The Newtown bee., 1879-12-24
or her sister, and the reader has seen IN


Christmas eve proved to be ono OF
unusual inclemency. On this dreary
night, a small boy. who had been at
work in printing Office all day, stood
near the desk of his employer, waiting
| to receive his week's wages and go home
| to his mother, poor widow, whose slen-
| der income scarcely suff1ced to give food
to her little household.
"You needn como tomorrow, John,
said the PRINTER, as he handed the lad
the two dollars that were due him for
the weeks work: Tomorrow is Christ
mas"
The boy took the money; and after
lingering a moment, turned away and
walked toward the door. He evidently
expected something, and seemed dis
appointed. The printer noticed this,
and at onca comprehended its meaning.
"John," he said kindly.
The boy stopped and turned around;
as he did go, the printer took up half
dollar from the desk, and holding it
between his fingers, said
"You've been very good boy, John,
and I think you deserve Christmas
gift. Here's half dollar for you.
Johns countenance was lit up In an
instant. As he came back to get the
money, the printers eyes rested upon
his feet, which were no: covered with
very comfortable pair OF shoes, and ne
said
(which would you rather have, John,
this half dollar or a pair of new sboes?"
s'I'd rather have the new Shoes" re-
piled John without hesitation.
s.Very well: I'll write You an order
on a shoemaker, and you can 60 and fit
yourself" and the printer turned to his
desk and wrote the order.
As he handed to John the piece OF
paper on which the order was written,
the lad looked earnestly into his face,
and then said, with strongly-marked
hesitation
s'I think, sir, that my shoes will do
; very we'll if mended; they only want
mending. Won't you please write shoes
for my mother instead of met"
The boys voice trembled, and his face
was suffused. He felt that he had ven
/ tured too far. The printer looked at
{ him for moment or two, and then said,
l "Does your mother want shoes badlyr
, "Oh, yes, sir. She doesn't earn much
. by washing and ironing when she car
l do it, but she sprained her wrist three
! weeks ago, and hasn't been able to dc
r anything but work a little about the
house since"
. sand are your wages all she has t.
live upon7"
9 ssThey are now"
Z "You have little sister, believer
Y eyes, sir.
) "Does che want shoes, also?" =
o s'She has had nothing but old rags Oh
8 her feet for month.
s "Indeedr
j. The printer turned to his desk, ant
It sat and unused for half minute. whli'
n John stood with his heart beating 81
8 loud that he could hear its pulsations.
o Solve me that order, THE man at lengtl
said to the boy, who handed him tn
e slip of paper. He tore it up, ana tnel
J. took his pen and wrote q new order.
n s'Take this" he said, presenting 1t +
y John. "I have told the shoemaker t.
e give you pair of shoes for your moth
J. er, yourself and your little sister; AM
o hero is the hall dollar, my boy-yo1
Ia must have that Also"
John took the order and the money
70 and stood for a few moments lookln
I into the printers face, while his lip
II moved as if he were trying to speak; bu
n no sound came therefrom. Then d
d turned away and left the Office wlthou
.e uttering word.
r "John is very late tonight" said th
poor Widow Elliot, as she got up an
went to the door to look out In the hop
ID of seeing her boy. AS Mrs. Elliot opene
st the door, the cold air pressed In upo
Il her. bearing it's heavy burden OF snow
She shivered like one in sudden agu
t. fit, and shutting the door, quickly mul
INJURED -,
~ nMy poor boy-it is dreadful nigh
r for him to be out, and SO thinly clad.
in wonder why he stays SO Later"
of The mother had hardly uttered thea
d. words when the door was thrown oper
t and John entered with hasty stel
ee bearing several packages IN his ARM
@. all covered with snow. :,
or ssThere's your Christmas gilt, mttf
err" said he, in delighted voice; an
rt here is mine, and there is Netty 81 OIL
if playing at the same time three pairs
or shoes. a paper OF sugar, another OF tel
and another OF rice.
en- Mrs, Elliot looked bewildered.
he "Where did all these come fror
10 John?" she asked, in q trembling volc
n for she was overcome with surprise al
pleasure at this unexpected supply
ed articles so much needed.
no Jobn gave an artless relation Of VIII
t's had nassed bet ween him and the print
"a for whom he worked, and added
de 81 knew what number You wore, al
nd thought would guess at Netty's slz
"a II thew don't at, the man says he W
change them; and I'll go clear back
he tine store tonight but what she chi
en- have her new shoes for Christmas.
to Won't she be gIadl 1 wish she we
awake"
=" "And the tea, sugar and rice, y
3se boucht with the half dollar he ga
re- you?" said the mother.
is "Yes," replied John; ST bought t
tea and the sugar for you. They're 20
re- Christmas gift from me. And the r
well all have tomorrow. Won't J
af- make rice pudding for our dinnerr
g a aYou're a good boy, John-a "
good boy" said the mother, much
id. fected by the generous spirit her
,or' had displayed. eyes, you shall hav
sel- rice pudding. Bat take off your
shoes. my son-they are all wes-s
he div your feet by the fire.
will "No. not till you put Netty's shoes
I'd to see il they at her" replied John.
ele- thew don't at, I'm going back to
let store for pair that will. She shall n
her new shoes for Christmas. A
not mother, try yours on-maybe they w
do" =,
di- To satisfy the earnest boy. Mrs. ri
bile tried on Netty's shoes, although
The child was sleeping.
x1,a esTx,.t kho khins - aha said