velve
carpet. As they neared the Row, ant
saw the lights laring out upon the snow!
purity of the square, over which tn
passing crowds threw grotesque and 81
gantic shadows, Paul stole = glance q
his companions face. 1t was CLOWN,
with internal warmth. As the two pass
ed, many person turned to see AGAR
the strange couple-the tall, straight
youth with the long hair and the foreign
features, and the short, dumpy Aaror
Ashermayer, whose broad face mad beer
TRANSPORTED by something.
"Where is this dress you spoke Off
asked Aaron. Laboski led the way VI
fremont and down a side street to ar
unpretentious store, the front of which
he had haunted many times of late
They entered, and Paul, with conscious
pride, bought the dress, paid for it, and
had it wrapped up in bundle. Then
it was Aaron's turn. The old bachelo,
blushed as he asked, "Let me see some
good wooden stockings for girls" He
turned and winked to Paul when the
price was announced for ten pairs of me.
rino hose; but none the less he bought
them. A whispered consultation with
the girl in waiting resulted in the rolling
up of very large package of flannel
and white linen. Then tho pawn broker
purchased toilet soap, a work box, a
silver thimble, velvet rabbit with q
solid head into which needles might be
thrust and secured, rufaes, delicately
painted fan, an eighth of pound of
pins, high carved comb, belt with a
gorgeous gilt clasp, an embroidery pat
tern portraying a spsniels chasing a
very funny auckland everything else
in the store which his bachelor magma
ton coupled with the female desires.
There were many other stores visited,
among them the milliner's, the shoe
dealers, the book store (where we pur-
chased q sumptuous edition Of "Swiss
Family Robinson" which Aaron re-
called with the liveliest pleasure, but
which, shall I confess it, Josephine never
really liked), and lastly, the CONNECTION.
er's, where some wonderful packets
were put up. Then the two turned their
steps toward home, or the tenement in
which what there was Of home for them
was placed.
They walked silently along through
the shrong which still jostled in the
chop. streets. As they crossed, and
turned into a still, narrow residence
thoroughfare, Aaron stopped suddenly.
Paul followed the direction of his eyes
and shared the 81 ght which engaged his
On the opposite side, from a
broad, hall-curtained window, stresmed
a food OF light broken regularly by the
swift shadow of children dancing. The
two men standing in the quiet night,
could hear shouts Of gay laug hter above
the ripping melody Of the violin. A
nurse passed the window, bearing an
infant high in her arms. The tiny crea.
ture crowed and clapped its baby hands
to the music. Back of it all could be
seen wonderful Christmas tree, glow.
ing with prismatic tints and tapers that
cleaned like stars. They twinkled
merrily as the little madcaps raced around
them. eve have forgotten something"
said Aaron. So they crossed the COM
mon again, and went to the great mar
ket where evergreens were on sale.
It was after midnight when the weary
policeman, pacing his rounds, noticed
the light shining from Josephine's room
in the attic. II must speak to some
Dne at the bower" he said to himself.
; 1Ihst y,S eqag one will kill herself work:
thoughts into his mind of his own little
curly-heads at home. He dwelt with
pleasure upon the thought that their
stockings were we'll. filled, and that the
was an of day for him, and so
passed on, buttsning his coat tighter
against the east wind, and whistling
softly to himself.
Ihe r0undsman was wrong. Instead
Of working, the little laundress lay
coiled up fast asleep in the closet-like
recess where her mother died. And in
The larger front room two good angels
were watching-and working. Said one
Of them:
eve paid ridiculous prices for most of
these things. l could have got neatly
all of them from my own shop. But 1
them all brand new" And the
other answered;
"Luckily, I know the shoe dealer. It
shall be easy to change these if they will
not fit"
The time came for the morning bells.
which usually call the laborer to his
work. 1t was holiday, and they were
dumb. The absence of the noise awak.
ened Josephine. At seven O'Clock this
muggy Christmas morning it was quite
dark. The little one rubbed her eyes
then held her breath in mingled terror
and amazement. A moments thought
yes, she was sure che put out the candle
the night before. Yet there, through
the crack above the closet door, cleaned
a broad band of golden radiance which
was not daylight. What was it? She
leaped from her cot, and, with an i'm
pulsive gesture of childish bravery, flung
the door wide open. ready to spring
back If there was danger. The little
laundress did not spring back. She
stood 1ivited 10 the floor, and, like
COsette, che thrust out her tongue very
far. Clearly she was having a Tesplend-
emit dream. In front of her, on the
table where she had wagged those heavy
irons the night before, was reared a
glorious tree, like none she had ever
seen. From its green boughs glistened
a hundred little colored candles-tiny
tapers which sparkled like the good stars.
Aha-among those confusing lights hung
other things, cakes, candies and miracu-
lous shining globes. Above Il was an
angel, with real feather wings, which
auttered slightly in: the rising heat.
Wss this not wonderful By the purest
magnetism thsabewildezed child acrept,
awe stricken, toward these splendid
things. Then thera went mn a nra4-