Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-24
n PITIFUL TALE.
Mothers Attempt to Provide a Christmas
-. .t-...sa..s. for Her Children. ..a

A Mothers Attempt to Provide a Christmas
# for Her Children.
A touching incident transpired at the police
that bailiwick of justice, at least, st. Paul may
boast of minister with whom the quality of
mercy is not strained, but whose dispensations
frequently fall with the pathetic tenderness of
q benediction. About nightfall on Monday af-
ternoon, poorly clad and famished locking
woman was caught in the act of pilferiug a
petty article at Ingersolps store, Bridge square,
in this CITY Several thefts had been COM
mitted during the day and it was decided to
d the fplP5it over to jnstice which was at
| Quoted the woman from the store deeply hu-
inflated.
She was taken to police headquarters where
she was identified as a hard working German
woman, residing on the Como road a widow
and the only support of five small children
The woman's tears pleaded more eioquently
than her sub.choked utterance for release, and
as the hour was over for holding court, it was
decided to permit her to return to her family
providing she appeared for trial the next
mOrding. "
It is safe to cay, that could the elegantly at
tired mesdames, who gathered their skirts
about them, as the crushed and wretched
| woman was led from the store in the custody
as she struggled home through the pitiless
| storm of Monday night, they had been less
caustic in their contempt for the criminal The
surprise depicted on the five eager faces that
watched 80 longingly for her return home, and
whose childish imaginations were crowded with
the most wondrous visions of the bright things
that good Kris Kringle would bring the chill
dren for being SO good during mamma absence,
may possibly be imagined as the sorrow
stricken and empty handed woman made her
appearance
What excuse the mother gave the children, OF
BY what means she allayed their disappointed
hopes and intense longings, is not known, but
certain it is that during the long night the wo-
man wept copiously, as shown BY her mournful
looking eyes yesterday morning. At o'clock
business at tho police court commenced as
| usual. Among those present were two statesmen
from Ingersolrs store, who appeared to prose-
| cute the woman. A half hour sped by and
nally the men got tired of waiting. and with
the remark that they would not prosecute the
| case, they returned to their business
A few minutes after their departure a
thinly clad and wretched looking creature
came into tho court room. She was motioned
to seat and when asked her business by a
bailif she replied that she had come for trial.
Judge Flint was informed of the case and with
fatherly solicituae enquired about her circum.
stances. the woman not knowing that she was
not going to be prosecuted. She related o
story OF want and suffering; told of her chill
dren and their Christmas expectations, and last
OF. all spake of the terrible temptation. The
scene which then ensued might furnish emo
| tl0n Tor an epic. The kind heart of the Judge
swelled with the k;ndliest human sympathy q.
he heard the woman's story, and apparently
unobserved he drew forth q dollar which h.
banded to the woman with the remark that i
was "for the children's Christmas, and not t,