Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-12-25

lips.
Christmas morning whitened over
the world.
"Did he come ?"
Darling, he did not find US. "
Mamma spoke the words in short,
husky tones. "Bnt you shall have a
nice breakfast, pet, Only wait
Then mammals blue fingers made
trembling haste There was a wee
parcel far back on the shelf-rice.
Mamma had saved it long, thinking
it might fill sorer time Of need.
Rice is not great luxury to you,
dsars, but with Dimple it was 50 diff
ferent
"Food is what she needs. Food
will make her well as ever" This
was what mamma kept thinking as
she lighted the scanty fire and placed
Dlmple's breakfast to cook.
"Now, darling, you must not move,
Keep the cover close, dear. You
shall have delicious, warm food. l
will make haste"
The door was shut, and she was
gone. Then she was back. Three
pennies will not buy much, yet ii
procured two mites Of sugar and tea,
and Dimples Christi mas gift-.a bright
red apple.
And Tamma hurried up the long
stairs with no tears in her eyes, with
no sigh of regret that the parcels
were so small, with no thought save
Food is all she needs. Food will
restore her."
The room was filled with smoke.
All, me The small fire, flashing
as though to outdo the rival blasts
had wrought too well. The contents
of the little saucepan were black anc
ruined !
at is gone, Dimple. l thought
you would have 50 nice breakfast" =
$50 l will, msmma-bird You car
watch the tea, that it need not bt
burned, You will be warming, too
Make two cups, just alike
Mamma crumbled some bits o
bread in Dimple's cup. and half the
apple was roasted for her.
ooh, what a lovely baeakfsstl she
said. "If l could only have my little
set, now. You have never given m,
my own things since
Mamma was fumbling away dowr
in trunk which she had not un
locked since it was brought into til,
room. Presently she opened a lit il
box.
There they lay Dimple's shining
ring of twisted leaves and stems anc
buds, claaping its snowy napkin
through so many, many months
There were knife and fork and spoon
bright as mirrors.
Mechanically, after the fashion o
housewifely ladies, mamma-bird, he
fingers thinking to make war on in
visible PARTICLES of dust, inverted th'
little case, tapping it lightly.
The velvet lining fell into her lap
Something else dropped, too-a com
pact, closely-folded paper.
What is it, mamma2 Is it a let
ter?"
There was a rose.spot on each whit
cheek as mamma went over and knelt
trembllngly, by Dimple's couch.
Yes, darling, it is letter for you
Papa had it written for your Christ
mas four years ago, when he CAV
you this little silver set.
ut means just what you said, dea,
that we were to go away to prett
home, with green fields and shinin
streams, and birds, and blossoms, an
rest.
III is yours, DlmpIe, n'y darling
This letter is a deed. How strange
had not found it sooner r.
Then mamma, all a.tremble, dare
to add more wood to the yanishin
Goals, and before Dimple's breaktas
was over she broke down in a Ion
luxury Of tears.
She could afford them, you know.
| -----a>-----s---------------
THERE are other things about Pitts
burg which are also the biggest in tn
W orld, but perhaps they should no
be spoken of. 1t has the biggest
ancl the worst-water works. the din
4;oe etreoie anI tba Snoo1,;a,+ o.,o,,