St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-26

coarse food In the unsteady light, but
they were happy.
.0h! Tommy! There, that hurt in
my back came again."
'sWhat's it feel like, Patty, anyhow?
Let's look if it's sore."
The white little back gave no evil
dence of any ordinary child complaint,
but there was scarcely recognizable
irregularity in the lines, that the little
fellow felt was not right, child though he
was.
The surprise in the rosy red apples
drove away the pain, however, and in
Patty's delight Tom forgot his appre-
tensions, and soon the supDerS had
been finished, the light flickered out,
and the two little ones were cuddled to-
gether under the dirty comfort, uncOn-
scious of any earthly pain.
DAYS passed, with varying luck to
Tom in his business. The old woman
with whom the children lived, was gone
days at time, aud was only terror to
both the children when she did come
home, for then she seized all Toms
pennies and there were no comforts for
little Patty. Lucky for them, the
shanty in which they lived belonged to
her, and there was no rent. Tom often
saw the pleasant-faced man with the
big mustache, and sometimes sold him
papers or BACKED his boots. After
weeks in which he looked in
the kindly face for recognition,
the gentleman came to know the lad
and Tom was happy i'll his acquaint-
ance. But there was a great trouble in
the shabby little home. Patty's back
hurt her worse and worse, and she
often cried with it of nights. Poor Tom
was made sad every night when he got
home to see that the little face grew
more pinched, and the roughneSS in the
back grew perceptibly.
Christmas week came and opened
dolefully. Monday was bad day to
sell papers, and nobody cared for a
shine. with the thawing snow to wade
through. So Tuesday morning Tom
left poor little Patty in bed hungry.
The happy little face had grown woe
fully sad, and the little girl did not play
with the energy she used to. No one
would buy his papers though the streets
were crowded and though he ''huStled''
with all his might. No Christmas fOI
Patty! 1t made him sob in spite of him.
self. A whistle caught his ear, and,
looking around, he saw a gentleman
motioning to him from the rear of car
which was making its way down Sixth
street from Nicollet avenue. 1t took
Toms stout legs but minute to over
take the car and board it, and his face
frightened up to see that his customer
was his old acquaintance.
.How is business, my boy, and how
about Christmas"
Toms face sobered as he said: mot
very good. sir, and Christmas; Oh, sir,
we can't have none"
1--WE; and who's we?'
Then came the story Of Patty and
Patty's poor back. and the kindly face
darkened as he soliloquized:
"a bad disease; the same old storY:
and then he said: ''Come with me, my
boy; we will see what can be DONE"
Together they found their way ovel
to the brick building on the corner OF
Ninth street and Sixth street, that has
come to be looked upon by many as 9
harborage of mercy, through the liberia
dispensatiOn from it of medicines ano
treatment. An hour passed, which
Tommy spent in looking at pictures il
the doctors office, for such his frienC
proved to be. At the end of that time
the door burst open and bright-faceC
little girl appeared:
Come, papa; mammals waiting dowr
stairs"
Come, my boy. now we will go ant
see your sister," and the doctor led tht
way down stairs, the little girl taking
great interest in the boy that had {
sister. Tommy tried hard torealize The
truth as he was tossed into the carriage
with pleasant-faced, mOtherly lady
and by his direction they drove to hi.
home in the flats.
The doctor followed the little fellow
to Patty. and rose from the examination
of the poor back with the words: "GlaC
l wasn't later"
Returning to the carriage, he said t.
his wife: well, | vowed would no
buy another apparatus, but ] must TO
this poor little one. will get it at once
before we go for our Christmas visit tt
your brothers."
He spoke few words to Tommy, aDC
was about to take his place in the car
large when his wife stopped him with
''Do you remember what Brother Dicl
said when we were there last: that II W.
could find two really bright children h
and Mary would take them in?''
"Was he in earnest?"
81 am quito sure he was. We nigh
show these to him, letting them thinl
INey were going OH u WISH. AZ itdot, |
would give them much pleasure, and i
they are as much alone as they appear
they should be turned over to the aSSO
ciated charities any way"
A brief consultation followed, the
outcome of which was that Tommy anC
Patty both drove off in the carriage
Baths and clean clothes soon made Ton
presentable, and Patty quite pretty
The apparatus was applied, and thu
doctor smiled in a relieved way as hi
fastened it. saying:
''Weil, little one. your back won
hurt you any more next Christmas"
A long drive over country roads ant
white-cIothed landscapes brought thu
party to the most CHEEKY of houses, ant
Tom and Patty were received into it:
very center. Significant little talks by
the fireplace between the two gentle
men, and the warm, mOtherly way il
which the hostess took little FATTY int
her arms, and placed her arm abOu
Toms shoulders, soon settled the CUES
ton of how long the visit was to be; ant
as Christmas day dawned on Minneap
lis, Tom and Patty were happy in new
home.
Wbnn Roby 1ras sick