The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-12-23
Select Story.
TEN LITTLE TOES.
A STORY FOR CHRISTMAS.

1t was the twenty-third of December a
cold mist had been falling, freezing as it
fell, the sky was gray, and the short
winter afternoon was growing fast into
night. Up the struggling village street
little urchin was trudging along, not
cheerily and with boyish whistliug, but
slowly and painfully, stopping every
now and then to give II pull to the rag
ged woolen socks, which were all the
covering his little feet possessed. The
cobble- stone walk was slippery with the
frozen sleet, and often the poor little
chilled feet stumbled and hurt them.
selves cruelty; but their owner was one
of those pitiful examples of how even
suffering can become expected, and he
endured his bruises with Il pathetic
patience. After the row of cot
tages Oh each side of the inn-above the
door of which swung the sign Of the
'IIalf Moon came the church, with its
iron gltes, open today, for busy hands
were bringing holly and ivy and laurel,
to "make beautiful the home of
the Lord" for the white day" OF
the year. Beyond the church stretch
ed the grass fields, and then the ivy top
ped low stone wall of the village gar
den. Away and beyond that were roll
ing fields, and then at half mile dis
tance the great stone pillars and gates OF
"The CEDAR" the residence of Mr. Fair,
banks, the owner of the great mills il
the hollow, where heavy machinery clat
tered and doomed from morning til
night.
As the child passed the church ht
heard voices, and stopping minute he
looked through the grating, wondering
dimly if the "gentle folks ever, even
starved in the cold.
Mrs. Ellsmore, the Wears wife, was
coming out, her hands full of gleamin.
b b,rres and shining leaves she was talk
ing pleasantly to the old sexton who
was locking up the church.
"Be sure and have good fire in the
vestry tomorrow, for we will be dowr
early" she was saying as they came
through the gates "and, Andrew, tax,
care of your rheumatism it is Il colo
night"
"Aye, madame, it do be bitter cold, it,
loike snow, and pulling his hair to tn,
lady Andrew shutied off,
Turning quickly, Mrs. EIlsmore nearl,
stumbled over the crouching figure o
the child who sat down to rest on tn
stone ledge outside the iron fence. "Wel
little boy and who are you!' she said
stopping moment.
"'Ome Bobby" he answered, gain!
into her face with the wiSlfu look Of som
dumb animal
Mrs Ellsmorc smiled.
"Where do you live
"Over there jerking his head towar'
the hollow.
"Oh, your father works in the mill !
INA, he's turned off when the mais
ter turned off the hands, fathers nam
was drawed,"
A shadow crept into the kind eye
watching him 1t was the same old,piti
ful story how often she had heard
that winter. Trade was dull, and Just a
winter was coming on Mr.. Fairbank
had closed part of his mills and turne
4 off half of his hands. They said whe
the news was told them great cry wen
up from the men; in an instant they sa'
| what would follow starvation for tn
| wives and little ones. Other mill owr
ers had done the samc, but others sti
had kept on their hands forthe winteLoI
ly shortening the hours, Mr. Fairba nb
was just master but hard one, an
now many brawny fist was shake
stealthily after him as his crriage role
past the cottage windows, Mrs, Ell
more thought of all this as she locke
down into the little pinched face,
| "Where are You going, child 2 81
asked, gently.
4 "oime come fur granny, the baby