Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-12-25
J1M'S CHRISTMAS.
A HOLIDAY STORY,


bitter, piercing wind, the Bowery was
one moving mass of humanity, laden
with baskets and packages containing all
sorts of good things, Or bent upon pur-
chasing, or seeking one Of the many en-
tertainments offered on this thoroughfare
Of all nationalitics, which has no couu-
terpart unless it may be found in the
Whitechapel Road of London, England.
Mingiing among this crowd of buyers
and pleasure-seekers, were MANY who
could bat look and long. Children
whose only glimpse of Christmas was the
gayly decked stores, or Whit Of the
goodies permcating the frosty hight air
from some cookshop. Many dirty, lit
tie, eager face, was pressed tight against
a window pane, taking in with evident
satisfaction these meagre scrapings of
Christmas vouchsafcd them Outside of
one of these owery cook shops, where
cakes, pies, etc, were being rapidly
passed over the counter to their respect
I've purchasers, stood boy of probably
twelve or thirteen years, whose dark eyes
appeared unusually large by reason OF
his thin, white checks, and unkempt
locks. How the few rags he wore held to-
gtther was known only to themselves,
for the wind eemed as if determined to
rend them asunder every t me it took it
into its head tc blow in their direction.
Hungrily the boy watched the toothsome
dainties, as he shifted eagerly Of the
Kitchens odors that arose from below,
starving amid plenty. The throngs
jost.ed each other as they passed to and
fro hut rho how otiI 1yo,,t h;o ,+o,,l
if fascinated by the sight of SO much
brightn IS and good heer. Close beside
him shivered the skin and bones of a
cur. whswas the owner of the scraggiest
of coats, while one of his ears was en-
tirely gone, and if he had ever possessed
a waggabe appendage, the smallest apol-
ogy of stub was all that remained to
tell the tale. Yet no human eyes could
have expressed more affection than those
of this dumb brute, as he gazed wistfully
at his young master, and stro to heat
with his warm tongue the b vs. chilled
hands. And his love was not misplaced,
for with caress of the dogs homely
coat. the boy said:
ITS Christmas, tomorrow, Sandy,
and there'll perhaps be no end of boues
fur ye in the ash barrels. Do you re-
member the nice dinner we had last
week2' The stub wagged a responsive
yes and the boy continued, half to him
self and half to his four footed friend
'Tve often been thinking why there's
SO many folks that has such heap of
things, and others like me and you,
Sandy, as has nothing; but 1 carnt come
at the bottom oft. Now there's Nat,
he's prig and a liar, and he's to have a
regular blow out tomorrow. down at
old Mother Mowleys Now if 1 was
prig. but ye see, ANDY, l don't know
how it is, but was never no good at
stealing. They say I'm too afeerel of
the cops. 1t amt that, and l don't knew
rs 1 know what it is, but l carn't
dot"
"Here, sonny, Go you want to earn ten
rents" The boys burst of oon:dence
was cut short by the alb I'VE question. AS
ne turned, a comely, motherly looking
woman confronted him. On her arm
was big basket bursting out all over
with good things, while tat turkey pro-
truded its long legs with defiant air,
aud refused to allow the lid to be closed
A little boy and girl, aged rcspe lively
seven and five, cl ng to either side of
the thick, warm shawl WON by this
pie ssant voicel woman, both hugging
parcels with their disengaged hand
"lf you'd like to earn ten cents. sonny,
by helping me carry this basket to Sew
entcenth street and Avenue B, why I'll
be right glad to have you It's little
more than l can manage alone, find,
since l had the rheamatics in my arm "
A look of genuine pity shone in the
woman's eyes rs she note the boys
p;nched checks and ragged apparel.
Then as she glanced from him to her
own warmly clad l!ttle ones, her compass
sion grew apaoe, and she stopped him as
he eagerly held out his hands for the
basket, saying: I'D be glad of the OBJ,
ma'am." A look f intense disappoint-
ment eros, ed the boys face, ten cents
meant 50 much to him. but in moment
it changed to one of surprise, as the
woman, turning into the cook shop, said ::
81 guess we'll all be the better for a
bite, and sup of something this cold
night. Come, sonny, and tuck in bit
of strength so you'll be better able to
bear hand with the basket"
'.Me, ma'am!" CALCULATED the boy, at
this unexpected kindness.
"Why, of course; come right along.
Lor', child, it's Christmas Eve, and it
comes but once year.
Into the warmth and brightness and
good cheer the lad stepped, closely fol-
lowed by Sandy, whose bright eyes and
stubby nose wore an air of puzzled in
quiry. Feeling as if it were all dream,
and that he would awake in a moment to
find himself outside in the cold again,
this poor waif sip, e I his hot coffee and
ate of the bread and butter and meat
that WIS plentifullv supplied him. slvlv
now anu again chucking bits to his dumb
friend, who kept close beneath his mas
ter's chair, until his kind benefactress,
catching him in the act, aculated:
''For mercy sake, child what are you
doing"
1t flashed across her that perhaps the
boy was an imposter, and not being hua-
CRY, was dsposing of the meat in that
way in order to deceive her. But in his
pale cheeks there crept the quick color
as he answered:
IF you please, ma'am, it's Sandy. l
couldn't eat and he go without"
At the mention of his name Sandy
crawled with half arologetic air from
beneath the chair