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

its place rested q meditative, almos
solemn look. All at once he turned t
Aaron:
"The poor child up the stairs has lucl
very much worse. No time of the yea
brings to her fortune"
Shrink your Sauterne. What do 70,
speak Of? What poor child?"
"Why, The little Josephine, the laun
dress. When 1 have returned from
parties at one-two o'clock in the morn
ing, l have seen the light in her room
burning, and watched her shadow
working"
II thought she had gone. Has she
been in the house ever since her mother
died? haven't seen her in months"
Ever since. She has made much
effort to keep her mothers business
To me she said once: Some of the
ladies know not my mother is dead. Ill
do the work so it snail please, am wrong
to tell them not? They might think
} was of size too small I told her she
did no wrong"
The old Jew said nothing. he kept
his eyes fixed upon the black characters
before him, but they saw nothing.
Aaron was charitable man, and this
;; chilling glimpse of childish poverty
panied him.
eyes," continued Paul, chow should
complain myself when see her? She
works very hard, but she gets ahead not
one step"
"Ah, yes, but also plea:y to pay. Der
mother was in debt much"
Aaron put aside his book, and took of
his big glasses. Then he drank mis- Wis
itor's wine mechanically, looking him
in the face meanwhile.
$50 you tell me child not yet in her
teens works at washing and ironing, and
supports herself, and pays for two rooms,
and is paying the debt of the dead into
the bargain-and you expect me to BE-
lieve this? Herr Powl, you compose
very beautiful poems on your violin. I
enjoy them. That is all right. Do not
make them with your tongue to me.
Perhaps they are equally good. I do
not like them. I am too old''
Aaron took up his book, and donned
his spectacles with al air of vexation,
He was not angry, but he disliked exag-
gerstion.
mo, truly" urged Paul, "this is no
fantasia. The girl does really all this 1
tell you. lis Gods truth. And it was
to speak of her that come here. I was
in her room this evening for some time.
Very much she loves to hear my violin.
Her eyes shine like stars for my violin.
It's a delight to play to them. And
when l stop, she, the little one, talks to
me. Other times she is quite quiet.
But she is very old in her head. This
evening she asked me-say you what she
asked mel"
Chow should l know?" The pawn
broker laid his Talmud down, this time
for good.
"She asked of me what would,like
most of all for the Christmas?"
"Humph!"
YES, so strange, was it not?"
livery strange. What did you tell
herr"
"Why, said I wanted nothing, ex
cept the glorious Bonnet at the Athe.
roum. or steam yacht, or such things
But she stuck to the question. Mister
Powl, she said to me, choose to make
you a present. I love your music very
much, How like you this7 and she
went into the closet where her bed is,
silver 4s q" r 1he stoTs and brought to me
said to me. Will you take it? have
many other things of hers. This want
to give to you. 1could think of nothing
else.' And here it is"
Paul held up his left hand. On the
slender little finger, that magician which
drew such wonde fnl throbbings from
the fretted strings, was the ring-a
modest, lustreless circlet of plain silver.
II have taken things like that for
eighteen cents" remarked the pawn.
broker, calmly. But there is something
glstening in his honest eyes almost like
tears.
eyes," kept on Paul, not unmoved
himself, I took her gift. How should
| help it, Her mothrr brought it from
Brussels with her, che said. Poor child.
l have great sorrow for her. Her heart
was all lead this evening I asked her
trouble. She told me with frankness.
When l came up fremont street to.
day., the little one said, fand saw all the
lovely sleighs and lovely windows, and
the ladies, and looked on girls not at all
Older than | am with braids, and nice
hats and gloves, and fine, warm shoes
and brown stockings, I had to look at
my own shoes, and--I had to cry. lam
20 poor and miserable. The good God
has forgotten me. l do not CRY much,
and work hard, but-but can't keep
it mp sll the! time And then, Aaron,
she curled down upon the bench and
wept much. 1wept ALSO"
"A prolonged snort from the old Jew
alone broke the silence.
Paul continued eagerly: $50 ] slip.
ped away, and came here to you. have
asked of you, my friend, many favors.
Your ear is never closed to me, Thus I
ask Of You another There ia not much
luck fol me-. i have only q very little
] money. What 1 have shall 20, every
kopec, to buy for her 4 dress: T have
enough: I have looked st, the dress q
hundred timeA Il Is picked ou: already,
Aaron. But / have nothing for the
shoes and for the stockings. These I
came to askof you. We will give these
things together as d Christmas present
What could sbe: more pleasant Does
+ this please you p '~-S >.s'' 7.- > '>s
The Pole rose a. he spoke aud stood
With his back to the CRATE. He. knew
AaronA good heart. Nell-indeed had
proved itsgenerosity many times when
Ehe WAS Id need. He had no doubt Of
Ellie. result of this appeal. He waited
for . moment, then turned with second !:
How does this please youi" = 81.
f. Then he 1ew that Aaim'st fists we're
Tclencueo: ON tue afm OF ms chair, and
that his brow was Knitted. in soowl. A
fash shot through his mind.
"Oh, Task your pardon, ! ask pardon"
( Without q motion, or even change of
eye, the pawnbrokef said: -, ~, : 4.
You are { Christian; r am i Jew,
do net give Christmas eifts.D ,:asss :nGa
T. Paul bit his lip He felt himself
turning red to the to2 of his skull. He
had never beea quite 20 awkward before.
There vas nothing for him to say that
would help matters. SO the two kept
silenoe-the young man staring into the