The Penn's Grove record., 1882-12-23
sight of Miss Welcome, Mr.. William

sight of Miss Welcome, Mr.. w Iliams
said
main glad to see ye, Miss Welcome
How's yourself feeling to. might? It's
real Christmas weather, isn't it ?"
Miss Welcome having replied with
q few kindly words to Mr.. Williams
greeting, and the stew having been
dished up, the family gathered around
the table. Miss Welcome declined
the cordial invitation to draw up her
chsir and have q bite with them, by
saying she would just take q cup OF
tea where she was. The conversation
YVES carried On for the most part by the
elder folks, until Johnny suddenly
interposed with:
"Mother, won't you let me have one
of your stockings 2"
"One OF my stockingsI" repeated
Williams. "What on earth do
YOU want with it ?n
"I want to lend it to a Teller that
hasn't got none, because his mothers
dead, and his father gets drunk, and
he eve had no Christmas. You see,
perhaps, If he had q stocking to hang
up, Sanity Claus might put something
in it."
Poor boy" remarked Mrs. VIII
llams. sits too bad. He shall have
two stockings, If he wants them, and
ra,,ley shan,t be empty. neither"
.s:yshat is the boys manner" asked
u lelcome.
app marley Thompson, ma'am; hs
round in Blocker street," an.
Pr Johnny.
llus' Flor, miss, we arn't half grateful
Tor the blessings we have" observed
MrA Williams, adding: "I'm sure
many's the time I'm a-grumbllng
when the boss is a bit short, and I'm
Worried to know how to make both
ends meet. with 80 many mouths to
feed"
"The Lord, who sends these little
mouths, will help US to provide for
them, if we are only willing to be
guided by HIM."
AS Miss Welcome uttered these
words, her hand rested for a second
caressingly upon the baby's go den
head. Then tying her bonnet s. rlngs
and drawing her shawl closer about
be I, she babe them ala pleasant good.
night. Mrs. Williams accompanied
neS-to the door, where q whispered
conversation ensded, with many u
smile and nod OF Mrs. Williams head
towards the children
A biting wind was abroad this
Chri tmas Eve, piercing through even
the thickest broadcloth, and relent-
lessly stripping the few rags from III
the shivering poor. In . miserable
attic, with no light, except what
comes from the stars shining In at the
curtainless window, and a few smoid-
ering embers on the hearth, Charley
Thompson sat alone, shivering ever
and anon with cold, as the icy blasts
of wind found their way in through
the cracked window-panes.
, III wish as how I'D stayed out
there's the winders ter look at, any.
i how. My ! shouldn't I like a pail o.
them skates, an one o. them woody
scarfs fur pop to keep the damp of hii
chest. Tnem picters 1 see o. SAINT,
: Claws warn't half ~bad-lookin'. HI
didn't look like q feller wot would bs
|, hard on q chap cause he amt got rt
stockin'. / wonder If it's true 'bou'
+ his comm down chimbly. P'rhap'
! he's up there a-spyin' now" As thu
boy uttered these words, he dropped
upon his knees before the CRATE ant
gazed with rather An awed look nj
the chimney. Then, ciasping hi
hands, he said: "Please, Mr.. SAINT!
/ Claws, Pm very sorry l amt got n
stockin' to hang up or nothin'; yo'
see mothers dead, an there ain
no girls in the family. Pop, he get
!, drunk, but he ain't so bad wen there
no rum in him. Ifyer've got a wool.
: searf. wot's secondhand, wot yer doa'
want very much, IL yer'd just chucI
: 1t down chimbly fur pop, I'd take !
handsome o. ye. l seed a knife to
: night wot was . beauty; p'rhaps hye
have SIGH, yer might swop with q fsl
Ter wot has 3 stockin' fur his'n-
shouldn,t 40 much mind If 1t wasn'
:, a new 'un, II it had two blades.
never seed much good OF Christmas
!, but p'rhaps II I was to have a blow
: ont. like some o. the ~fellers, l Nigh
see the use ont. Ny names Charlie,
:, Thompson ; I got q reward fur goo
:. conduct last week at school. Amen.
"a Rising from his knees, Charlie
threw himself as he was upon q riket
r bedstead, and drew an old quilt owe
him.
An hour or 90 later, stealthy steE
n passed in and out OF the room, while
whispered conversation took piae
"a upon the landing outside. A woman
. fearful eyes glanced pityingiy dow
/. upon the slesping child, ss with gent
hands she carefully covered him with
70 pgr Of thick. now lblankets. Charlie