The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-12-26
Continued From First Page.)
Annals Good Angel.

munger, klnOlou nro WIFI the lew rellalll-
ing sticks and warmed her benumbed
hands. All the rest of the day she thought
of the wonders of the evening and of the
lady who had spoken SO kindly to her.
The evening shade was beginning to
wrap the city in its mantle and lights shOne
out from happy homes. Groups of happy
children gathered around their Christmas
trees, opening their presents amid shouts of
joy; laughter and m rth rang out from hun
dredS of homes.
Anna kissed her sleeping mother tender
goodnight and skipped with thrObbing
heart to the church. The lady was on the
lookout for her. and recognizing her,
brought her into her own pew. BY Annals
side sat little boy about her own age, who
eyed her rather SuSpcOuSly at first. But
when his mother spoke so kindly to her, he
soon made friends with her also.
The candles in the tree were lighted aud
the great organ gave forth Christmas an
them. Prayer over, the main feature of
the evening, the distribution of presents
began. Four young ladies took their posi-
tons at the tree. calling out the names
written OH the packages. and several gentle
men acted as messengers delivering them to
the eXpectant receivers. Soon the hum of
happy voices was heard everywhere mingled
with merry laughter and shouts of ecstasy
Occasionally blast from bugle reSOunded
through the church when some happy boy,
in his eagernesS to try his long wished for
bugle, forgot in his joy the sacred edifice he
was in.
The little boy beside the lady received
many and costly presents. Toys, mittens.
skates, etc., found their way to him. Little
Anna looked wistfully at them, and was
Overjoyed at last at receiving a pair of
oh ST. -ir,ro ,,,iff
The little heart was in a f1utter, and tears
of gratitude rolled down her cheeks when
the lady gave them to her. And when the
candy and apples were passed around she
received all abundance. But every
thing has an end, and even this delicious
evening came to close The lady put the
new, warm hood Oh Annals head. and asked
her address which she wrote down on slip
OF paper. She then babe her good night.
promising to come to her home the folding
day.
Anna fairly flew home. her feet scarcely
touching the crisp snow, to tell of the Won
ders of the evening and to show her treas
ureS. When she entered the room, the fire
was gone out; it was dark and cold. and
painful silence reigned. She fumbled for a
candle lighted it, and hurried to the bed.
ION. mama" she began. holding alOft her
gifts, see what I've got. A pair of shoes
and stockings. and mittens, and look.
mama. amt this hood just lovely. And [
got lots Of apples and candy. and | saved
this chocolate for you, mama. And oh,
such lot Of candles on the Christmas tree
all burning at once; it was too lovely for
anything. And the lady spoke so kindly to
me- and when told her how sick you was,
she said poor, poor woman! And she is
coming here to- morrow to bring you some
thine mi Won't hot no nd Of, ,,t
she good?
Here she stopped for want of breath. but
her Outburst received no answer.
Amt you glad mama?"
No answer.
"Mamar'
Anna bent over the bed and looked in
tently into her mothers face. The eyes
were closed; and tranquil and peaceful
expression rested on her features.
'Mama."
Still no answer.
She touched her mothers cheek gently.
1t was cold. The terrible truth broke in
upon her. Her mother was DEAD.
With sharp cry of anguish, wrung from
her very soul, she dropped to the floor, in
sensible.
The tallOw dip burned down; darkness
fell upon the scene. Stretched across her
mothers dead body lay the sobbing and
quivering orphan.
Let Us draw the curtain over this sorrow
full room and leave her alone in her sacred
sorrow.
When Mrs. Wharton. the kind lady. came
the next day, she found Anna in delirious
fever. lying by the side of her dead mother.
She came too late to administer draughtS
the sick woman. Freed from its earthly
bonds the spirit had fed rising upward to
the haven where all fears WnpI
and sorrow and care are no more. She no.
titled the authorities of the case, who took
charge of the remains and inferred them at
the city'S expense.