Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-22
An ANGEL IN Az ULSTER.

"Well, sir. / am sorry; but I've done
the best could for YOU"
IL Is the conductor of the night ex-
press on the Eastern Railroad who is
spsating; ard tho rassenget. 30 whom
his remark is adressed, stands with
watch I'm hand, near the door OF the
car, as the train draws into the Boston
station.
II do nSt doubt il," is the answer.
"YOu can not be blaIQcd for the delay.
The other rain mus have left tie
Western station already"
Undoubtedly: the time Is past, and
they always start ON time"
"And there Ia no train that connects
through 10 Cincinnati before tomorrow
morniDg2'
"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. lie is too good a
philosopher TO De angry with the freshet
that delayed the train. but there is a
shade OF disappointment on his face,
and a trace of moisture i'm his eye. He
awhOlesOme-looking man of forty-fve,
with grayish hair and beard, blue eyes,
and ruddy countenance. Probably
he is never much given to grinning,
but Just now his face Is unusually grave !;
nevertheless, II is a kind face; under
Us sober mask there is 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.
lfanyore thinks that is not high praise,
should like to have him try his hand
" comrlendatlon.
There are, indeed, quite a number of
boys and girls TO whom Uncle Hal is
both saint and hero. At that
Christmas party, in the home of his
sister I'm the western city To which he
has been hurrying. these boys and girls
are 10 be assembled. All the married
brothers and sisters, with their families,
will be there. But il is of no use now
for him to try 10 join them. The
feast will be ended ani the circle will
be broken. before he can reach Cincin.
natl. So he strolls ont Of the station
and up the street. No, he will not
take a hack nor q hOrse.car; happy
people may consent 10 be carried; those
whose minds are troubled would better
go afOot. He will walk off his dis
appointment.
He trudges along the narrow street;
tho drays ard the express wagons,
laden with all sorts Of boxes and par.
GELS, are Clattering to and fro; porters,
large and small, arr runniug with
bundles big AMI little; the shops are
crowded with eager customers. Mr..
Halliburton Todd q too good man to
Ue dismal long in the midst Of scene
like this. "What hosts of people," he
says to himself, "are thinking and
working to-day TO make other people
happy tomorrow! And how happy
they all are themselves, to-day! We
always say that Christmas Is the hap
piest day in the year; but is Up Isn't
II the day before Christma3.'
So thinking, he p1uses at the win
dow OF q small printshop, when his
attention Is caught by the voices of
two children. standing i'm The hall at
the foot of the stair. leading to the
stores above. On thu sign beside the
doorway he reads, Jacktnan Il Com.
pany, Manufacturers of Ladies' Tn
derwear."
The children are a girl Of twelve and
boy of ten. neatly but plainly
dressed: troubled look Is ON their
bright faces.
allow much. RUBY" asks the boy.
"Only seven dollars" answers the
girl. choking back sob. There were
four dozen of the night dresses. you
know. and the price was two collars
dozen but the man said that some of
them were not we'll made. so he kept
back n dollar"
"The man lied." says Ben. "and I'll
60 up and tell him So"
"Oh. no." answers Ruby, that
wouldn't do any good. lie wouldn't
mind you. and might not give us any
more work. But the work was well
done. IL we did help, for you run the
machine beautifully, and mamma says
that my button holes are every bit as
good as hers. Just think Of i'll Only
seven dollars for two weeks hard work
of all three of usT'
1--WE can't have the turkey" says
Ben. sadly.
"Oh, no. / found n nice young one
down at the corner store that we could
GET for n dollar and half, but we
must lay by two dollars for the rent,
you know; and there'll be coal TO buy
next week. I'm sure mamma will
think we can't affOrdit."
"Come on. then" says Ben, bestow-
ing farewell kick on the iron sign of
Jackman s. Company.
Mr.. Halliburton Todd has forgotten
all about his own disappointment in
listening TO the more serious trouble of
these two children. AS they walk up
the street, he follows them closely. try
ing to imagine the story OF their lives.
They stop now and then for a moment
to look in the windows Of the toy
sores. and to admire the sweet won-
ders OF the confectioners, but they do
not tarry long. Presently, the eyes of
Mr. Todd are caught by large theater.
Dill, announcing the 0ratorio OF the
Messiah, at Music Hall, Tuesday eve-
ming, December %. by the Handel and
Haydn Society. NJ. Lang Is to play
the great organ. Theodore Thomas
orchestra Is to assist. and the sololsts
are Miss Thursby and Miss Cary, and
MI. Whitney and Mr.. Sam Reeves.
"OorrectF says Mr.. Halliburton Todd,
aloud. He knows Low what he will
90 with the coming evening. It Is
ion8 since his passio1 for music has
oeen promised such a qualification.
Wnie he pauses he nutss that prh,,
ana ben are scanning with eager ewes
the same billboard. "Rather remart.
aole children" he says to himself. '.to
care Ior oratorio. lt It were n min
strel show l shouldnt wonder"
"Mouldn't like gO?" SAYS Ruby.
wouldn't IY' ech1es Ben. with a