The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-12-26

W SIT Judt tIlcy WcIc CuiluIcu upOIl WHOul
fortune smiled gaily. Warmly and richly
down the street. They were chatting mer-
rily, passing remarks on the toys in the
window. and with childish glee expOunding
on the festivities of the evening.
A little girl was standing apart from the
group. Her face was thin and sullen, her
cheeks pale and Sunken with traces of re-
cent tears on them. She was very poorly
clad and shlvered with cold. Evidently
she was a stranger to the others for no
words passed between them. and they ap-
peared wholly ignorant of her presence.
When the other children moved away she
remained looking wistfully at the beautiful
things in the window. But being unable
to longer withstand the cold she at last
walked away.
Il wOndeI," she thought as she drew her
thin shawl closer over her shoulders, "if
they are going to have Christmas tree in
the church tonight. They always have.
and Santa Claus gives everybody presents.
me. and maybe wont give me anything It's
warm there. anyway, and better than to
stay at home; l wish l could go.'
Poor little waif!
She lived in dilapidated old house in an
alley on the outskirts of the city. Five years
BEFORE when she was but two years Old
her father had committed crime and was
now serving long term in state prison.
Her mother. heartbroken and sad at this
calamity. suffered long and severe illness.
When she at last rallied. her strength and
resolution were gone, and as means of sup
port took in washing. But there were
many rivals in this business and her income
was very meagre. scarcely enough to supply
fEar too Of oil n
preme and many nights she and her little
supper.
A few days before Christmas her frail
constitution gave way under the strain, and
she fell sick. If it was bad before it was
worse now. Little Anna had no other al
tentative to save herself and her mother
from starving than to beg from door to door
for bread. At some houses she was re-
ceived with kindness and given scraps of
food; but at others. and they were far more
numerous, she was numerically driven
away with hard and cruel words, and many
nights she returned to her wretched home
and sick mother with nothing but few
crusts of dry bread.
On this Christmas eve. when every child's
heart was filled to overflOwing with happi-
ness and joy, little Annals heart was full
of trouble, and the tears forced themselves
to her eyes despite her brave efforts to hold
them back. 1t was now past noon. and her
little basket was empty. She was very
hungry, for she had tasted no food that
day.
In her rambles through the street she
came to church. Through the open door
came sounds of merry laughter. and she
stopped hestitatingly. Shivering in the cold
blast. she looked down on her ragged dress
and at her shoes through which her tiny
toes appeared. She knew it was warm in
there. and at last she took courage to enter
A number of ladies and young girls were
busy decking large tree at the other end
of the church with bright colOred paper and
candles; some were hanging up all kinds OF
parcels and bundles on it's bOughs, and
others were decorating the walls with pine
branches and flags and tri colored bunting
An agreeable warmth pervaded the interior
and Anna crept timidly into pew by the
door and sat watching with sparkling eyes
and unbOunded interest the proceedings
No one had seen her enter and she felt Sc
cure and comfortable. Her interest in the
proceedings at length began to flag. Her
eyes grew heavy with drOwsiness produced
by the heat and overcome by fatigue she
fell asleep.
Sleep on sweet child! happy in thy inno-
cence! UntrOubled by an accusing con-
sciene. sleep on and live among the wonders
of dreamland. for those are the only bless
ings you may enjoy. Sleep on, and let the
cold. unfeelng world rush along in it's vul-
gar course! Sleep on. and in thy slumber
forget its cuffs and harsh words! All, thou
smilest! Dost thou see again thy father,
released from his prison and sitting in the
happy family circle, happy in his long
prayed-for freedom and in the possession
of his reclaimed wife and child! Sleep on,
sweet innocent! Smile, whilst thou NAV.
for the day of his freedom is not yet, and