The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN ANDERSON
COURT.


CHRISTMAS IN ANDERSON
COURT.
1t was not a paiace-no it, was only
one diagy little room where Maggie Bur
ton lived. 1t was one Of the twenty or
thirty very humble homes in Anderson
court, not far from busy, bright street
in great city.
1t was the day before Christmas that
Maggie sat in this forlorn room tending
baby, and trying to keep her two broth
ers still $50 she could think" as she
said.
Maggie was only ten years old, but she
had to be mother to these boys and to
the baby from morning till night, almost
every day In the week, tor very hazd times
had come to this family, and Mrs. Burton
had, for several months, been obliged to
leave her little ones and ssgo out wash
ing" 1t had not always been quite so
bad-but Maggie could never remember
when they were not poor, though she
remembered they used to have a neat
room and plenty to eat and wear. Before
the strike Mr.. Burton got very fair wages,
and as Mrs. Burton was a very good
manager, and they all had been we'll, they
got along very comfortably. But now
for four months all the men had been on
strike at the mills, and Mr.. Burton had
earned nothing since, except what he
would get now and then for little jobs
that he picked up here and there.
Maggie was singing to the worrying
baby in her arms, and the boys were
playing horse terrifically, when she ex-
claimed, impatiently:
"Now, boys, l wish you would keep
still, so can think"
"What do you want to think about2"
said Johnny, pushing his brother over,
and coming quickly up to Maggie's side.
Pm trying to think about Christmas
and the beautiful things in the store-wln-
dows, and I'm trying to think how nice
it would be to be a lady, with lots of mon
ey to buy dresses and dolls, and toys and
candy"
"Candyl' exclaimed Georgia, picking
himself up from the floor and stopping
his crying: II wish l had some candy;
Can't we get some, Maggie?"
"No, Georgia, we can't have one bit.
Mother says if we can get bread we may
be glad. do wish we could have some
thing nice tonight; and I do wish moth
er would come, I'm 50 tired"
'Maggie, do you think Well ever have
money enoug h to buy nice things2" ask
ed Johnny, his round eyes growing very
large and thoughtful, and his chin rest
ing on his dirty hand. -......
"l'm sure l don't know, Johnny: I
guess not-unless the mills begin again,
and don't think then that we could
ever have carpet, or good clothes, or a
big looking glass like they have one
place where mother washes.''
"Where do some men get so much
money!" Johnny asked: ''because Pm
gong to get lot when I'm big-if I can
find out where it comes from
"l'm sure don't know, said Maggie
II guess they find it.' -.~'
When Mrs. Burton came home. weary
and worn, George ran to her, pulling,
her dress and teasing, mamma. did you
bring me a horse for Christmas2'
"pve brought you home some bread
That is all the Christmas gift you ch,I-
dren will get this year," and she cut
some large pieces from loaf: which the
lit+le boys grasped with their dirty hands
and ate voraciously
Nov, Maggie" she said, ':lay the baby
down, and run out with the boys and see
the handsome stores, and the happy peo-
pie. You've been Il good girl. dear. I
could not get along without you. Poke
= the fire a little, for father'll be coming
soon, and 1t is getting very cold"
Maggie with a faded shawl over her
head and a ragged urchin by each hand,
went down the gayly-lighted streets,
where people IN crowds were hurrying
by, carrying bundles of presents to glad
den the morrOw-where the windows,
lighter than day, were brilliant bazaars
of wonderful things. a-.
the windows of a candy store, and talked
about old snow covered Santa Claus and
his pretty reindeer, and the candy ami
mails, and the popped-corn baby, and the
pretty things for Christmas trees. Then
they ran on to a toy.store whose win
doWs were wonder world Of beauty.
.sOh, ! wish had that doll with the
red silk dress on" said Maggie.
"I'd like that drum, and that funny
man that keeps his head going, and that
donkey, and them steam cars, and that
fddle,' ratified Johnny.
.Oh, there's the ting I want-that
wooden horse, +" said George. "Maggie.
can't ] lave that horse?-it won't &C COS
more'n two cents.''
s'No, George, if costs awful much, 1
know, and we're so poor" groaned Mag
gle. .s. ,., -3ss
What makes US poora" Is it because
we're bad9" asked George.
j No, ! don't think father is bad; h1