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

.
One wintry day little Mina arose in
the morning and found TINT her mother
was not up.
This was strange. for the sun was high
md hls beams iell aslant through tho
high garret window upon tho bare floor.
stood empty on tho shelf MINI laughed
ut the thought that she had walked be-
fore her mother. She sl:;;po1 ON her
blue wooden dress, her largo checked
apron, her knitted stockings, and her
thick shoes and having washed her
face, and braided her hnir in two tight
little pigtails, crept around to her moth
er's bed, intending to kiss her awake.
But her mothers eyes wero wide open,
her chceEs were red, upi her muir was
tossed about on tho pillows.
"Oh. my child" she cried, rs she saw
her little girl, ''what shall We do now? I
am ill. hnve fever Of some sort. NY
head is as heavy ns IL il was made OF
lead am not even able to rise, much
less to go about my work. We shall
starve together, you and I, poor, un-
happy widow and orphan that we afe."
"Oh, no, mother" snid Nina. sNHe
need not starve. can make the coffee,
and go and buy the bread and sau-
sage"
Every soon there will be no money
to buy anything. I hnve felt myself
breaking down for week. have no
hope now. I must send for tho doctor,
~. when he finds am not able to pay
him he will send me to tho hospital.
You, poor little soul, you will soon be
motherless rs well as fatherless.
The poor woman hid her face in the
pillow. Nina wept. Tears run down
her checks; but she soon went to the
stove, and kindled fire, and made the
coffee, as she had seeL her mother do
it.
'"The coffee will do you good, mother"
she said. But the poor sick mother wns
too feverish to taste it.
Then, indeed, Nina felt that every
thing was wrong.
''Christmns time! Christmas time 1"
repeated the poor woman, talking moro
to herself than to her child; "and Christ
mas used to be SO happy"
At this Nina crept closer to her moth
er's bed. Yes, in two inys Christmas
would come. She had looked forward 10
it so. She Ind hoped that she would
find in her stocking wax doll with tlue
eyes, and candy basket full Of sugar
plums, Mt least; but she should not care
for them if her poor mother wero 80
sick.
Child go to the old doctor, f" said the
mother. "Go tell him to come quickly |
l must be made well if he can do it'll Col
Go!'
Nina put on her hood and ran away.
The good old German doctor came back
with her, and felt his poor country VIC,
mans pulse, and wrote prescription,
and patted little Nina on the head, and
bade her take care of her mother. But
the child took nearly all the Emnll purse
contained to pay for the powders he had
ordered, and though she watched by her
mothers bed oil day, the mother grew
worse. She lay tossing to and fro, talk
ing of the past.
'1t was Christmas time when I ran
away with your father" she said with tho
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 ha was to us
last Christlcas? Ah only for you, only
for leaving you, my little girl, it would
seem best for me that 1 am going to
him
"Christmasl Oh, in Germany, at
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
III u row ilui.Ttii i.e night. III sssoii,
We found some gift. Such 6 supper
II wonder whether my old father is
dead; whether my old mother lives;
whether they forgive meY''
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 como
down the chimney, or in at the window,
with any gift he pleased. Surely, if he
was 80 good to her mother when she wns
little girl, he would remember her now
that she was sick. But how WAS he to
know2 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, '4swhere does Santa
CLAUS liver"
lirious.
what did you nsk ?" shesaid, dreami-
". tfWhere no lives? OH, I do NOT
know 8,
'But he could do anything, give any
thing he chose % naked Nina.
'fYea, a.said the feyerish woman, "yes
yes; ten him TO give me ice2-nice, cold,
glittaring 1oe---to cool my head--ice,
..oh, i viii get you SONS ice. mother. /
said Nina. u VIII 20 TO the grocer,e and
get aone.1 81 9 81 80
Sho took d bowl nom tho closet and q
sitenily from tho old plrse, and ran out 81
Z the roctn, Enutting the door softly be.
h;:tid hen.
There Was n grocery IN the lower parl
Of the house, and ehe won't into it md NJ
10 tllf counter, "a rosy -faca5 Dutch tSS