The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-12-26

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SAA
ESSe9<8SI@MI with their grinding
EasS$1SSS 5ESM cogs and whrring
S'E2Ss%%SsxssS&I belts, dinned into
SWZNWN&Xag my weary eals by
RAAS1 day-into my
dreams by night. l
could not escape them. l can not
escape them yet; for even now the
shrill whistles heard in manufacturing
districts at morn, at noon, at night,
cause me to start with alarm. Imay
be late! | can not rid myself OF the
notion that they are signaling me,
that the overseer will not bring
pair of ugly, vicious, black brows to-
gether if am a few seconds behind
time.
Twas poor enough those days; but
hours blacker than these stole like
dread spectres from the charnel
house of time.
One day l was discharged. / was
late for the tenth time-''for the
tenth and last time" the Overseer
said. as he pushed the little wages
due into my hand. "For the tenth
and last time, girl! I've been toler-
ant of your fine lady ways long
enOugh-yOu are discharged
march,
The twins comforted me that night
as best they could. After q long ia
tiguing walk in vain search for work
it was sweet at twilight to sit alone
with my treasures and have their
dear arms fold about my neck.
was so young too; it seemed as if |
had actually been q child with them
when our widowed mother lived; but
when we saw the cold earth take her
to its bosom, aged with my great
grief, and now q drear lifetime of ex-
perience and sorrow lay between me
and the brown-eyed children, who, at
nine years of age, comprehended
but vaguely their sisters grief and
care.
Two days tramping brought me
only an empty pocket, empty larder
and empty prospects!
And then came Christmas eve
Christmas eve, when all should be
Joy and gladness and radi-
ance and plenty! looked into the
box Joe had fastened into what he
called pantry" there was half of
a loaf there, some crackers, and a bit
OF cheese. We were not hungry now,
but breakfast would clear the box of
crust and crumbs, and after that
what? All we had eaten for three
days past had come from the united
earnings of Josie and 10, who sold
papers while l traversed the long,
cold city streets. And Christmas was
to dawn upon US as it ever dawns
upon the poor-in it's own bright,
bitter mockery ofall gladness! Santa
Claus finds it impossible to treat the
labyrinthian alleys of Poverty Row,
and great lump rose in my throat
at the sight OF two poor, little faded
stockings hung near the straw pile
that served us for q bed in common.
Oh, the sweet, simple faith of child
hood! Tears came veil to my sight,
and each great bitter drop was like a
bubble that reflects more beauteous
tints than ever were in earth or sky
Whence came they? In these salt
tears found the picture OF my child
hoods home, where mother lived
among us and trouble was unborn.
l saw her sweet face close to mine; l
saw her hands reach out to me, and
then
The dream angel must have visited
me, for aWoke with start to find
the last red ember only tiny spark
upon the hearth My dream com
torted me greatly, and with q queer
feeling OF something oddlytresembling
content, /, early as it was, slipped
off my worn shoes and let down my
hair for the night.
Such hair [ had then-so long, SO
lustrous, with the CLINT of the suns
own sheen amidst its heavy masses.
"Make me doll, sister," Josie
once had said; "and cover it's head
with bit of your lovely hairp'
Right willingly would ! have sacrific-
ed every tress OF ia great thought
seized me; cried out like one daft,
and bound up the heavy masses with
eager, trembling hands.
"Sleep, little darling" I cried in
ecstatic whisper, "sleep and dream of
n glorious ChFistmastide; for it shall
come to you by the power Of living
gold!"
Out into the gloom ofcold, deserted
streets-beyond them into the glare
of shop lit ayenues-jostled by SER
wants of Sauba Claus-excited, daz-
ed, happy in the thought qfmy sacri=
flee hurried upon my way.
came at last to halt before a
window behind whose one great crys=
tai pane q waxen image of fair i'm
passible beauty turned and turned
upon some mysterious pivot; and ]
laughed aloud as / marked the color
of her hair-it could only be compar-
ed to mine.
Two rounds of her stately dance ]
watched her make-then turned the
knob of the door letting in to her
peculiar abode.
1t was warm inside; sweet, pungent
Qdors filled the troplc airs OF the
long brilliant room-it seemed biz
of paradise with its warmth and
brightness and delicate perfumes Of
rare and nameless flowers.
A woman of fashion stood before
the counter-how costly her habili
ments, with the fur and the velvet
and the nodding plumesl Great rolls
OF bills in her little red wallet were
carelessly handled, and there was Q
CLEAN of silvery circles and COLDER
disks.
She turned and stood under thu
glare of the electric lamp. Our eyes
met, and I, forgetful in my sweet
elation of any thing save "peace or
earth-good will to men"-forgettiDg
the mealness of my attire-the dit
ference in our present stati9n-tht