Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-24
which what there was of home Tor them

which what there was of home Tor them
was placed.
They walked silently along through
the throng which still jostled in the
shop.streets. As they crossed, and
turned into still, narrow residence
thoroughfare, Aaron stopped suddenly.
Paul followed the direction of his eyes
and shared the sight which engaged hi
attention. On the opposite side, from a
broad, hall-curtained window, streamed
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 laughter 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 it's baby hands
to the music. Back of it all could be
seen a wonderful Christmas tree, glow
ing with prismatic tints and tapers that
cleaned like stars. They twinkled
merrily as the little madcaps raced around
them. owe 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. 81 must speak to some
one at the bower" he said to himself.
"That young one will kill herself work.
ing go Late" And this put pleasant
thoughts into his mind of his own little
curly-heads at home. He dwelt with
pleasure upon the thought that their
stockings were well filled, and that the
morrow was an of day for him, and so
passed on, buttoning his coat tighter
against the east wind, and whistling
softly to himself.
The roundsman 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:
awe paid ridiculous prices for most OF
these things. l could have got neatly
all of them from my own shop. But ]
wanted them all brand new" And the
other answered.;
LUCKILY, know the shoe dealer. II
shall be easy to change these if they will
not ft."
The time came for the morning bells,
which usually call the laborer to bis
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 amszement. A moments thought
yes, she was sure she put out the candle
the night before. Yet there, through
the crack above the closet door, cleaned
broad band of golden radiance which
was not daylight. What was it7 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 rivited 70 the floor, and, like
Cosette, she thrust out her tongue very
far. Clearly she was having resplend-
ent 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
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 was an
angel, with real feather wings, which
futtered slightly in the rising heat.
Was this not wonderful? By the purest
magnetism the bewildered child crept,
awe stricken, toward these splendid
things. Then there went up a queer
little cry of JOY as her hands touched
the stockings, and her eyes took in the
scores of things she had prayed for on
that bitter yesterday. Then Josephine
knew that it was not dream. The
little woman lost no time in "putting
on" everything.
An hour later there was knock at the
door, and two heads appeared together
as it was opened. Under the first was a
steaming tray of victuals from the
restaurant opposite. The second was
purple with the exertion of tugging a
walnut centre table up from the ground
floor. The reader is invited to the
breakfast which followed, if he or she
will remember that the hostess is only
a child; and does nothing more brilliant
than to alternately laugh or cry. The
candles are left to burn themselves out,
albeit it is broad day, and the beautiful
painted fan is sadly daubed with fallen
wax. The sunlight cannot dim those
tapers for the three who sit about the
table.
In lieu of Sauterne, the two angels of
the previous night, who were only happy
looking mortals by daylight, drank the
health of their little ward in fragrant
Mocha. My little one," said Paul to
the tiny maiden who gazed solemnly at
him, 81 drink your health. / was never
so happy in all my life" Aaron's round
face was serious, and his brow in thought.
At last he said slowly, as if measuring
each word: 81 can say my little one,
too, for you are to be mine. You shall
not scrub shirts any more. You shall
live with me, if you wish" Another
pause. Then he drained his cup slowly,
and spoke to Paul, his friend:
"You are Christian; am Jew. I