The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23

One wintry day little Nina arose in
the morning and found that her mother
was not up.
This was strange, for the sin was high
and his beams-~ffel aslant through tie
high garfet window upon the bare floor.
The stove was cold and the cofee-pot
stood empty on the shelf. Nina laughed
at the thought that she had walked be-
fore her mother. She slipped on her
blue woo1en dress, her large checked
apron, her knitted stockings, and her
thick shoes; and having washed her
face. and braided her hair in two tight
little pigtails, crept around to her moth
er's bed, intending to kiss her awake.
But her mothers eyes were wide, open,
her cheeks were red, and her hair was
tossed about on the pillows. -
ooh, my child" she cried, as she saw
her little girl, s'what shall we do now? /
am III. Ihave fever Of some,soft. My
head is as heavy as if it was made Of
lead. lam not even able to rise, much
less to 20 about my work. We shall
starve together, you and ], poor, un-
happy han widow and orphan that we are"
aOh, no, mother" said Nina. 'sWe
need not starve. I can make the coffee,
and 60 and buy the bread and sau-
sage"
7sChild, child!" cried the mother,
every, soon there will be no money
to buy anything. I have felt myself
breaking down for week. / have no
hope now. must send for the doctor,
and when he finds I am not able to pay
him he will send me to the hospital
You, poor little soul, you will soon be
motherless as well as fatherless."
The Door woman hid her face in the
pillow. Nina wept. Tears ran down
her cheeks; but she soon went to the
stove, and Endled fire, and made the
coffee. as she had seen her mother do
il.
seThe coffee viii do you good, mother, "
she said. But the poor sick mother was
too feyerish to taste it.
Then, indeed, Nina felt that every
thing was wrong. =.
stChristmas time! Christmas time |"
repeated the poor woman, talking more
10 QSIScu Glldu w uCI CAQ4S11 0lAS& SA443oV'
mas used to be so happy"
At this Nina crept closer to her moth
er's bed. Yes, in two days Christmas
would come. She had looked forward to
it so. She had hoped that she would
find in her stocking wax doll with blue
eyes, and q candy basket full of sugar
plums, at least; but she should not care
for them if her poor mother were so
sick.
'sCbild! go to the old doctor" said the
mother. "Go tell him to come quickly
Imust be made well if he can do it! Col
Col"
Nina put on her hood and ran away.
The good old German doctor came back
with her, and felt his poor country wo-
mans pulse, and wrote prescription,
and patted little Nina on the head, and
badeh her take care of her mother. But
the child took nearly all the small purse
contained to pay for the powders ne had
ordered, and though she watched by her
mothers bed all day, the mother grew
worse. She lay tossing to and fro, talk
ing of the past.
51t was Christmas time when T ran
away with your father" she said with the
quick 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 great ship. We
were very happy until he died. Nina,
do YOU remember how good he 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, al
home in Germany, we always had o
Christmas tree, and we sat together 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 row on the hearth at night. In each
We found some gift. Such supper
dancingl music!
'.I wonder whether my old father is
dead; whether my old mother 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 children-he who would come
down the chimney, or in at the window,
with any gift he pleased. Surely, if he
was 30 good to her mother when she was
a little girl, he would remember her now
that she was sick. But how was he tc
know? He could, if he pleased, give hel
mother plenty Of money. Of that she
felt certain. But how was one to find
him?
''Mother," she said, "where does Santa
Claus ive?"
The poor mother was fast growing de-
lnious.
tWhat did you ask9" she said, dreami;
ly. sfWhere he lives? Oh, 1 do moi
know"
"But he could do anything, give any.
thing he chose 2" asked Nina.