The Red Cloud chief., 1880-01-15
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

vyrhe Widow winterpippin's Wonderful
Dream.
This is just how affairs stood in the
house in which we lived-brother Ma
thaniel and I-it was a tenement house,
not what they call a "iirst-class" one,
but a very nice one-on the Christmas
Eve before hat Christmas night.
In the basement the three little chill
Sdren of Mrs. Rose, the janitor's wife,
were quietly playing with their dolls for
the first time in several weeks, having
been sick nigh unto death, and their
lpoor, tired mother was lowering about
them, her thin, pale face lighted up with
thankfulness and joy, albeit a cloud did
fit across it, every now and then, rs she
Sthought of the dests contracted during
'wse heir sickness-dehts which ut the pres
ent moment-Mr. Rose having been out
of work for three long months-she had
hut the ~faintest hope of ever being able
10 pay.
bn the first floor Mrs. McChilly-old,
OBSTINATE aud-wcil, TO speak plainly
iiagy Mrs. neutrality-suspicious. on
nose and head held close 10 the lamp,
WA looking over for the fifticth time the
bonds, willcd her by her brother, who
had lately died in San Francisco, and
received by her a few days before, max
inc her already in comfortable, U6ry
comfortable circumstances-what in our
4. vphere s,life would be considered rich.
FYer g~iriish-looking granddaughter, by
marriage, was darning the old lady's
stockings, and thinking of the dear,
merry, Young brother-in-law, banished
from bis home half a year ago-a home
which had never been 50 sunshiny since
because he had dared to fall in love
I without his grandmother's consent, and
Notwithstanding husband of the grand
daughter, by marriage, was writing a
cheerful. affcctionatc letter tn the ban
i-ned one, under cover of the daily ac-
Q count-book.
On The second floorpretty. g~rayed-eyed,
brown-haired Mrs. Summer was hush
inc the baby to sleep, and dropping
tears on its little, golden head when
ever, which was very often, she glanced
,sn.st her husband who lay snoring on the
axnnge, having left a %convivial party
fate that afternoon Ia stagger home, as
he had done many times during the last
unhappy wear, with aching head and
empty pockets.
On the third floor jolly, plump, black
eyed, rosy-cheeked, generous (out of
her income of a thousand a year she
gave away at least one-cighth) Widow
M~interpippin was calmly sleeping in her
bed. thoroughly tired out by a hard
DAYS work, and Mamie, her little maid,
with the cat in her lap, was doing in a
spasmodic manner in a rocking-chair by
the kitchen fire.
And on the fourth floor brother Ma
' thaniel and | were taking a late supper
because | had been obliged TO remain
Itger than usual ut the store where l
was clerk, il being the custom of our
employer TO exact extra service all holl-
week %(without, however, thinking ii
\ Necessary To requite such service with
extra paw. and dear Nathan whom
there never could be a kinder brother
would not, though he might be ever so
hungry, eat supper until | was there TO
make and pour out the tea. At tastes
-tS.o much better from your hand, Sis
he used To say.
Nathaniel was a printer, and had been
a fine, stalwart, singing, whiStling fell
low until that dreadful day in Septem-
Der when he met with the terrible acct
dent which resulted in the loss of his
right arm.
Since her he had been on the invalid
list, and sang and whistled and joked no
more. We had, fortunately. some mon
ey saved when this misfortune came
upon us, but it wa now almost exhaust
ed. And Nat began to worry about
that, among other things; but | never
lost heart. Why should L? 1 had
youth, health and strength, and twelve
xSollars a week. And we could manage
to starve or freeze, on twelve dol
WARS a week, and Mats overcoat and my
cloak could both be turned, and-some-
body was coming home soon.
Widow Winterpippin-God bless her
proved an angel of goodness during
our trouble, coming TO sit with Nat her
self, when his arm was at the worst; q
ID mad TO 60 TO the store, after the frs
ew days, or the salary would hav,
ceased-thouyh, they did, fora wonder
give me an extra half-hour at noor
when | went home to lunch), sending
Mamie to wait on him when he Wa,
getting better, and making all sorts o
nice dishes to tempt his appetite, ant
lending him all the incest books, ant
HSgkeeping the room bright with beautiful
Showers. But it wasn't this kindness
that made Nat fall in love with her
Oh, no! for he had fallen IN love witt
her long before, and was on the poin
of telling her so when that cruel ma
chinery grasped his arm.
- "But l must give her up now, Susie,
= he said to me-we had no secrets from
each other though 1 love her NOR
than ever. 'Twould have been m
match, in a worldly sense, for her be
fore-a printer with only what b,
earned from week to week, and a pretty
Young widow, owning houses and land
Sufficient to give her an income of
thousand a year-but now it is simpl
impossible. Disabled for life, / mus
make up my mind to be a burden O
you, and see her marry"
aYou1l do no such thing, Nathaniel,
cried I. what has come over you
n.asems TO me that the people who ar
= ~ ~iolliest when they are jolly are th
bluest when they are blue. One woul