Frostburg mining journal., 1882-12-23
Both Willie and his mother stepped
1uickly IN Dots hnlsila

DOtu Nulle anu IlS uuOllleI bteppSu
quickly to Dots bedside.
"Yes, am here, !" said Willie, quietly.
"That's all right" said Dot, and was
at once lost in sleep again.
"How beautiful she looks tonight, !"
said Willie, earnestly gazing at Dot.
"Do you think she is better, namma?"
81 hardly know what to think" re-
piled Mrs. May, thoughtfully. "She is
free from pain, and sleeps great deal
snce she has been so easy. l am so ac-
customed TO Dots poor turns, and know
so well what she requires when she is
worse than usual, hence l do not feel
alarmed about her."
How light was Willie Mays heart when
he unfolded his little parcels, and spread
before his mother his Christmas pur-
chases. Mrs. Mays eyes filled with
tears; she was both sad and glad. Her
delicate, highly organized nature was so
sensitive to pain or pleasure that her
realization of these elements were of a
marked character. And tonight she suf-
fered keenly, yet bravely concealed her
anguish of mind. She tried to smile and
utter pleasant remarks, simply for Will
lies sake. He was so happy in filling
Dots Christmas stocking.
'See, mamma, whispered Willie, "I'll
put the pincushion in the toe, this yard
Of blue ribbon I'll wrap up in ever so
many pieces of paper; how Dot will
laugh when she arrives at the bit of rib
bon. The ivory napkin ring shall go in
the heel, and the bunch of embroidery
cotton will fill out the ankle. Now for
the candies; there see, mamma, the
stocking is nearly full; the orange and
apple we'll put ON chair, and the doll
we'n hang on the fork that holds the
stocking against the chimney. Oh,
mamma, I'm so glad thought of filling
Dots stocking; the dear girl, how finely
she sleeps.
The doll was dressed and the stock
ing all fixed, and Willie was in ecstasy.
He stood off in the room and surveyed
the whole with great satisfaction.
"Won't Dot be tickled mamma, when
she sees her Christmas stocking How
lcng she sleeps Oh, mamma, do look
at her How strange she looks"
Mrs. May dropped her sewing work,
and instantly approached Dot bedside;
the invalid's position was so like a
picture. There beamed ON her spiritual
face, so pallid, look of perfect peace;
her little hands were clasped together,
the arms resting full length ON the
counterpane. Dot was dead. Tho
patient, long suffering child, while
sweetly sleeping passed from life into
eternity. The poor, trembling mother
could scarcely believe that her darling
had left her forever. Her heart was
ready to break, yet she could not weep;
and poor, self-sacriiicing Willie, what
wretched Christmas he passed; how
nobly he tried to conceal his deep sorrow
and speak cheering words to his greatly
shocked and feeble mother.
1t is now twenty years since Dot died,
but Dots Christmas stocking still exists,
it is a sad yet greatly beloved memento
Willie May is now prosperous mer-
chant, and when the merry season comes
his beautiful store in the West is brill
liant with holiday splendors. He has
wealth, and lives with his mother in n
luxurious home, and in rich satin-lined
rosewood box there is Dots Christmas
stocking the sight of which brings tears
to the eyes of the kind-hearted, benevo-
lent Mr.. May, and to dear motherly Mrs.
May, so friendly and kind to the poor.