The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-12-28
THE WIDOWS CHRISTMAS.

quick, 80 Santa Claus won't have 70
stand and wait in the cold"
The goodnight kiss was given, n
the little brown head disappeared under
the cover Presently it emerged again
Mamma"
"What is it, my baby?"
"Do you think hell come
Yes. darling; l think Sc
"You only think 50. Then you're not
sure. Ifyou felt suite, you'd say yes, ne
will"
You know, Bessie, We never can be
quite sure of anything in this world; but
feel pretty certain that he will come.
That's So" said the child rctisctiyely,
after a pause. 'Such a little house, and
so many trees around. He might miss
it. All the houses about are So big.
And he might forget After he'd got
through filing the other little chlIdvcns
stockings he might say to himself, Are
there any more stockings that want ILL.,
ing? Let ne see.' And after he stud
led awhile he might say, NO | can't
think of any, and it's too late and cold
to 60 around hunting. III Just take
home what's left And then he might
get in his reindeer cart and galloP on.
Oh, me, what a pity! Oh, l hope he
Won't
The little creature broke OF with r
sudden wall, wrought into an ecstacy o.
anxiety and forestalied disappointment
by the yividness Of the reality her own
imagination had created.
A faint smile came TO the widows pa
tent mouth; a faint smile, and a sad one
that had a fellowship with the tears IN
her eyes: H.,
come. BESSIE, " she answered presently.
"Yes; he came last wear. To be sure
there wasn't much in the stocking,'
With another reflective pause.
"You see this is the littlest place, 50
he puts it off till the last, and | s'poso
his pockets had got most empty. But
he did come, anyhow. He didn't for
get. Mammal"
"Well, my d~arling?"
II think I'll say a little prayer, and
lust ask God to put him in mind. Do
Won think he would care If | said it here
in bed?'
"No,n said the widow; Il don't think
he would"
Forthwith she knelt, in a crouching
posture, in her place on the bed, and
buryiug her face in the pillow. A sound
of whispering hoated through the room.
The angels stopped 10 listen, and this is
what they heard:
"Oh dear God, I'd get out and kneel
down if the floor wasn't so very cold, /
hope ysu won't be angry cause / ask it,
but if you'll only be so kind as to tell
Santa Claus not to forget me tonight,
III be very glad. Tell him it's the little
house among the trees, where there's
only one little girl. And III try real
hard to be a good girl; / will, sure
enough, dear God, and if | don'tsay this
right, please don't take any notice. And
please bless mamma and me-for Je-
sus' sake, and-lead us not into temp
tation-and-thine is the glory forever
and ever. Amen" ......
Then the angels looked up smiling,
and the light from the great altar flame
fell upon their jubiiant faces, as they
ehoired the Gloriain Excelsis. Perhaps
she heard it in her dreams, for sleep
then and there fell upon her, and her
frame, relaxing from its uneasy posture
sank gently into of repose; the face
half showing with its yelled eyes,, and
peaceful, child's mouth, the tiny hands
still clasped close upon the breast.
The widow had drawn up 10 the wood
fire her little table, unon which the oil
lamp burned dImly. She sat beside il
sewing, and, now and then raising her
head, paused and listened a~nxious.y.
By and by, in the distance, q whip
cracked, and the sound was followed by
the heavy rumbling OF q wagon. The
anxious look cleared away from the wild.
owls face, and she whispered softly:
THANK God! She won't be disap-
pointed"
The wagon came closer, and a gruf
voice was heard outside:
"Gee. Dobbin; whoa-haw, Buck;
whoa, Dobbin; whoa dsr, / say
And, with q mingling Of Esany abjur-
cations and much growing abuse, the
team was brought to q standstill before
the door.
The widow had already opened it as
silently as might be. and now stood haid-
ing it against the keen north Sind.
why can't they make less noise,ss she
muttered impatiently with an uneasy
glance toward tho bed. But there was
no movement; the siumbcr OF healthy
childhood Is hard 20 break.
Something shapeless but presumably
human was visible in the darkness. Ills
that you, Benz" called the widow. IL
was afraid you wouldn't get back this
old dark night"
ssIts what dar Is left O me- said the
zruR voice. "As fer gettin' back, Use
bound to do dat. All de plantations
Christmas out yer in dat wagin."
The shapeless heap drew near witE a
~slouching motion, untilthe light stream
ing through the door revealed amid
mysterious endless wrappings anancieni
visage once ebony black, but worn by
wind and weather into o grayish hue.
ibid you get all the things?" asked