San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-11

-,-4o. Fcit-.v % STE - ~-rnDlossom mas put
her little shoe in the fireplace"
"There, it is the vicar" said JAMS, taking
his pipe from his mouth and leading him into
the little room behind the shop ''Gran'ma
JAMS will be well pleased to see you"
Just then the doors of the room above
opened and Granma JAMS cried out very
quick:
Hans! Hans"
"Ah there it is" said JAMS. "Cornblos-
som is calling me every minute to talk to me
about St Nicholas These angels! Come up
stairs, father"
Heaven keep u.s." cried gran'ma, when
she saw them. 'Cornblossom has just got
out of bed and she wants to go down on the
square. Your blessing, father"
CornblosSom's eyes were stretched wide
open and she was looking towards the win
dows but without seeing anything
"My Blossom!' cried JAMS, almost out Of
his head, and he put back the little girl under
the blankets.
The vicar, having glanced towards Jams,
saw that he was as pale as the bedClotheS and
that his hands trembled Corublossom
calmly closed her eyes and went to sleep
again, but her little hands, transparent as
night lamp in which light is burning, kept
on making vague gestures over the counter
pane.
Courage JAMS" said the vicar, gently
laying his hand on Jams shoulder, Think OF
our Lord who suffered"
But Jams was looking at his child, distract
edly, and did not hear him. Then Cornblos-
som began to move her lips, softly, as though
she were whispering to somebody who was
beyond the darkness, and at last she spoke
these words:
Il TN COrnblOssom, the daughter Of JAMS,
Tie baker, who lives in the square"
She was quiet for moment and then
vent on:
Good morning-always playing-dolls-
thanks, madame"
Her voice was like violin, the tone very
sweet, and as she spoke little wan smile ON
her mouth was like little bright cloud melt
ing away in the evening sky JAMS saw
her delicate and pretty arms come from out
the bedclothes and she. made a salute with her
hand in the empty air, with slow gesture
such as she had when she repeated her fables
and said, Good morning. Mr.. Crow" Then,
after half hour, CornbloSSom awoke again
Hasn't ST. Nicholas come YETI" she
asked
No, Blossom" said JAMS. est. Nicholas
doesn't come until midnight
''Ah that is so long away" said the little
girl but he comes so far and lis donkey is
tired. Papa, put an easy chair for st. Mich
las and stool for his donkey"
II will not fail to do so" said JAMS; land
will let st. Nicholas have the pretty chair
in the corner, the one that Aunt Catherine
SITS in yvb Cha RI of hriS
mas"
And at about II o'clock JAMS went down
stairs to arrange the st. Nicholas gifts for
Cornblossom. He had bought big doll with
pearl eyes, haxen hair and jointed arms and
legs He had also bought cradle lined with
blue silk, with rockers on it. And he had
paid fifteen francs for all these things He
laid the doll in the cradle and packed in
pasteboard box the silk cloak, the muslin
dress and the pink plush hat, which composed
the dolls outfit. And JAMS laughed to him
self in thinking of his Blossoms happiness,
recovering little of his cheerfulneSs, merely
from handling these pretty things He took
off his shoes and went up stairs in his stock
ing feet twice, the first time to carry the
sweetmeats the second time to take up the
doll, the cradle and the pasteboard box with
Cu0 uOi ClOUulllS5. AIlu uS ldlu IueID Ill
down in the little room near to the chamber
where Cornblossom was resting. And Bios
som slept on.
81 want to see her delight when she shall
have her ST. Nicholas gifts; that is why l
stay here, said the vicar to Gran'ma Jams
But that was not why the vicar stayed
He took his prayer book from his pocket and,
his lips gently moved by an interior murmur,
sat down to read near the little lamp But
from time to time the vicar looked at Corn
blossom and then he said to himself, closing
his book, but holding his finger within so as
not to lose his place:
Lord, my God. have pity on these poor
people!"
When midnight came Cornblossom heard
some stir about the house, and having opened
her eyes she asked if that were not st. Mich
olas' donkey coming down the chimney
And JAMS, who well knew that it was his
worknen in the bakehouse, answered her.
moving his great eyebrows all full of -four,
that certainly he recognized the sound Of the
donkeE's shoeS ALL be aided: