The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-05-26


ton, cheered by the thought that her
daily labors stood bet ween her darl-
ing little ones aud the gaunt wolf of
starvation. There clothes were
patched ard shabby, and their food
plain, and sometimee scaut, yet they
we're never reduced to absolute suf-
fering
Jack Dawson, strong, honest
miner. was passing the cabin this
Christmas Eve, when the voice of
the little girl within attracted his
attention. Jack possessed an in.
ordinate love for children, aud al
though his manly spirit would abhor
the sneaking practice of eavosdrop-
ping, he could not resist the tempta-
ton to steal up to the window just u
moment to listen to the sweet, pratt
tling voico The first words he
ISuuSut Wcic
"Before papa died we always had
Christmas, didn't we, mamma ?"
"Yes, Totty darling; bnt papa
earned money enough to afford to
make his little pets happy a. least
once year.
You must remember, Totty. that
we are very poor, and although
mamma works very, very hard she
can scarcely earn money enough to
supply us with food and clothes"
Little bright faced Benny raised
his curly head from its soft nest on
the bear skin aud cheerily said
"Des' wait till dit to be man,
mamma, an 90 won't have to wort
Tse doin' to be dreat bid miner
ike papa WAS, dit 90 ever SO much
money but won't do near 'em
hateful blastin' tings an did titled
i Ike papa did"
(Jack Dawson still fingered upon
tho outside. He could not leave, al
though he felt ashamed of himself
Tor listeniDg)
"Why, bless my little man, what
a brave future he has planned DO
hope and pray, darling, that you will
grow up strong and good man,
and one who will DO blessing aud
II comfort to mamma when she gets
old"
1--WE hung up our stockings last
Christmas, didn't we, mamma? ques
toned the little girl.
Yes, rotty, but we were poor
then, aud Santa Clans never notices
real poor people. He gave you n
little candy then, just because you
were such good children
rs We poorer now mamma ?"
"Ob, yes, much poorer. lie wolld
never notice us at all now
Jack Dawson dete cted tremor of
sldness in tho widows voice as she
uttered the last words, aul wiped
suspicious dampness from his
eyes.
"Where's our clean stockings,
mamma ! Im going to hang mine
up anyhow ; maybe he will come like
he did before, just because we try
to be good children" said Totty.
at will be no use, darling, I am
sure he will not come" and tears
gathered in the mothers eyes, as
she thought of her empty purse.
81 don't care-I'm going to try
anyhow. Please get one of my
stockings, mamma" pleaded the lit.
tie girl.
Your clean stockings are on the
line outside, and cannot go out and
hunt for them this bitter cold night.
You may hang up your old ones |;
but, oh, darling, | fe ar you will be
30 terribly Gisap pointed in the
morning. Please let it go till next
Christmas, and then we may be
richer.
"No. m ANNA | am going to try
anyhow"
Jack Dawson's great generous
heart swelled until it seemed break
ing from hi 3 bosom. He heard the
patter of little bare feet on the cab
in floor as Totty ran about hunting
hers aud Beuny's stockings, and,
after she had hung them up, heard
her sweet voice again as she won.
dered over and over il Santa Claus
would really for get them. He heard
the mother, in choping voice, tell
her treasures to get ready for bed
heard them lisp their childish pray.
ers, the little girl concluding
sand. oh, Lord, p lease tell good
Santa Claus that we are very poor,