The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-20

closely. There were only two steps,
and there was a hole in the first of them |;
but the snow had hidden the hole, as well
as a very slippery spot on the sidewalk just
before the sSeps-a slippery spot which
had been carefully cultivated by wicked
boys. So it came to pass that on that spot
old Crabbe placed one foot (for Ia fraction
of u second only and into that hole went
his other foot Immediately, and forward
went his whole body. He almost fell, but
not quite, and he certainly would have
banged his head violently against the front
door if it had not at that instant been
opened suddenly. But this is an excellent
place TO conclude the present chapter and
leave the reader in a state of narrowing
suspense. 1t is almost always just as the
door opens that we encounter those dread
full words: $40 be continued IN our merit"
l have observed that great authors, after
bringing about crisis like that in nv last
chapter, do not continue it in their next,
whatever they may promise to do. They
| always say: Leaving our hero in this
distressing position, let us now narrate
some events which occurred several years
| before, and which have a bearing upon our
story" | am going to initiate this fashion,
though in a moderate way-for | don't
like to follow fashion to extremeS-lnd
my last shall not be solved until l have
told something about the inhabitants of No.
l42, and the scenes " hich took place there
on that same afternoon, not long before
old Crabbe slipped, as aforesaid, on the
front steps.
1t really was not such a desperately bad
house, though the agent had told the literal
truth about it. But it is astonishing how
long one can continue 70 live in house,
and be quite comfortable, too, in spite of
lots of things being out of order. If You
don't believe this, listen while your mother
talks to your father, or your father to the
landlord, about the things that really must
be done this year to the plumLing and the
painting and the range and the ceilings and
the dOor-knObs; and then notice how many
of them don'G get done after all, and how
the family goes on another year without
being so very unhappy over it. No. 142
was little and old, possessed of all the
ancient Inconvenience, with few of the
modern conveniences, except, indeed, a
dOor-bell that was out of order, and a fur
mace in the cellar that made good deal of
trouble. Nevertheless, it was very cosy
and pleasant under the low ceilings of the
neat and tastefully-arranged rooms. Ger
tainly so thought the sad and gentle lady
who, with her little daughter, inhabited
them. as, on the afternoon of the oath of
December, she looked around the pretty
parlor and sighed and said, half to herself
and half to the agent: at will be hard to
leave this place. | have been so happy
here"
"Yes'm," replied tho agent, promptly;
Its a big shame, it is; thin front shteps,
an the furnace am all, an dillikit daddy
like you, an the purity gurrl."
"Ah," said the lady, ''that's not the
reason. The reason is that we cannot af-
ford to have house all to ourselves. We
have not very much money, and we must
be economical. When my dear husband
died, three years ago, l feared thai we
would not be able to go on living here; but
L resolved to try. for it was so hard to
give it up! And l hoped that-perhaps-
sOmebody-a connection OF ours, might as
sist us. But he did nOt-and times have
grown rather worse with u.s."
''MOiGhty little good in thin cOnnec-
tions," muttered the agent, and added
aloud: "but he tould We that he regritted
his inability"
81 do not know" said the lady; she new
er answered my letter."
go, it's letter is it," said the agent.
''Mebbe it'll be not directed right it was,
or We put the wrong stamp on the corner,
or We didn't stick it on firm, or We dropped
it into one % thin desaivin' lamp-posts-
sure there's lGshiA's % letters goes wrong"
''No," said the lady; 81 know well where
he lives, and left the letter at his door :;
ana Lle SERVANT IOlu HE IuaJ MI. OraDDe
was at home"
When the agent heard that name he
gave a long whistle, in spite of his natural
pOliteneSS, and Immediately said he must
look at the furnace. ''Sure L had to git
away somehow" said he to himself as he
CROPPED down the cellar stairs. IF l had
staid minute more I'd a. broke one of the
tin commandments, by Spakin' my moind
| about that ould villain. A connection %
hers, is it? Holy Moses; it's her father he
is, bad luck to himp And the kind-hearted
agent went down to the furnace, where he
opened doors and shut them again, poked
his head into various hot and smoky
places and pretended to make a thorough
examination generally; but his thoughts
were busy all the time with wild plans for
the relief of the widow and her child. ,
Meanwhile the lady was not left alone /;
for in ran the lovelieSt little girl and sprang
upon her mothers knee. | am not good at
describing little girls. They all seem pref
tv TO me. So l will mention but one point
| about little Kate. She had pair of great
gray eyes, which she used to fix upon the
person to whom she was speaking, ard
there was something in those eyes, some
thing deep and transparent, which made it
very hard to avoid answering any question
they might ask. 1t seemed as if they were
two still, clear pools, and must not be dis
| turbed by careless or deceitful words.
Rates mother always told her the truth
and good deal more of it than she might
be expected to underStand-for she was
only seven years old-but children under
stand more than they get credit for; and
what they don't understand they may APP
prehend, which is much the way of
grown folks also. AT all events, Kate, hav-
| ing had her mother for principal compan-
ion, knew a great deal that would surprise
| you. Yet she was in other respects most
! childlike and innocent. In fact, perhaps,
| you would have been more surprised at the
| things she did not know.
Mamma" said Katy, "what are we
going to do about Christmas: You told me
10 wait, and | did wait; and now l can't
wait any longer. Tomorrow is Christmas,
this very day. And whatever is going to
be done had better be done"
81 am sorry, DEAR" said the lady, "to
have to disappoint you. l hoped it would
not be so bad. But you must be my brave
daughter. and remember that although we
cannot afford to make any outward show
of our gladness, we have great deal to be
thankful for, and we can be really glad in
our hearts when we think what Christmas
means, to us and to all the world.n
"Yes, know" said Kate, with her great
eyes fixed on her mother: ''and, besides
that, have you and YOU haveme and YOU
are my Christmas present and am yours. u
Then she gave the lady a kiss and con.
\ tinued: But 1t is very nice to have a
party, as we did last year, and Christmas
| tree and such funi Mamma, does Santa
Claus ask people whether they can afford
| II hofnra he Comes ~