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

:
/ Child! 60 to the old DOCTOR
; said the mother. Go tell him to
come quickly! 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 all 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
the 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 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 a 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 music
i wonder whether my old "a
thor is dead; whether my old mo.
ther lives; whether they forgive
meT
She wept, but little Nina sat
thinking. She thought Of Santa
Claus-old St. Nicholas, the good
Christmas friend of all good
cbildren-he would come down
the chimney, or in at the window,
with any gifl be pleased. Surely
if he was so good to her moth Ell
} when she was . little girl, be
would remember her now that
she was sick. But how was he tc
know? he could, if be pleased
give her mother plenty Of money
Of that she felt certain. But how
was one to find him?
) Mother she said, where doe:
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 be chose ? asked Nina
Yes said the feverish woman
'yes-yes tel! him to give me ice
-nice, cold, glittering ice-te
cool me head-ice, ice
'Oh, 1 will get you some ice
mother said Nina. Il will 60 tt
the grocer's and get some.'
She took a bowl from the close
and penny from the old purse
, and ran cut of the room, shutting
the door softly behiBd her.
There was a grocery in tn
,, lower part of the house, and sh'
went into it and up to the coun
!, ter. A rosy-faced Dutch boy CAV
her the ice, and be looked 81
> good-natured that she asked hin
question.
DO you know where SAINT
Claus lives?' she said.
The boy scratched his head.
'Yes-he Ibis in Germany b
= said.
: Mina's heart leaped high.
'Biddy-little Biddy Flynn
she called to q child passing th
y door, will you take this bowl {
l ice up to my mother, and Civ
' her some and stay by her until
come back. III only be gone
~ few moments
Good-natured little Biddy too
% the bowl and ran up stairs, an
y Nina ran down the streets ths
y she knew led to the river, as tai
y as her feet could carry her. St
had two cents in her pocket, an
i thought that would pay her Tar
IS sailor was standing near