Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-01-03
MINNIE'S CHRISTMAS EVE.
How a Gotham Girl Found a Friend
in Need.

woman, clad in garments which al
forded but little protection against
the searching gusts Of the raw east
wind, which was blowing sharp and
keen, stepped from the door of one of
the large dry goods stores on Sixth
ave, and made one of the thousands
who were hurrying toward their
homes. She shivered and tried to
draw her threadbare cloak closer to
her form, as the thrilling wind pierced
her through and through.
For a few moments she walked
quite briskly, but was SO weary from
the tolls of the day that she was
obliged to go more slowly. The past
week had been busy one, and great
crowds of people had thronged the
store, buying articles for their own
use or presents for their friends, while
she, thinking of her own meagre
salary, had waited upon them with a
sad heart
Two years before Minnie Osborne
had never known what poverty or
work meant; only knew that there
were such words. But now she knew
we'll and with a knowledge derived
from bitter experience. Her father
had been counted among New York's
wealthy and successful merchants,
but In an evil hour he listened to the
advice of so called friends and en-
barked IN stock speculation. He was
successful at first, and, elated with
that success, became reckless and at
last found himself as many others,
stripped of all his wealth.
The elegant home on MadisOn-ave.
had been decided to his wife, so that
of course, was saved. His losses
weighed heavily upon him and he
soon fell into decline from which
he never rallied. The house was sold
Fay the expenses of his illness and
death, and Mrs. Osborne, with Min
ME, who was then nineteen, and two
younger children, jamie and Maud,
sadly gave up the old home and found
refuge in a tenement house on the
east side. Here they were living,
or rather existing, at the time our
story opens.
Mrs Osborne had been in delicate
health for years, and the death of her
husband, together with the loss of the
luXuries to which she had been all her
life accustomed, Frustrated her COM
pletely. She had wealthy friends, it
is true, but she also had pride, and
that kept her from asking help of
them. None of her old acquaintance
knew of her whereabouts, and she
was safe from discovery in the wretch
ed street in which she lived. She had
brother a year older than herself,
who had gone to Australia some fif-
teen years before her husbands death.
IN the days before her marriage they
had been all in all to each other, be-
ing the only ones left of their family,
and for the first ten years after his
departure they had correspondent reg
ularly. But his letters suddenly
ceased, and, as she had no tidings
from him since then, she mourned
him as dead
With her feeble hands she, of course,
was unable to 90 anything toward the
support of the family, and the whole
burden was thus thrown upon Minnie
Although unaccustomed to work of
any kind Minnie proved herself equal
TO the emergency and found employ
ment as saleswOman in the store of
which we have spoken. The little she
made there barely sutficed to pay the
rent and keep them IN fuel; but Jamie,
who still went to school, sold papers
morning and evening, and what he
thus earned kept the wolf from the
door," But Jamie was now i'll, for,
having but little clothing to protect
him from the chill winds, he had tax
en- a severe cold, and had been indoors
for week past.
Minnie had dreaded the long, cold
winter and had hoped to get an in
crease of salary, but was disappointed
md almost in despair. Tonight was
Christmas Eve and she hated to 90
home. She must get something nour-
Ishing for her mother and Jamie, and
Maud had no shoes, but she must wait
another week.
Minnie had money enough 10 pay
the rent and Get a few baskets of coal
and then have q few cents left. The
only way she could get the little
things which her mother and Jamie
craved and needed was to get the
landlord to take half his rent that
week and perhaps Jamie would be out
next week and could earn enough to
make It up. And, thought she, IF
t comes to the worst I can pawn my
ring"
The ring was her betrothal ring, and
had been placed on her finger two
months before her fathers downfall
by one whom she loved dearly, but to
whom she was too proud to make
known her sufferings, or even to have
him know that she was in the city.
Frank Johnson was a young man of
sterling qualities, and had arisen from
an office boy to the position of junior
partn er in the firm for which he had
worked. He had known Minnie a
long time, and loved her, but had hes
ltated to declare his passion until he