Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-12-25
THE SOLDIERS ORPHANS CHRIST
MAS.

3
there was a dismal moan in the wind,
as il rattle at the shutters of the d.
lapidated tenement. There was
crunching, creaking sound as the pass
ers.by trod hurIiedly on the side
walk; and every few minutes some
frost.nipped nail in the wall would
snap with loud report. Her grand
child, little Mary, sat nesting close by
the old lady, and as gust went
bowling by, she gave shudder, and
said:
1.-The night bowls like an old giant,
I'm afraid Billy will freeze"
1T was too bad to send him out on
such a night said the good woman,
''bHt the brave, little fellow would
have cried if l had gone myself And
she rose and went to the window, try
ing to peer out, but there was no
power in her eyes to see through the
white, plush-like coat of frost on the
panes. A shade of anxiety rested ON
her face-a sad, sweet, yet strong one,
with traces of beauty still INCREASED by
years of poverty, anx ETY., toll and
sorrow.
DQb Lnluk llt II COliAO oV0AAs .oAAO
said as she saw distress and fear deep.
ening in the face of little Mary,
He's so spry that Jack Frost can
hardly catch him"
And she was right. For hardly had
she spoken when a brisk step was
heard with out, crunching the snow ;
then kick or two on the doorstep,
and the door swung opeu with squeal,
and a ruddy-faced boy, some ten or
twelve years of age strobe In.
"Weil if this aiu't singer, said
he. my toes are as hard as hickory
uts-they feel so anyway.
did my brave, little man get the
thines2"
'Yes, grandma; all but the meat.
The butcher said he'd bring you down
two chickens in the morning for q
Christmas present. "Whew, but ain I
Jack Frost saucy to night. He's just
on his ear--on mine, too" This was
said as the little fellow raised his cap,
the rim of which had been pulled
down we'll upon his cheeks, hiding his
fine, manly face and his merry eye,
full of gentle, kindly fun.
Il was sorry you hao TO go out IN
such cold night
I'D be a splendid man to have IN
the house, if I'd let poor grandma GO
out wouldn't II But didn't | get paid
for it2n he continued. II met Col.
Granger in toy store, where peek
ed IN to see the things. lie SAID ne
knew my papa in the war; and ne
oakad ma what | wanted
"What did you tell HING asked III
tie Nary.
II told him there wasn't any use m
wanting anything, when you couidn
make raise to buy it.
''Then, said he, what would buy
If you had the money to buy itl'
II told him a pair of skates
Then. what do you think? Col
Granger told the man to fetch me oul
a good. nice, strong, pair, the besi
style, and he brought me pair OF the
new kind-you don't have to have
straps but just put your foot In ano
turn handle and the skate hangs tc
your boot like it was froze on.
So diving INTO the market baske
which he had brought lome the little
fellow produced his skates. lc
like 10 go out and try EN- on the lc'
to night" he said
Little Mary shared the joy which
sparkled in his eyes, as he tried ON hn
skates. and held his feet up to show
how they fitted and fastened on.
The grandmother looked on proudly
said to herself.
so like his father. So like my owl
brave Billy
Then she drew out little trundl'
bed, plain, hard, made of unpaintet
boards, and undressed little Mary ant
put her to bed, after she had hung al
herstocklngs at Billy's suggestion, 10
he seemed so full of a secret that !
almost told itself.
Soon the little nero was persuaded
TO 20 to bed himself, so as to rise early
and try his skates. When the gosC
old LADY knelt beside their bed anC
PRAYED prayed as only those can
pray who through the years Of lonl
life have borne the cross Of mlsfor
tune, and sorrow, laboring more IN tn
shadow than the sunshine. 1t wa
not the appeal of sel6shness, but th'
prayer OF feslgHalloil' Vi hoPoi y! AONO
of duty. It's burden was not sell, bu
others-those is sfhiction, in poverty
In Sin. For herself she onl. besough
the Heavenly Father 10 spare her ant
give her strength a little longer &
Guide and care for her orphane,
grand children through their tende
years.
Vixen her prayers were said and IA
good night kiss was given TO each
the good woman drawing her shaw
still close around her put out tn
candle to save it, and spread an oil
rug down at the door to keep out tn
cold. and sat down by the stove t
absorb a little of It's heat before re
firing.
Just then little Billy crept out c
his trundle- bed in his long hannte
nightgown and stole up to his grand