Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-31
"A SCRAPPY CHRISTMAS

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thing"
Ella Vanderbilt had turned her IN
happy face to the window. There were
tears in her eyes, which in some measure
prevented her seeing the drizzling rain
outside, but she was perfectly conscious
that the weather was in harmony with
: her mood, aud that both were utterly
wretched.
Her mother, placid, sweet-faced
though tired-looking woman, was busy
at her sewing, regarding with some
dismay, just at that moment, p rite
ularly ragged garment which. stretched
out upon her lap, seemed making
damb, but piteous appeal for the kind
ministrations of needle and thread.
Il am sorry, Ella" was her quiet
reply to her daughters exclamation.
Something always happens just SO,
the young girl went on. Last year the
money had to go out West to Uncle
Silas' family don't know what Par
ticalar claim they have on father, any,
way. Now the insurance company can't
declare dividend-I believe that's
what they call it, isn't it? At any rate
we can't have any better time this
Christmas than we did last year, and !
think it's too bad. Other girls fathers
seem to manage to get along some
how !"
"And all this, Ella, because you can't
have new piano next month"
"Well," I've waited three years for
it. You know that"
Mrs. Vanderbilt did know. SIZE
know many other things, too, of which
Ella had very little realization-of the
hard and constant struggle made by
herself and husband to keep the home
comfortable and attractive, and crafty
their children in every reasonable way.
It had been little else but struggle fcl
six years past. Mr.. Vanderbilt had
been unsuccessful in several business
ventures, and affairs seemed to be
growing worse instead of better.
"And besides the piano p she asked
after little pause.
ooh, I had decided to get along with.
out a new cloak this winter, though
my old one is fearfully shabby. But
did want"
She stopped short, as turning from
the window she caught sight Of tho
ragged shirt with which her mothers
hands were busy.
81 suppose" she added an instant
later and in more subdued tone, "that
there's lots of things to get anyway. 1:
that Tom's?"
eyes, Toms. I'd like to get him O
new halt-dozen right away ii [ could,
but he must wait for them-nol three
years, though, 1 hope" she added.
smiling, "as you have waited for your
piano"
There was sharp ring at the door
bell. Ella went to it reluctantly. II
was another OF her grievances, that they
could keep but one servant. and to-day
was washing-day.
She started back ct sight of the
policeman, who stood on the upper step
He walked past her into the hall with 9
business-like air, and closed the door
behind him.
"I called to see Mrs. Vanderbilt. l
she in?"
"Oh, whatis it?" Ella asked with white
lips, "tell me, please!
He laid his hand on her shoulder il
a reassuring way.
"Do not be so frightened" he SAID
kindly. II suppose it is your little
brother Tom who has been hurt, knock
ed down by horse car. He was"
"Where is he?" she asked wildly
,lasping her hands together.
In the children's ward OF the Shep-
herds Hospital. Everything has been
done for him, but they only just discov'
cred who he was, and came to"
81 must tell mother" she interrupted
"Oh, do come upstairs with me-" but
she broke down into terrible sobbing
before she was halfway to the sitting.
room, and the policeman repeated to
her mother what he had just told Ella
in the hall below.
In very few minutes they were on
their way with him to the hospital,
while he told them what he could of the
accident.
"But the hospital" Ella exclaimed
With q shi7er /; sit is too dreadfulP
"You will not think so when you see
how he is taken care Of. You know
they have every facility there for caring
for such cases, and know exactly what
ought to be DONE"
Poor little Tom Vanderbilt, the
youngest and merriest of the family,
had been terribly injured. He lay
white and unconscious on the peculiar
bed constructed for just such mangled
frames as his, in that part of the great
building devoted to the suffering little
ones whom the charity of great city
tried to care for and cure. Children, chill
dren everywhere, in all the countless
cots ranged against the walls, their lit
tie faces all giving pathetic evidence OF
tho pain which was making them old
befo e their time: the death which WIS