The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-30
THE DAILY STAR
UNCLE BEN'S GIFT.
A Christmas Story.

large room of handsome house in tn,
city of London. Tops, balls, marbles ant
II variety of other toys were strowI
around, showing that those boys haG
kind friends to provide them witt
amusements.
"Only two days to Christmas! Ain
glad" exclaimed Albert, the oldest O
the boys.
81 wonder what Saint Nick will bring
me-" said Charles.
81 think" said Henry, che will bring
me pistol and some soldiers"
81 want him to bring me gun and s
sword" said Albert, "and set of ter
pins, and" .t
go, that is too much" interrupted
Charles 81 hope he will bring me that
big drum saw the other day, and LOT
of candy"
"Oh!' exclaimed the other two, eve
want candy, besides nuts and all sorts OF
good,things."
just then the door opened, and pale,
sad-looking boy entered, with a bucket
of coal for the fire. !
"What do you think Santa Claus will
bring you, Nat% asked Henry, giving
the boy a push which made MIN spill
half the coal on the floor.
dyes, Nat" cried Charles, "what do
you expect"
"a switch and crust of bread. don't
you, Nat?" said Albert, ''for that's what
you deserve, you know"
''No he WON'T" said Henry, che won't
get anything at all, because, you see,
Santa Claus don't know him. Mamma
says Santa Claus never goes to beggars,
and Mats a beggar. Don'tyou wish you
had rich father, like us, Nat%
"I wish," answered Nat, looking up
from picking up the pieces of coal he had
spilled, 81 wish l had father, but l
wouldn't care whether he was rich or
poor, so that he loved me" and the boys
eyes glistened with tears.
"Pshaw" cried Albert, "what's the
good of father if he isn't rich enough
to give you all sorts of things"
Nat did not answer. Poor child! He
still remembered we'll, and never, never
could forget the dear father who had
died three years before and left him de-
pendent upon the bounty of a wealthy
uncle, Sweeter to him than all others
were the thoughts of that father, and the
happy hours they had passed together.
Lying alone upon his pallet in the cold
attic, he would think over and over again
the walks they used to take, the little
journeys to the country, the pleasant
visits to museums and picture galleries,
and above all the nice long talks in the
morning before it was time to get up,
when, with his fathers arm close around
him, they talked of the future and laid
their plans for the time when Nat should
be man. Sometimes he was resolved
to be great warrior and make his father
proud Of his exploits; sometimes he
thought he would like to be a hardy
pioneer and chase the buffaloes and scare
the redskins; and again, he was to own
ships and sail the mighty deep and bring
home treasures from foreign lands. But
always he and his father were to be to-
gether, loving and caring for each other
as they had done since the dear mother
died, and Nat remembered, too, how he
had saved up all his pocket money for
weeks and weeks before Christmas, that
he might surprise his father with pref
ty present, and how full his stockings
used to be every Christmas morningl
Full and overflowing on to the floor with
Just the very things he most wished for.
And when he was dressed in his best
clothes he and his father would 60 out
together and look into the shop windows,
and buy candy and nuts to give to the
poor children they met; and when they
were tired walking and looking they
would go to his fathers club and have a
grand dinner, and then wind up the
day by a visit to the theater. All. those
were happy times, and Christmas was
something to look forward to But he
scarcely gave it a thought now. Twice
already since he had been in his uncles
house had Christmas come and gone
without making any change in Mats
life or adding one pleasant thought to his
young mind. No presents found their
way into his stocking, no candies or nuts
filled his pockets; and he began to think,
with Henry, that Santa Claus never Wis
tied poor orphan boys at all.
Nat had just finished filling the CRATE
when his uncle entered the room. The
three brothers sprang forward to meet
him, while Matte shrank back into a
corner.
"Well, boys" said Mr.. Harrison as be
seated himself before the fire, 81 have
got something for you, Christmas pre-.
sent"
Albert, Charles and Henry crowded up
70 their father, but Nat did not move
for he had long since learned that he was
never included among the "boys." TIC
his surprise now, however, his uncle
looked around, and said, coldly enough
it is true:
"You may come forward, too, SIR"
Nat obeyed, but stood at respectful
distance from his uncle.
"Your Uncle Ben has come home
boys" said Mr.. Harrison. "You all
know who Uncle Ben is?'
This was quite an unnecessary ques
ton, for from their babyhood the boys
had baard moro of Uncle Rem and all the