The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-12-22

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/ Child! 90 to the old doctor,
; said the mother. Go tell him to
come quickly! l must be made
we'll if be can do it! Go! Cor
Nina put on her hood and ran
away. The good old German
doctor came back with her, and
felt his poor country woman's
pulse, and wrote a prescription,
and pattod little Nina on the
head, and bade her take care Of
her mother. But the child took
nearly ali The small purse con-
tanned to pay for the powders he
had ordered, and though she
watched by her mothers bed all
day the mother grew worse. She
lay tossing to and fro, talking Of
tho past.
1T was Christmas time when |
ran away with your father she
said with the Qnick speech Of
fever. My father did not like
him, nor my mother either; SO we
ran away and were married. We
came to this country in a great
ship. We were very happy until
he died. Nina, do you remember
how good be was to us last
Christmas? All, only for you,
only for leaving you, my little
girl, it would seem best for me
| that l am going to him.
christmas Oh, in Germany,
at home in Germany. we always
had q Christmas tree, and we. sat
tngether in the parlor, and the
window lifted and St. Nicholas
came in. He gave US toys and
gifts Of all sorts. We were glad,
and yet frightened. Our wooden
shoes were set in a row on the
hearth at night. In each we found
some gift. Such a supper dane
ing musicI
Il wonder whether my old ia
ther is dead whether my old mo-
ther lives; whether they forgive
me?'
She wept, but little Nina sat
thinking. She thought of Santa
Claus-old St. Nicholas, the good
Christmas friend of all good
chiIdren-he would come down
the chimney, or in at the window.
with any gitl be pleased. Surely,
if he was so good to her moth er
when she was q little girl, be
would remember her now that
she WAS sick. But how was be to
know? he could, if he pleased
give her mother plenty Of money
Of that she felt certain. But how
was one to find him ?
'Mother,' she said, where does
Santa Claus live?'
The poor mother was fast
growing delirious.
What did you ask?' she said,
dreamily. Where he lives ? Oh,
| do not know
But be could do anything, give
anything he chose ? asked Nina.
Yes said the feverish woman,
syes-yes; tel! him to give me ice
-nice, cold, glittering ice-to
cool me head-ice, ice.'
oh, 1 will get you some ice,
mother,' said Nina. 4 will 60 to
the grocer's and get some
She took bowl from the closet
and a penny from the old purse,
and ran cut Of the room, shutting
the door softly behind her.
There was a grocery in the
lower part Of the house, and she
went into it and up to the ccun'
ter. A rosy-faced Dutch boy gave
her the ice, and be looked sc
good-natured that she asked him
a question.
DO you know where Santa
Claus lives?' she said.
The boy scratched his head.
'Yes-he Ibis in Germany hf
said.
Mina's heart leaped high.
'Biddy-little Biddy Flynn,
she called to G child passing tht
door, will you take this bowl o
ice up to my mother, and give
her some and stay by her until
come back. III only be gone
few moments
Good-natured little Blddy tooE
the bowl and ran up stairs, an'
Nina ran down the streets tha
she knew led to the river, as las
as her feet could carry her Sh
had two cents in her pocket, an
thought that would pay her 1are