The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-28

panied by so loud clapping Of hands that
Martha and Jane came rushing out into the
corridor to see what the matter was.
Il knew it, mamma DEAR" exclaimed the
happy Paula. 81 knew that my beggar-
man had two little children at home; one
Just like me. l have seen them. know
Julie and Blanche"
Seen them? Know them? repeated
Martha and Jane.
Yes, l think 1 know what Pm talking
about" added Paula with look of injured
dignity. II dreamed l saw them and that's
just the same. But mamma, Mr.. Beggar-man
looks cola. Mayn't we take him out of the
chilly corridor and give him something
warm to drink"
Nine de Courcy stammered out few
words of apology for her thoughtlessness,
and Pniol was led into the warm drawing
room by little Paula, closely followed by
the poor man to collect his thoughts.
Nine. de Courcy was anxiouslv awaiting
the explanation of his strange utteranceS in
reference to forgiveness at his hands.
Pujol saw this, and haStened to complete
| the tale of his wanderings and TO relate how
| he had found work as a porter, how he had
! left tie package in his room while lie went
| back to the shop to get his pay, his narrow
| escape from falling down the elevator shaft,
| his return homo and his amazement and
diSmay upon discovering that his children,
| thinking that he was only managing II sur
prise for them, and that the package con-
tanned their New Year present. had during
| his absence opened it, taken out the con-
| tents and were now sitting there too happy
| for words, as their astOnished eyes wandered
| from one point OF view to another.
| 'Oh, Mr.. Beggar-man, cried little Paula,
please tell us what was there in the box?"
"a large and beautiful toy called an I'M
breakable DOLL" replied Pujol.
An unbreakable doll? ?" echoed the three
children in one voice. while wonder looked
out from their faces.
why, Mr.. Besgar-man." exclaimed little
Paula, that's ours. That's our unbreaka-
BILE doll-baby which Uncle Felix bought for
| us.
81 know it; l know it only too WELL"
| said Pujol sadly. .and my first impulse was
to snatch it out of their hands, but hadn't
| the heart 10 do it, and then again l noticed
that they had already soiled it somewhat,
for their dear little hands are not so clean
| aud dainty as your tiny figures, and so
rather than be called thief aud be sent to
| prison made up my mind to drown my self.
/ knew that my babies would be we'll taken
care of Nv kind, good woman, who lives on
the ground floor. and so kissed them COOL
| by forever and started off for the quay.
don't know how got there, but remember
| standing for moment and looking down
| into the water ana then l jumped"
| The three children burst out into cries
and sobs at this terrible confession of
/ PujoPs and threw their arms around their
mothers neck and waist.
| NHeu L uTSb touched the water, con-
| tinued Pujol, lit seemed colder than any
| ice L had ever felt, and chilled me to the
| very heart, but in an instant it began to
| grow warmer. and delightful feeling of
| comfort came over me. don't think | ever
| felt so happy. l could see my babies sitting
In the attic room playing with the beautiful
| doll as plainly as | now see you. But
| presently a terrible hand OF iron seemed to
lay hold OF me and drag me out of the
warmth into the freezing air again. 1t was
tbA rVnn han tzl, 4
I succeeded in fastening into my coat collar
| just as was going down for the last time"
Oh. I'm so glad he pulled you outH said
little Paula, as she fixed her lustrous blue
eyes upon the would-be suicide.
You see, madame" murmured Pujol
"the world insists in killing me in its own
wayg'
| Nine. de Courcy spoke few words of
| sympathy. but little Paula overcame her shy
ness and laid hold of ons of Pujops hands.
touched his coat sleeve, "would you believe
it, Mr. Beggar man isn't dry yet, and his
sleeve is all frozen stiff p
| Il do wish Uncle Felix would come"
cried Martha. so that he could give the
| poor man one of his nice warm coats
In few appropriate words, full of the
| spirit of kindness, but none the less i'm
| pressive. Mime. de Courcy now strove to set
before Pujops mind the enormity of his
| offense in abandoning his children and at
Us
If you will give me your most sacred
| pledge" continued the lady solemnly, "that
| you will not again seek to bring destruction
| upon that which the Lord hath given and
| the Lord alone may take away, FL gladly
| forgive You for tho wrong you committed
| in not delivering the doll, and what's more,
| I'll request my brother to lend you his in-
tiuence in securing you another position"
| PuJops heart was too full for utterance.
yes, we'll forgive you, Mr.. Beggar-man,"
| cried little Paula. He may keep the I'M
| breakable doll-baby for Julie and Blanche.
mayn't he, dearest mammal"
''Please let him." pleaded Jane, and then
| she asked: "Mayn't we send Julie and
Blanche some of our toys dearest mamma ?'
| Mime. de Courcy was deeply moved by
this charming manifestation of sympathy
on the part OF her children. While the
tears trickled down Pierre PujoPs cheeks
| his three little friends loaded him down
| with toys for Julie and Blanche.
Uncle Felix now gave the bell his usual
vigorous tug, and was more astonished than
ever to have the three sisters come rushing
/ out with cries Of
We've found the unbeatable doll I!
The unbreakable doll has come to life! The
mystery is solvedw
Yes. dearest uncie," added little Paula.
I'VE have found the unbreakable doll, but
| we haven't got her.
| With generous supply of money. good
warm coat on his back, and better than all
q heart leaping with such joy In his breast
that it was pretty hard task for him to get
ms breath the wanderer came to the end Of
his rough and sorrowful path, and there
was time enough, too, for o long and joyous
New Years day.
Thus It was the lucky turn came in Pierre
Puj0l's fortunes. The unbeatable doll
baby has at different times lost one leg. one