Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-12-22
Locking For Santa Claus.
A Good Story for the Boys ana
Girls.

One wlntry day little Nina arose in
the morning and found that her mothei
was not up.
This ~ss strange, for the sun was
hiph snd bis beams fell aslant through
the high carret window upon the bare
floor. The stove was cold and the
coffee-pot stood empty on the she'll
Nina laughed at the thought that she
had walked before her mother. she
slipped on her blue wooleu dress, her
large checked apron, her knitted stock
inps, and her thick shoes and having
washed her face, and braided her hair III
two tight little pigtails, crept around to
her motter's bed, intending to kiss her
awake. But her mothers eyes were
wide open, her checks were red ano
her hair was tossed about on the pillows.
Oh, my lid she cried, as she saw
her little girl, what shall we do no"
| anil have a fever Of some sort
Nv head is as heavy as If fl was made
Of lead. am not even able 10 rse.
much les, to 20 about my work. We
shall starye together, YOU and l. poor
uuluppy widow aud orphan that We
are
Oh, no, mother said Nina. we
need not starve. l can make the coffee
aud 90 and buy the bread aud sausage
Child, cbild!' cried the mother very
soon there will be DO money to buy
AM thing. l have felt myself breaking
down for week. have no hope now.
| must send for the doctor, and when
he finds am not able 10 pay him be
will send me to tue hospital. You,
poor little soul, you will soon be
mo,berless as well as falherless.'
TIE poor woman hid her face in the
pillow. Nina wept. Tears ran down
her cheeks; but she soon went to the
stovc. aud kindled fire, and made the
coffee, as she had seen her mother do
ii.
The coffee will do you good, mother,
she said. But the poor sick mother
was too feyerish 10 taste it.
Then, indeed, Nina felt that every
thing was wrong.
Christmas tune Christmas time J
repeated the poor woman. talking more
10 herself than 10 her child ; and
Christmas used 10 be so happy
At this Nina crept closer TO her
mothers bed. Yes, in two days Christ
mas would come. She had looked
toward TO it so. She had hoped that
abe would find in her stocking wax
doll with blue eyes, aud candy basket
full Ct sugar plums, at least; but she
should uot care for them if her poor
mother were 80 sick.
Child! 90 TO the old DOCTOR said the
mother. Go tell him to come quickly
I must be made we'll if he can do it
Go! Go!
Nina put on her hood and ran away
Tie good old German doctor came
back with her, and felt bis poor country
woman's pulse, and wrote prescrip'
ton, and patted little Nina on the head
aud bade her take care Of her motheI.-
But the child took nearly all the small
purse contained 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 ant
fro. talking OF the past.
1T was Christmas time when / rar
away with your father she said Will
he quick speech Of fever. MY lathe
did not like him, nor my mother either
so we ran away and were married. W.
came to this country IN great ship
We were very happy until he died
Nina. do you remember how good HI
was 10 us last Christmas {? All. only fol
YOU, only for leaving you. my little
sirl IL " ould seem best for me that
am going 10 him.
Christmas Oh, in Germany,at home
10 Germany, we always bad Christina
tree. and we eat together IN the parlor
and the window lifted and st. Nicbola
came IN. He gave us toys and gifts o
lan sorts. We were glad, and ye
frightened. Our wooden shoes were sc
in row on the hearth at night. Ii
each we found some gift. Such sup
| per! dancing music!
Il wonder whether my old father J.
| dead: whether my old mother lives
whether they forgive me9
She wept, but little Nina sat think
ing. Size thought Of Santa Claus-ol'
Isl. Nicholas, the good Christmas irien'
II all good ebildren-be who woui'
! ONE down the chimney, or 10 at th'