Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-12-20
pect little girl to sew on Christmas, dc

you7"
Certainly I do. viii she be any
happier moping there by the windowa A
little employment won't hurt her, and
while she is sewing you had better drive
to the postofice. am quite sure there
are letters for us, as 1 saw the arrival of
the steamer announced in the paper last
evening"
"All right, mother; I'll go for the
letters. Hadn't you better let Tatty go
with me2n
Gin this rain9 seeI it has changed to
sleet, it is so cold. No, it would be very
foolish to take her out on such day"
We'll, Tatty, I'll bring the letters If
they are there, and perhaps you will pass
the time faster if you sew"
eyes, Uncle Charlie, l shall piece my
block, as grandma says, for she knows
best; but, oh, l am so sorry about the
rain !"
Perhaps there1l be letter an for you
your own self, brought across the ocean
in that big ship
II guess there will, " said the child,
''for papa and mamma would never for
get their little girl Christmas time, would
they2n
"Of course not" replied Uncle Char
lie, as he kissed Tatty goodbye.
"Have you your work all ready, So
phronial" inquired grandma.
';Yes, ma'am, here it is, and Tatty
seated herself on a low chair, and open
ing pretty little work-box, took ou.
tiny thimble which she put on and be-
gan to sew industriously.
Here's the mail," cried uncle
Charlie, "and big letter for Miss
Sophie Robinson, care Chas. F. Robin
son, etc. Here, Tatty, it is for you,
and he tossed the letter into Tatty's lap.
Tatty carefully cut the end of the en-
velope, as she had seen her grandma do,
and drew out the precious letter: as she
unfolded it out dropped $40 note
q You read it to me, please, Uncle Char
lie.n said Tatty, handing the letter to
him:
BoNN. Germany, Dec II, 1ss2:-My Oar
ling Tdtty-KorGm: Mamma and 1 are talk
ing and thinking great deal about our little
girl as the holidays draw near, and mammals
letter (which she is writing to you now will
be for New Years, while mine will, l hope.
give you Christmas greeting. Santa Claus
doesn't go everywhere, and am pretty sure
he will not call on you this year, but en-
c-oset you will find $40, which you may
spend as you choose A big doll 1 suppose
will be your first purchase, then will follow
candy, picture books. ETC. Well, suit your
self, little girl ; if you are only happy, that is
enough for me. | would not advise you, how
ever, to invest largely in crockery, although
a set Of dishes has long been your chief
wish, but you must know that have ordered
complete set of china, with your monogram
in gold, and Santa Claus will probably take
it to you next year. Did you Know that
right here in Germany, away up in the
Hartz mountains, is where Santa Claus has his
kingdom? Up there are the reindeer kept,
and the tiny sleigh, and Mrs. Santa lives
there with him, too and from their quaint,
snug palace they send out orders ali over
Germany, and have the most wonderful dolls
and toys made that you ever saw. God bless
you, Tatty be good girl and obey your
grandma, who is the wisest, best mother a
hayward boy ever had. Your loving PAPA
The ''wisest, best mother did not at
all approve of her sons letter to his little
daughter, but she said nothing. Not SO
with Tatty, however, who exclaimed
over and over that it was the beauti-
fullest letter her papa ever wrote her,
and what was a monogram? and did
grandma and uncle Charlie think her
dishes would have flowers painted on,
like mammals china2 and when could she
go and buy her doll9 might she not go
to-day? No, grandma said, not to-day,
but as soon as the weather cleared. and.
sympathizing with the child's disap-
pointment, sent up in the garret for box
filled with odds and ends of laces, rib
bons, silks and velvets, and told Tatty
to take all she wished to dress her doll.
The child was delighted, and for long
time was busy selecting what she thought
would be suitable for the coming doll.
At last, unrolling a small bundle which
lay in the bottom of the box. she found
an old-fashioned baby's blanket, square
of flannel, bound with blue. ''Oh,
grandma. seeln
As grandma looked up, she sprang
forward to take it from the little girl.
ooh, Sophronia, did not intend you to
touch that
Il wouldn't if had known, grand
ma, but you didn't tell me. Whose
is it ~
'1t belonged to my baby that died."
said grandma; ''my little girl, and it has
never been unfolded since I put it away
the day after she was buried, y and with
trembling fingers she folded up the
baby's blanket and was about putting it
away again, when Tatty said, softly:
1T might keep some baby warm,
grandma; why don't you give it awaya"
"Give it away, my baby's blanket, to
some dirty, wretched woman, for her
dirty childr'
No, grandma, give it to God, and let
him give it to the one that wants it
most
''sophronia, you are very strange
childl What has put this into your
head?"
'It is Christmas day, you know, grand
ma, and mamma says the Bible teaches
MS to show good will to men ("
THAT is true. Well, suppose give it
to you, what would you do with my
baby's blanket!n