Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-01-25
Aillys New Tears Gift,

UUk ttn0 WMUW 03Itx4M Uttto COtt0&>
On the edge o. lonely forest, il th.
northern part Of Maine, was fragrant
with the spicy odof Of pine, holly ani
hemlock. great branches Of which wers
heapell up che floor Of the small kitchen
while Milly's little fingers were tired
enough OF breaking off the prickly
ftwigs, and making them into bunches
for her mother and brother Jim. who
deity twined them into graceful gar.
lands, wreathes and festoons; for soor
thefe would be : call from the grea,
cities for Christmas green's, with which
10 deck their homes and churches: and
the Bertrams hoped by supplying thi,
need 70 earn enough money to keep then
comfortable through the long, cold
winter, for. they were very poor and
sometimes had hard work to drive The
wolf from the door; and Jack Frost comes
early and stays late In that far northern
state. So seven-year-old Miily had tt
help al she could, and her hands wers
very skillful, and her bright eyes very
quick IN picking out inst the right spray
or bunch Of berries, and she worket
away steadily, only stopping occasionally
10 hug Miss Arnminta CleopAtra Fits
James--a curious little specimen Of {
doll, made Of a corn-cob, and dressed il
bit Of faded calico, to which Milly hal
given 90 high-sounding name az some
compensation for other deficiencies. ant
which she loved with all her afyectionst<
little heart.
"There, mother, isn't that q beauty ?
said Jim, holding up . wreath he hai
| Just finished OF rich heavy evergreens
dotted with the bright scarlet holly Der
il.
The prettiest one Of all, said Milly
81 wonder who viii buy it p
/" Il don't matter, 90 long % We eel
the money" said Mrs. Bertram, sighing
ST had hoped to give you children {
little taste OF Christmas this year, but il
has been such bad season, am afraid
there won't be anything for toys O,
candy, even il we can pay the rent"
ooh. never mind us. mother" said
Jim, cheerily. "Pofhaps good luck will
come With the New Year; and anyway,
we've all we want, only I wish Milly
could have real nice doll instead of that
scare-crow yonder."
Don't call my dearest, sweetest Ara
minta Cleopatra names," cried Milly,
catching up the corn-cob and showering
kisses upon its rather scrubby head.
I" You ought just TO see the dolls saw
n the toy store at p" continued
Jim, "with real hair, and cried when
they were pinched Just as natural ii
Mn. Rattle's baby. I tell you, they'd
make you open your eyes! You'd never
look q Arammta Cleopatra FIFTH
again.
eyes, should" said Mile, Loyalty,
though would like to have q real
dolly; but I've never even seen one."
Mrs. Bertram sighed again, and softly
wiped away tear; but jim exclaimed,
I've thought OF q splendid plant
"Oh! what Z" asked Milly.
You zee this sumner Of q wreath I've
just NADER"
"Yes."
"Welll ] think I deserve something
for the extra pains I've taken, 20 IN
write note, telling whoever buys il
about you, and asking them TO send you
q doll, and well the il in among the
the green's, and who knows but aome
kind hearted person may find it and dc
- we ask. Wouldn't-it be jolly il they
should y
TOO lovely for anythingi'' exclaimed
Milly, and she capered round the room,
1t the very idea, ending her impromptu
dance BY embracing Arminta Cleopatra,
and declaring she should never love her
any less even II she had . hundred chins
babies that cried Just Ike Mira. Rattlc'l
Tommy.
So that evening, when the pine knots
that served both for fuel and lights were
blazing merrily In the open fireplace,
Jim hunted up m old inkstand and pen,
that had not seen the light for many
day, earned . sheet Of paper from .
neighbor BY bringing her pail Of VA.
ter, and together he and Milly composed
the letter, badly written and poorly
spelled. but filed with sort Of rathos
that must find its way toapy heart ct thu
holy Christmas tide:
Wfl The one Who gets this rseth please send ,
dol e NJ ol.eeF lilly, she never saw one 'oepi
as.ninaer klecpatrsr names who y nothing
up greens 70 sell milly Bunches and mothei
ard TIE. We has not had . krismAs or New
Ieor's present since Urea fell on father enf
klled HIM. pleees bee % kind = 10 send TN
dol 4 woode nak n - glad. milly = ssvea
ena : - ~ Tours Urn Mnls
|. nm Coaxaas, b countey. II ME- -
Th;s enistia Tim reed slord -,
great deal Of pride; and then he end
Nilly tied Il securely in among thu
graceful hemlock branches: while TIL
mother laughed It their foolishnees. ever
though she hoped and prayed that the,
~ ia noetman vrasth ). *.
children callel "a VI ,,acrei ,r;th nm ~
dreds a ofhers ana ahinnei Is Ma. =. Y ,...,,
vhere Il - bonsht M ~ nn 1r ~ - b
| er snd sojd tom oId cenfieman ~. wh \ -
ried Il home % hie danchter ana "a IA