Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-20

Please do
"Well, did you everl" ex claimed Kris
Kingle "what funny little girl it is TO be
sure take you a riding in my sleigh-let
me see, he added, refectively. "Why
not' We will be back long before morning,
and-yes-come along Here, put THIS
over you" And he drew from his pack
beautiful sealskin sacque. at belongs to
somebody else, but we will be here long be-
fore she will get IT, Now, wrap up warm
don't be afraid" and taking Estelle in
his arms he went 10 the fireplace. Up the
chimney they few-out on the roof and
there stood the sleigh aud reindeer of Kris
Kingle
lie placed Estelle snugly in the seat, and
after tucking the heavy robe about her in
warm graceful folds, jumped in himself.
Gee upp' he cried and with a merry
jingle and clatter away they went
1t had stopped showing; the moon was in
the sky, millions of twinkling stars shone
upon them, and their silvery light trans
formed the snowy crystals into iunumer
able sparkling gems.
At last Kris Kingle directed the sleigh
toward a dilapidated- looking building; it
stretched it's dismal length skyward eleven
stories, and like grim sentinels OF a
dungeon keep five grimy chimneys stood in
"a row.
There was no light in any of the win
dows, save here and there struggling
CLEAN, and from the chimneys no smoke
escaped. "Whoaw cried Kris Kingle, and
obedlently the reindeer checked their speed
and came to standstill upon the roof.
Come" he said to Estelle, edo not be
afraid; you will meet with no harm. Shut
your eyes II you like" and taking the
little girl in his arms, who nestled TO him
with tightly closed eyes, he leaped from the
sleigh, clambered 10 the chimney top, and
10 in moment they had disappeared in its
dark depths. "Now, dear" said Kris
Kingle, you may open your eyes"
AT first she could see nothing. There
was no light, no fire, all was cold and
cheerless; but presently, as her eyes be-
came accustomed 10 the gloom she beheld
budding heap in one corner OF miserable
room, and next she discerned that it was
three little children lying upon wretched
mattress on the floor, clinging together for
the warmth Of contact
"O!' said Estelle, sorrowfully, "how
cold they are, poor, little dearsr
Hush" whispered Kris kngle, for at
that moment one OF the children spoke;
"Sistor, Is 90 toldi'
Yes, very cold, came the answer in
pitiful, shivering accents.
II woudor where papa is, p" piped a faint
little voice from shGdderinR form lying
between the two sisters, IAN if he Will
tum home drunk aden"
There was no answer. save sob, which
seemed to come from both OF the older
children, and two big tears dimmed
Estelle's blue eyes.
SISTER" again said the little one, "Ise
dom 10 ask bod TO bwing papa home,
tause lse so told" and here IA fit OF cough
ing interrupted the sweet, trembling voice.
But the child, in tremulous tone, contin-
ued, 20, bod, please send papa home to-
night-don't let him det drunk aden, an
tell him 10 bwng some fire tause we's so
told, Q, SO told There was a sound of "a
stded sob; it came from Mother the child
rem, Kris Kingle or Estele, but from the
landing where, half hid in the deep shadow,
stood burly man weeping, his powerful
frame shaken with emotion. He listened
with his ear close 10 the door as over the
broken transom came the pitiful plea of
the child: And, bod, please tell Kris
Kingle TO dive US some twismus difts-I
wants hobby horse an tory book; an
dive Molly new dolly wifi dwesses, an
hat an shoes, and bod dive Mary dolly,
too wifi wed hair and blue eyes, and dive
us all some fire we tan dirt warm-an'-
an'-dood night bod, " and then overcome
by shivering, the little one Struggled closely
between his weeping sisters
The door opened slowly. The man entered
and approached the poor children, now
sleeping the fitful sleep of the hungry and
exhausted. He knelt beside them. Alas !!
they had but little over them TO shelter
from cold; and all that was pitiful seemed
TO dwell in their pinched faces in mute APP
peal The tears had scarcely dried upon
their cheeks; but as he gazed upon them,
the child sleeping between his sisters, smil-
ed, o so sorrowfully, in his dreams, and
his lips appeared TO repeat that plaintive
plea, bod Dress papa He raised his
hands in the air. please Cod" he said
solemnly, "from this night forward /
will never touch another drop OF liquor.
God help me TO keep my word" And ., it
seemed TO Estelle that two little tear-drops
came to her eyes, and through their sorrow
full prison she beheld sudden glory There
was a sound of heavenly music, and down
from the starry sky in the cheerless room,
on steps OF light. fitted innumberable
angels, and before molly presence in dim
distance knelt penitent soul-a forgiv ing
hand is laid upon il in benediction-while
on every side the thrilling music of Heaven
sounded a pHan OF triumph.
The penitent looked up 90" cried
Estelle to Kris Kingle, "it is the children's
father then as suddenly as it came the
beautiful vision disappeared, and as they
looked toward the bed the man arose, a
new light in his face, and he said, as he
buttoned up his coat closely about him,
Dear little ones, you shall have your
Christmas-hobby- horse, dollies, fire and
ALL" and sobbing he left the room. 20,
Kris Kingle," said the lite girl, 'let me
give them something and going toward
the bed she placed, with all the resignation
OF sorrowful parting in her sweet face,
the little dolly that Kris kingle had given
her, on the mattress beside the sleeping
children. Then she returned to Kris Kin
gle, who placed his hands gently on her
golden curls, and smiled so brightly that
her eyes bcamod with responsive cheerful
ness.