Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-12-26

boy hurt me, ana purity lady came and
said she was sorry, and l saw the purti-
est horse and every fing; and can't I
have the horse tor Chrlstmas2"
"Go, away, said Mr.. Burton surlily
''there amt any money to buy food for
Tomorrow
"Father,' something good will tuln up
soon. I'm 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 George, and
the three curled down Oh bed which
you, my reader, would have called d 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 fam1-
ly. 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 a~ akened,
there we're 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 here2"
eyes, Mrs. Button said.
II have some packages for this house"
the man said.
ut is a mistake growled Mr.. Burton,
'thcle wasn't anything to come here'
"This is the place." said the man, with
smile, and he placed on the floor q box
which Mrs. Burton began to examine.
''Oh, there's my horsey!'' screamed
Georgia., II knowd I'd have that horse -
"And there is the doll with, the red
DRESS" exclaimed Maggie.
"And a drum ~ screamed Johnny, grasp
ing the article and giving 1t a. few sound
raps with his fist, which made them all
start.
"There's been some mistake; said Mr..
Burton, but nobody needed him. The
baby squeezed the rubber doll to make
it cry, Johnny had found the sticks and
was drumming with all his might,
while Mrs. Burton kept taking things
out of the box, and baby helping her.
Mr.. Burton stood looking on, very sour
and suspicious, when another knock at
the door aroused him.
"Mr. Burton live here?"
"Yes."
II have same tlonr for him. and some
other articles"
In came barrel of -four and turkey,
and halt dozen other things which taste
good on Christmas.
This time they all began to laugh.
Mrs. Burton laughed more than she had
in four months, and Mr.. Rurton smiled
and said, shed like to know who had
dared to send them these THINGS" and
somehow the words came into his mind,
"Goodwill to men," "Peace on earth, :"
"There's some goodwill in the world at
ter ALL"
When the third man knocked and said
he brought load of coal, there was such
laughing, and talking, and hopping
around of children it would have blessed
your heart to have heard them.
81 knew that lady was fairy, or q
princess, or something said Maggie.
'sShe has sent these things, for she asked
where we lived, and said: "Dear heart
when 1 told her about you all, and that
we hadn't only enough coal to last few
days, and how hungry we got"
Mr.. Burton went to get the coal in, and
said he never was so glad to work in his
lite; and Johnny filled the CRATE and made
such fire as they had not seen since the
winter before.
~ wonder what'll come next" said
Maggie, clapping her hands and jumping
up and down in her gladness.
"My child, don't expect anything
more. I'm afraid all this will prove
but dream" said Mrs. Burton.
But romething more did come, and
this time it was the princess herself.
She shrank batk moment when she saw
the dirty floor, the ragged bedstead, and
thought of six people crowded in this
little room. Her daintiness and elegance
had never before come face to face with
such squalor, but she had been passing
through great experiences lately, and
she was brave enough to meet this.
"And this is the little girl who told
so touchingly her sad story last evening2'
she said, stroking Maggie's golden locks.
"And this your mother, and this your
father" she said, shaking their hand.
and smiling SO sweetly that Mr. Bur-
ton said atterwara it was just like an
angel right from heaven.
II thought would drop in and wish
you Merry Christmas" she said.
Mr. Burton wiped the tears on his
sleeve and began thanking the lady.
"The good Lord has sent US help in
our Distress" he sand.
SIT He has shown me how I can be
good for something, I am glad" she said
with smile. "Your little girl tells me
you are in trouble and I have come to
see if I can help you out of IN
"Now need not tell you, my reader,
how they talked till Mr.. Burton said ':all
the trouble seemed lifted off their hearts -
and how after she went away, they set
the turkey roasting before the fire; and
how they were so hungry they only wait
tor one side to get done, and sliced it of
and ate 1t while the other side was cook
ing; and how the children ate nuts and
candy till they couldn't eat any more,
and carried some to all the children IN
the court; and how Mr.. Burton said he
never saw such blessed day in all his
life; and how he tended the baby, and
kisssi Maggie half dozen times, when
she put her arms around his neck and
Rugged him SO hard, he couldn't help it;
and how the Children in Anderson court
came in to see the beautiful doll in the
red silk dress; and how they squeezed
the rubber doll till 1t burst; and how the
boys wanted to beat Johnny's drum '.jest
two tines" and how they stood and
CAPPED at Johnny as if be had been a hero,
and not a poor ragged little boy like
theInselves--yon can imagine all that,
but am going to tell you little about
the princess herself. S. : /.
She was the only child Of very wealthy
parents. She had been petted and near
II spoiled by too much happiness.
Miss Princess had come to fancy herr
self the special fayorite Of providence.
mot dreaming that god md ~ sensibla