Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-09-18
ELLEN GALES CHRISTMAS.

1t was stormy evening in December.
The north wind ratified the rickety case
ments, and the rain and sleet dashed
fercely against the panes. Within the
room-a poor, bare room in a tenement
house, sad-faced woman, and two
fragile-looking children, a boy and girl,
sat crouching over the small cooking
stove trying to warm their shivering
frames by the feeble fire that burned
therein.
Mother" said the blue-eyed, fair
haired child of seven, 81 don't suppose
we shall keep Christmas tomorrow,
shall we?"
Mrs. Gale made no reply to this ques-
ton of her boy. A choking sensation
in her throat prevented her.
Christmas!
What mockery was the word when
she and her children were starving!
Certainly not, Walter" said Min
ME, who, though only nine years old,
yet by the thoughtful look in her hazel
eyes, and her quiet, old-fashioned ways,
seemed almost woman. Certainly
not, why need you ask? Only see, you
have almost made mamma cry"
'.Don't fret, mamma" said Walter,
'sI don't care for turkey and pumpkin
pies, and plum pudding and old Santa
Clauses-that is, not very much" add
ed the little fellow, whose supper of
bare bread and q single baked potato
had scarcely satisfied the cravings of
his healthy young appetite.
1Ah!' he said, but they are going to
have great spread over to Charlie At
wells tomorrow. Four turkeys, be-
sides chickens. l was there when the
grocer brought them Lots of other
things besides. A barrel of apples,
two great big pumpkins, and packages,
ever so many of them. Mother, did we
used to keep Christmas before father
went away?''
Eyes, my child,' answered the moth
er.
And then, as memory reverted to the
days of her happy wifehood, when her
husbands love had shielded her from
every care; when she had never dreamt
of being brought face to face with want,
her self-control gave way. She clasped
her hands over her face and burst into
q passion of tears.
''Oh, don't, pray don't, mamma"
said Minnie, rising from her chair and
kneeling down before her mother and
clasping her knees. Don't CRY. We
have enough in the house for to-mor-
row, have we not? We have bread
and potatoes, and a little meal Oh! I
do love mush, and SO does Walter
Don't you dear?'
eyes," said Walter, with milk; but
we haven't any money to buy milk.
But 1 say, don't cry, mother, am 60
ing to try and earn little something
tomorrow going errands. tried to
get job to-day, but l couldn't. But
you know last Monday | earned twenty
five cents. All! when | get to be little
older, mother, you shall have everything
you want; you and Minnie. viii work
and earn money for you"
And the little fellow shook back his
curls and expanded his chest, as he
thought of the wonderful things he
would do when he was man.
His mother looked at him fondly
through her tears. How like his father
he was! With the same brave, sanguine
spirit, too. How proud his father would
have been of him, And Minnie, too
the good, wise little woman. Surely,
heaven had blessed her with her chill
dren. For their sake she must be brave
and bear up. She raised Minnie from
the floor, kissed her, and calling Walter
TO her side, kissed him too, and sroked
his fair curls.
'.My darling" she said, think you
had better 60 to bed now. The fire is
low''-indeed, it had nearly died away
land we must keep our coal for to-
morrow"
eyes, mother" said Minnie cheerful
}y, 'sand youP''
81 shall come directly" said Mrs.
Gale.
'But, mamma, you will take cold; it
is so cold here. Let me go and get you
your warm shawl
And going to the closet, Minnie took
q faded plaid wooden shawl from nail,
and wrapped it around her mothers
thin form.
'Thank. you, dear; and now you had
better 60 directly to bed
If I only had just a little piece of
bread first said Walter with sigh.
st seems as if something was gnawing
inside my stomach
Mrs. Gale rose, without word, and
going to the cupboard, took from
plate small, thin slice of bread, and
gave it to her son.
and you, Minnier she said.
ooh, I am not at all hungry, mother,
dear said Minnie, not at all
The children undressed, and kneeling
down by the poor, but spotlessly clean
bed, said in concert their Now I lay
me- etc. Then they added, as their
nightly custom was
ooh! God bless our dear papa, and
bring him back to us once more
God never answers our prayer whis-
pered Walter, after they were beneath
the bed clothes.
4 Think answered his sister, also in
a whisper, that our dear papa must be
dead, or he would come to US.
Long after the children were asleep,
long after the last remnant had died
away in the stove, Ellen Gale sat think
ing, thinking. The room grew colder
and colder, the wind whistled and