Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-12-19

'''----- dreams bynight. i
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. IL
II was poor enough thoserdays; but
hours, blacker than these stole like
dread spectres from the charnel
house of time. ....
One day was discharged. l 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, grill I've, been, toler-
| ant Of Your fine lady ways. long
enough-you are discharged
march," g.
The twins comforted me that night
as best they could. After long ia
tiguing walk in vain search for work
it was sweet az twilight to sit alone
with my treasures and have their
dear arms fold about my neck. |
CO 70 \
had actually been child with them
when our widowed mother lived, but
when we saw the cold earth take her
to it's bosom, | aged with my great
grief, and now II drear lifetime of ex-
periencc and sorrow,lay between me
ard the browneyed 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! l looked into the
box Joe had fastened into what he
called a pantry" there was half of
lonf there, some crackers, and bit
at cheese. We were not hungry now,
Lr+ ,,>'aakfast would clear the box of
crust and C.1lmhs, and after that
what?. MI wFtlad eaten 10. for -. TIRES
days past had come rom lie unlvru /
earnings ofIJosie and 10, who sold
papers white 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, !
bitteNm6cHery ofall gladness! Santa !
Claus finds it imposible 60 treat the !
labyrinthian Alleys Of Poverty Row,
and q great lump rose in my throat
Mt the sight Of twopp little faded
stockings hung near the straw pile
that served'us for 4 Bed in common.
Oh, the sweet, simple faith of child
hood! Tears came veil to my sight,
and each great bitter drop was like u
bubble that reflects more beauteous
tints than ever were in earth or sky.
Whence came they2 In these salt
tears l found the picture. OF my child
! hoods home, where mother lived
among us and troub z was unborn.
II saw her sweet face close to mine;
saw her hands reach out to me, and
then IA
The dream angel musthhye visited
me, for awoke witlin-start to find
the last red ember only tiny spark
upon the hearth. Ny dream COM
forted me greatly, and with quee.-
feeling OF something oddlyiresemhling
content, /, early as it was, slipped
off my worn shoes and let down my
hair Tor the night.
Such hair | had therI-so long, so
lustrous, with the CLINT of the suns
own sheen amidst it's heavy masses.
"Make me II doll, sister," Josie
once had said; land cover it's head
with n bit of your lovely hairl"
Right willingly would l have sacrifc-
ed every tress OF it--a great thought
seized me: cried out like one daft,
and bound up the heavy masses with
eager, trembling hands.
"Sleep, little darling, L cried in
ecstatic whisper, "sleep and dream Of
q glorious Christmastide; for it shall
come 70 you ny tne power vi living
Ygoldl" 'tS'' T" . o..
u Out into the gloom ofcoid, deserted
tstreots--.beyona, them into the glare
! otshep lit avepues1=jostladi by SER.
rants II Sauta Claus-excited, daz-
ed, happy in the thou&htpfmy sncri4;
flee ! hurried upon my way.
came ut last to a halt before n
window behind whose one great crys-
tai pane waxen image Of a fair i'm