Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-09
A SECONDHAND CHRISTMAS.


Lischen's father had gone West to the
gold mines, but for many months no letter
had come from him. Her mother, timid
little German woman, left alone in a
strange land, became so homesick that she
fell i'll, and one night she died.
The people who lived in the other
rooms in the house heard a little girl
crying alone in the dark. They took the
child and fed and tried to comfort her.
Lischen was only nine years old, and a
foolish, baby-hearted creature. A fair,
squat little figure, with round face, win
some blue eyes and two long, tapering
braids of flaxen hair. The other children
IN the house made a pet of her from the
first, and Mr.. OBrien gave her many a
red apple, warm and shiny from his pocket.
She presumed TO set up housekeeping on
the stairway with bits of broken china her
three-legged stool and wooden-headed
doll. When she raised her small hand
and whispered reprovingly, flush My
baby is sleepin," even gruff old Sandy Nc
Queen paused, with half smile and
stepped lightly over.
Mr.. jacob, Jew from Italy, who kept
a secondhand shop on the ground floor
surprised himself and everyone else by
giving her string of blue beads on her
birthday.
When Mrs. Mcqueen had quarter of
pound of butter for treat, she spread
many an oaten cake for Lischen, while
Mrs. OBrien scraped the sugar-bowl of
the last spoonful to put on the little ones
ErAo .ryl.A l. j
bare crust. She excused herself by saving:
Faith, wheniver l look at the choild,
she takes me on me blind side entirely p'
But these people were all poor, and
when the mother died, expected Iischen
to go TO the Orphan Asylum, unless her
father should return to claim her. The
owner of the house came with an officer,
and sent the scant furniture away to be
sold for the rent After they had locked
the door, the officer said kindly: "Now
come little girl, and I'll take you to the
Orphans Home myself"
Then Lischen sat down on her three
legged stool, and sobbed and cried
No! mol / will not go und pc or
phanw
"You cannot help it, my poor child p
he said.
a viii stay here"
But you will have nothing TO eat, and
no place to sleep. II is very nice at the
Orphans said the man.
viii stay nit Billy. Won't you keep
me, BiIly?" Billy's tough Scotch heart
melted at once.
Eyes" he answered. "You can leave
her with me, sir, he said with an air of
assurance
at strikes me you are rather young,
sonny"
No, sir; l am going on Az
"And l can help" said little Peter.
can take care so well, Lischen," and he
laid slim, brown hand caressingly on
her shoulder
Yes Peter" answered Lischen, cheer
fully, wiping her eyes, as if her troubles
were all over. And l like you VERY
well, Peter"
The boy was 10 years old, but very small
for his age. He had large dark eyes, and
beautiful, shadowy face. Loose rings of
black hair fell over broad forehead, but
his cheeks tapered TO a delicate dimpled
chin, with soft, sad little mouth.
Mrs. O'Brien happened to go out into
the entry.
40, mamma" cried Molly. "Billy is
a-goin' to keep Lischen, for she won't go
to the Orphans"
upon me soul Fine, opelent young
men they are, to be sure Come, neigh
borsl" and she laughingly called upstairs
and down. Ye better come here. Yer
sons is adoptin' a child"
Mrs. Mcqueen came to the top of the
stairs.
"Eh, Billy, what nonsense The child
must go to the Orphans. She Gamma bide
here
"Why can l no keep her, mother? Me
earnin' three nickels, and sometimes FIVE
in dayr
az just will ma have it So" said she, de-
cidediy.
"AiI right said Billy, who knew the
weakness OF his mothers heart. Il don't
wonder as Johnny Saunders was driv' tC
:, run off to New Orleensp'
"Oh, if was to tell your father p an
swered Mrs. Mcqueen, family.
Mr. jacob stood by his son, and looked
on surprised. "Oh, the pretty little girl
She like not to go away?"
My fader," said little Peter, solemniy
If you send the Lischen away, will cal
no more"
"What You eat not more as one small
cat. You cannot eat littleer."
"If Lischen go, eat no more, never 7
answered Peter, firmly.
But. my son, i; is not for me-a widow
mana small maid-child like this Yor
know we hat no wife, my SON.
You can get wife, said Peter.
"0h, are you a reasonable little boy
Can | 60 buy wife as / buy a pullet fol
dinner?'
Yes, yes" said Mrs. O'Brien. ash,
must go, Peter. She will be better off a
the Orphans
Then Molly OBrien gave loud cry
and fell down before her mother anC
clasped her knees.
oh. nanny, if she goes to be a or
phan, Pll go &c orphan, toop'
Then all the six 0BrienS walled in uni
son, and the little McQueens joined in 81
wildly that their mother came downstair
and shook them soundly, saying, "Hush
or I'll give We summet to cry forw
eff she were but a boyw said warm
hearted Mrs. O'Brien. But with six o
me own, and all gels-and we sleeps tire.
in bed now
ats ma the beddin," said Mrs. Nc
Queen, " for jeanne sleeps by herself, bu
victuals are very scarce these hard times
will give her my bread, my fader,'
said little Peter, with a trembling lip
1t is not the bread, my son. The sleep
ing, washing, dressing, that cannot do
widow man."
The enterprising young Billy now spoke
If YOU would feed her, and mothe
= sleep her, and Mrs. o Brien wash for her
and Molly dress her, why can't she stay :?
But ! Gamma be flashed wi runnin afte
her" said Mrs. Mcqueen, visibly melting
for she remembers John Saunders, VIII
ran away and died of yellow fever in New
Orleans
Her bit wash is just nothing at all,
said Mrs 0Brien, cordially, and if tn
young ones viii mind the child FL not b
for sinding her of"
81 can take care 50 goodF' said littl
Peter.
With the mournful eyes of his son fxe-
upon him, Mr.. jacob had not the courag
TO refuse, so it was settled that Lischel
should stay.
Mrs. Mcqueen took charge of the brass
bound chest that held Lischen's clothes