Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-12-22
AN ANGEL IN An ULSTER.

"Well, sir, l am sorry; but I've done
the best could for you"
1t is the conductor Of the night ex-
press on the Eastern Railroad who is
speaking; and the passenger, to whom
his remark is addressed, stands with
watch in hand, near the door of the
car, as the train draws into the Boston
station.
"I do not doubt it," is the answer.
"You can not be blamed for the delay.
The other train must have left the
Western station already"
Undoubtedly; the time is past, and
they always start ON time"
"And thefe is no train that connects
through to Cincinnati before tomorrow
morningf"
"Nol" "Well, that settles it. Thank
you"
Mr.. Halliburton Todd steps down
from the platform Of the car, and walks
slowly past the row of beckoning and
shouting hackmen. He is too good a
philosopher to be angry with the freshet
that delayed the train, but there is a
shade of disappointment or his face,
and trace Of moisturerin his eye. He
isa whOlesome.loOking man of forty y-iye,
with grayish hair and beard blue eyes,
and a ruddy countenanCe. Probably
he is never much given to grinning,
but just now his face is unusually grave;
nevertheless, it is IA kind face; under
its sober mask there is a world of good
nature. In short he is Just the
sort of man that a shrewed girl
of twelve would pick out for an uncle.
lfanyone thinks that is not high praise,
should like to have him try his hand
al commentator.
There are, indeed, quite Il number of
boys and girls to whom Uncle Hal is
both saint and hero. AT that
Christmas party, i'll the home Of his
sister in the western city to which he
has been hurrying, these boys and girls
are TO be assembled. All the married
brothers and sisters, with their families,
will be there. But it is of no use now
for him to try to join them. The
feast will be ended and the circle will
be broken, before he can reach Cincin.
natl. So he strolls out Of the station
and up the street. No, he will not
take hack nor Il horse car; happy
people may consent to be carried; those
whose minds are troubled would better
go afoot. He will walk off his dis.
appointment.
He trudges along the narrow street
the drays and the express wagons
laden with all sorts of boxes and par.
GELS, are clattering to and fro; porters,
large and small, are running with
bundles big and little; the shops are
crowded with eager customers Mr.
Halliburton Todd is too good y man tC
be dismal long in the midst OF a scene
like this, "What hosts Of people, ht
says to himself, care thinking ant
working to-day to make other people
happy tomorrow And how happy
they all are themselves, to-day! W.
always say that Christmas is the hap
piest day in the year; but is it? Ism
it the day before Christmas?"
So thinking, he pauses at The win
dow of a small print-shOp, when his
attention is caught by the voices o
two children, standing in the hall al
the foot of the stairs leading to thl
stores above. On the sign beside tn,
doorway he reads, "Jackman & Com
pany, Manufacturers Of Ladies' Tn
derwear."
The children are girl of twelve ant
boy of ten, neatly but plainl,
dressed troubled look is on the
bright faces.
"How much, Ruby?" asks the boy
"Only seven dollars" answers tn
girl, choking back sob "There wer
four dozen of the night dresses, yor
know, and the price was two collars
dozen; but the man said that some O
them were not well made, so he KEEP
back a dollar"
"The man lied," says Ben, "and L.
go up and tell him So"
"Oh, no." answers Ruby, "tha
wouldn't do any good, He wouldn'
mind you, and might not give us an
more work. But the work was we
done. if we did help, for y0u run tn
machine beautifully, and mamma say
that my button holes are every bit q
good as hers. just think of i'll Onl
seven dollars for two weeks hard wor
of all three Of usl'
1--WE can't have the turkey" say
Ben, sadly.
"Ob, no. / found a nice young OF
down at the corner store that we coul
get for a dollar and a half, but W
must lay by two dollars for the ren
you know; and there'll be coal to br
next week. Pm sure mamma wi
think we can't affordit.'
Come on, then," says Ben, besto,
ing farewell kick on the iron sign
Jackman & Company.
Mr. Halliburton Todd has forgottt
all about his own disappointment
listening to the more serious trouble
these two children. AS they walk l
the street, he follows them closely, tr
ing to imagine the story of their live
They stop now and then for a momel
to look in the windows of tie to
sores, and to admire the sweet wo
ders of the confectioners, but they
not tarry long. Presently, the eyes
Mr.. Todd are caught by large theate
bill, announcing the 0ratorio of Il
Messiah, at Music Hall, Tuesday ev
ming, December "a, by the Handel al
Haydn Society. Mr.. Lang is to pl
the great organ. Theodore Thomi
orchestra Is to assist, and the SOLOS
are Miss Tb'Tsby and Miss Cary, al
Mr.. Whitney and Mr.. Sam Reeves.
"Correctp says Mr.. Halliburton Tod
aloud. He knows now what he W
do with the coming evening. 1t
long since his passion for music
been promised such a qualification.
While he pauses, he notes that Ru
and Ben are scanning with eager ey
the same billboard. "Rather remal
able children" he says to himself, .
care for oratorio. If it were a nj
strel show shouldn't wonder"
"Wouldn't l like to gop" says Rul
wouldn't Ip' echoes Ben, with
low whistle.
''Don't you remember" says the g
ttha niuht mana nnd n,ononna fooIy